Iwas so embarrassed, I was ruined."It's okay. I told Julie that we were playing. I told her a bit of itand also that it was the first time that you ...ad worn tights today. Shehad no reason not to believe me." What did she say?"She thought that it was great for you to be so secure in your-self thatyou would do that. Jess, apparently, thought it was so sexy." But, I have never done anything, I would never do that, I had noidea...." I know darling, but you have a fan. They know, the world has. What?" I said trying to cover."You're smiling about something. God, there was a perv in high school who used to smile like that around me. What are you thinking about?" Nothing." I said, but I was blushing and it was obvious I was thinking about something--something good!"Mindy, we're supposed to be friends." She said with a devilish grin. "You better spill it or I'll start doubting us!" It's nothing!" I said a little too defensively. Jenn was getting a hurt look on her face like she. I was running, and I did think about Val during part of that run, but I didn’t lose myself in reflections on my lovely wife, like it sort of sounded, when I said it. And the “I won’t do it again,” part could be construed to mean I didn’t plan on thinking about her to distraction anymore. Of course that’s not what I meant at all. All I was trying to do was get her off my back.There was this long silence, and then a click.Valerie had never hung up on me before.I admit, I panicked a little bit.I. Just then, she glanced around the room, and caught sight of him. There was a flash of recognition, and a big smile. She said something to her friend, then walked over, Martini in hand. “Well, hello, Mr. Cherry-Popper,” she smiled. “Hello yourself,” he said, standing and pulling out a chair for her. They sat and began chatting, telling each other what they had been up to in the last year – he worked for a large energy company, she had worked various jobs, in a small art gallery, as a party.