"Sorry, Jamie," my grandmother said. "I see that Lucy is as competitive asever. Don't let her bother you. Okay sweetie?" Sure thing grandma."We naviga...ed the mall to the food court. It wasn't very crowded that dayand I quickly spotted Megan sitting alone at a small table. "There'sMegan," I told my grandmother. "I'll come look for you and Julie when I'mdone." I had taken a few steps in Megan's direction when my grandmotherstopped me."Hold on Jamie. I want to meet your friend." My heart sank. I. I’d like to admit to a puritan life style and tell you I never frequent such places. Of course, I’d be lying, so why bother? I got to all those places, some more than others. I enjoy the secret feminine pleasure of allowing a man to buy my dinner, hold my chair, pour my drink and select my wine for the evening. Sometimes the men will get a reward. Sometimes they do not and that is completely up to me to decide. A man can spend $250 on a dinner date, a movie and a small gift if he chooses. He. "I can't," he said, "I can't" and he pulled back and turned away from me. "Oh God, I'm so sorry," he almost sobbed. "I've never ... you know ... done anything ... like ... you know."I was stunned, hurt, and truthfully a little angry, but I couldn't find any words. I watched him find his clothes over by the sofa and turned over and buried my face in my pillow so he wouldn't see me crying. The door quitely clicked closed a few seconds later.===============The next morning, Jay was not in the. Even if we had run away without the knowledge that my fate was already sealed, you would have been caught. We both would have been caught and arrested for something neither one of us was guilty of doing. We don't know enough about being fugitives to have gotten away." "That's not what I asked you." "Please don't make me say this Gary, please." He did offer me a reprieve. I cleared my throat and spoke softly. "The man I fell in love with is standing right in front of me." A single tear slipped.