"Laverne, I''m fine now. You can go home," Vanessa said, picking up her phone.


    "How can I leave you like this?"


    "Someone else ising to keep mepany." Vanessa''s finger scrolled through her contacts.


    "You mean Mr. Holt?" Laverne''s eyes lit up. She knew exactly what Vanessa''s backup n was. If she couldn''t be Mrs. Goodwin, then Mrs. Holt was a title countless women would kill for. Whilen was out of her reach, Henry waspletely wrapped around her finger. His adoration for her was so obvious he was just short of fightingn for her.


    Vanessa dialed Henry''s number.


    "Hello? Vanessa, what''s up?" Henry''s cheerful voice came through the line. "I... had a little to drink, and I''m feeling dizzy. Could youe pick me up?" "What? I thought you couldn''t drink. Why were you drinking?"


    "I... was just in a bad mood. I only had a couple of sses. I''m at a bar." "You''re at a bar alone?" Henry sounded shocked.


    "Yes, alone. Are youing or not?" Vanessa asked with a coquettishugh.


    He sighed on the other end. "What''s a girl like you doing in a bar by herself? Which one is it?"


    A smirk touched Vanessa''s red lips. She knew that even if the whole world abandoned her, Henry never would.


    She gave him the address, and he said he was nearby and would be right over.


    Seeing that she had sessfully summoned Henry, Laverne chose her moment to exit. "I''ll wait in the car outside. Call me if you need anything."


    Vanessa nodded. Once Laverne was gone, she pulled out apact mirror to check her makeup and fix her expression.


    Ten minutester, Henry''s SUV


    pulled up to the bar. He grabbed bis keys and phone and went inside He knew the ce-it was owned by friend of his. He made his way toward Vanessa''s booth.


    Just then, two young women walking arm-in-arm blocked his path, apparently also looking for a table As Henry was about to ask them to move he froze one of the figures looked strikingly familiar. His heart skipped a beat, and on pure instinct, he reached out and touched the girl''s shoulder.


    Startled, the girl spun around. In the dim light, their eyes met.


    "What are you doing here?" Henry''s voice was suddenly sharp, his shock at seeing her in a ce like this evident.


    Selma Quigley hadn''t expected to run into Henry while out with a friend. A blush crept up her neck as she exined, "I''m just out with my friend."


    "Is this really a ce for a girl like you?" he shot back, his tone instinctively parental.


    Selma was taken aback, then retorted, "You''re here. Why can''t I be?"


    Her friend immediately chimed in. "Exactly! Who are you, anyway? You''re not her boyfriend, so mind your own business."


    Henry realized he had overreacted,


    but seeing Selma here filled him with


    an inexplicable anxiety. He softened


    his tone just mean, this ce can be shady. It''s not very safe for you girls-"


    Before Selma could respond, her friend answered her phone. "Selma, they''re waiting for us. Let''s go."


    Selma shot Henry a quick nce before her friend pulled her toward a central booth.


    Henry watched her go, his irritation mounting as he saw her sit down with a group of other young men and women.