A night out with friends was always fun. They planned to meet at a bar with a large patio by the waterfront. A thunderstorm was the only thing that could dampen their evening. Ainsley made her way using a similar route to her work commute. She missed the old days when she and Lilli primped together with Rhys yelling because they took too long.

First Rhys met Terry, and they fell fast and so he was suddenly never home. Then Lilli and Zach finally stopped their games and fell into each other's arms. Ainsley had known she needed to find a new place. Thankfully, money was never an issue since her father subsidized her rent. Even having worked her way from an administrative assistant to her position in the promotions department, her salary couldn't quite cover Beacon Hill rents, even for a tiny studio.

The boys were seated at a table when she arrived. Ainsley greeted each with a hug.

Terry started. "Rhys says you've given up on men. What's wrong with you?"

Rhys smiled. "Men are wonderful."

Ainsley rolled her eyes. "Not the ones I've met. The last one used a picture from twenty years ago."

Terry laughed. "How old is he?"

"Over forty, but he didn't age well."

"I get the picture." Rhys nodded. "They're here."

Ainsley turned to see Lilli and Zach walking hand in hand. Both wore shorts with Lilli's short ones showing miles of legs. Zach lifted his shades to the top of his head while Lilli waved.

"Marriage suits you." Terry reached his hand out to Zach.

Ainsley turned to Lilli who sat beside her. "How was the wedding?"

"Very nice and small. They're really happy."

Zach said, "I heard you gave up on dating."

Rhys said, "She's taking a break. We need her to entertain us with her stories."

"Watch YouTube. I'm not your entertainment." Ainsley could probably start a bad date blog.

Terry laughed. "She was about to tell us about bachelor number two."

"The chauvinist, please. You know I was nervous the old man would follow me."

Rhys said, "Ainse, be careful. How about the new guy in your department? He's hot."

"Henry is a jerk!"

Zach frowned. "What'd he do?"

"He's new and his nose is covered in shit." Everyone laughed. "It's not funny the jerk is out to get me."

Zach said, "Talk to Oliver."

"No, I'm not using the Sumners to get ahead. You of all people should understand, Zach."

Lilli laughed. "He used his connections."

"Yeah, to get you as my assistant."

Rhys made a gagging sound and Lilli hit him. Ainsley missed her friends. The drinks arrived, and the group talked about things other than her dating life.

After the second round, Zach said, "I still think she would like Gilly."

"How about your brother?" Ainsley asked.

"The superhero lives too far away." Lilli reminded her.

Max Steele was as handsome as Zach. The brothers definitely looked related but not like twins, since they weren't. He saved lives which along with his name made Lilli tease him by calling him a superhero.

"Whose Gilly?" Rhys asked.

Lilli dismissed him. "Just a friend of Zach's family."

"Was he at your wedding?" Terry joined in.

Zack shook his head. "He couldn't make the trip. He had surgery."

"He sent a generous gift." Lilli smiled.

Terry said, "No to the guy at work and Zach's friend. You're stuck swiping right."

Lilli said, "You guys should come to the agency's anniversary party. It's a big deal."

Ainsley frowned. "Anniversary? In New York?"

"No, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Boston office. Only Austin has worked there that long."

"What kind of bash is it? Free booze?"

Lilli frowned. "It's a classy party. Olivia's planning it. It will be nicer than the one I planned for Ann."

"I'm surprised Olivia didn't make you plan it." Ainsley and Zach's cousin bonded at the wedding weekend.

Zach shook his head. "Lill was too busy with the wedding."

"How's married life?" Terry asked.

"Great! You should try it."

Rhys looked at Terry, but neither responded. They had been together longer than Lilli and Zach.

Ainsley said, "Marriage is overrated. What's the point?"

Lilli's jaw dropped. Zach spoke first. "It's the ultimate commitment to the person you love. We know we are in it together, forever."

"Are they any less committed?" She pointed to the two men.

"They can answer that." Zach looked at Lilli with his dreamy eyes.

Ainsley looked as Terry and Rhys had the same dreamy look. It occurred to her she had never had a guy look at her that way. Her relationships were usually short-lived and defined by the sex. She had better luck finding men when they hung out at clubs and bars. She had a rating system for the guys she met. Two meant he was good enough to kiss, but one meant more than a kiss. She switched to dating apps when her friends coupled up. Lilli had to divide her time with Zach's friends. Ainsley was tired of younger guys who only wanted sex, but older guys were a disappointment too.

"I'm not sure I'm into the whole 'until death do you part' business."

Lilli put her hand on Ainsley's arm. "You'll meet the right guy and change your mind. You should keep dating."

Ainsley shook her head. She thought about the litany of blind dates. They amounted to wasted time when she could have been binge watching.

Rhys laughed. "You could always hit the clubs again."

"No! I don't want a young guy looking to score."

"Like in the pool in Maine," Rhys snickered.

"Blame that on the booze." Memories of too many drink at the rehearsal dinner needed to be obliviated.

Rhys laughed. "Zach, your father must have had a big, fat bill after that party."

"It was a rehearsal dinner." Terry looked at Zach. "You must have some single friends."

Lilli said, "Not, Troy!"

Ainsley joined in the protest. "No way! I was stuck with him at Violet's wedding." Her groomsman was a pervert with man boobs. He looked at her like she was a blow-up doll. He probably was a virgin who spent every night jerking off to porn.

Zach shook his head. "I care too much about you. I don't even like him."

Terry furrowed his brow. "You should take a class. I want to take photography. You could join me."

Lilli scoffed. "She'll only meet gay men or married ones who what to take pictures of their kids."

Rhys said, "Lilli is right. I say keep with the app but run them by us first. We can sniff out the losers."

Ainsley shook her head. "I don't believe you."

Terry put his drink down. "I'm hungry, let's go get dinner someplace."

Lilli said, "The North End. Italian."

Ainsley couldn't eat like her best friend. "My thighs will hate me."

Rhys put his arm around her. "We'll walk." It wasn't a long walk.

Lilli had her phone in her hand and jumped in her seat like a child. "I got a reservation."

Zach smiled. "Only you, Lil."

"I learned a few things working for Kendall, besides how to hide my tears."

"Josh Roche told me he used to see you crying. He even complained to the fathers." Zach squeezed his wife's hand.

"Your friends aren't helping me at work. The brown noser saw Oliver talk to me."

"Girl, I don't know why it bothers you. I saw Joshua Roche and asked how he enjoyed his trip to Maine for the wedding. He said his daughter loved the beach. I'd ask him for a promotion if I didn't already have one."

"Shut up, Rhys! Don't rub it in. Everyone has worked their way up, but me. The only thing I have is a computer that keeps breaking. I know all the help desk guys by name."

"Gilly works for IT." Zach smiled.

"These are kids with acne and boners just from talking to me."

Rhys added, "She's right they're boys."

Rhys was an artist who designed book covers. He recently received a promotion to team leader. Ainsley was happy for him. Really she was.

The five-some walked to the Italian neighborhood, the North End. Thanks to Lilli they had a table waiting. Once seated, they ordered cheap Chianti, and traditional dishes. Zach said Lilli cooked as well as the chefs. Ainsley shook her head and laughed. She suspected Zach had a sure thing without buttering his wife up.

When they left the restaurant, they were full and happy. Terry sang 'Bella Notte' as they walked down the street. Entering the Haymarket station, Rhys and Zach were deep in conversation. Finally, they shook hands.

Rhys walked to Ainsley. "The newlyweds are heading North. Terry and I will see you home, because we're gentlemen."

"Glad I suggested it," Zach said.

Lilli ran to Ainsley and hugged her. "Don't give up. Your special guy is out there. It's worth the wait."

Lilli let go and hugged the gentlemen before walking with Zach down the stairs for the outbound orange line platform. Ainsley followed the others to the inbound green. Two stops and they emerged into the warm night air.

"Do you guys want to come in and see Gunther?"

Rhys shook his head. "We'll pass. His name reminds me of the first guy to hit on me at a gay club."

"Gunther was my date."

"He was Luther and rode a Harley. He liked leather. Not exactly my type."

Terry frowned. "Did you go out with him?"

"No, he scared me!"

Ainsley laughed. "Fine. The old maid is going home alone to her cat."

Terry broke out into the chorus of 'Memories' from Cats. She hugged each and entered her building.

Gunther came to her and rubbed her legs. "You had your dinner before I went out. I'm sorry, big guy."

She hummed 'Bella Notte' as she scrubbed the makeup off her face. It had been years since she had seen Lady and the Tramp. If she was a Lady, where was her tramp?

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