‘Oh,’ she said. You’ve known people like that, haven’t you? She looked down and her smile, what there was, showed no pleasure at all. Yes. Jus... like that. She took refuge in the wine. Did she make a tiny, sour face? It was industrial strength Chardonnay, after all. And did she try to hide the grimace? She was hiding everything about herself. All I learned was her name: Elizabeth Peabody. A perfect Emily name, no? ‘Oh, one of those! So why are you slumming in a quartet?’ She laughed with her. The party continued only until mid-afternoon.Everyone was enjoying themselves, but they also wanted to return to their real lives, the lives that they had left behind weeks ago.With the papers submitted and the patents on their way to being filed, the whirlwind of words which had dominated Julie's mind over the previous fortnight began to dissipate. She was able to start thinking about returning to the mess that must be left in the apartment.It was well and truly Spring as Julie and Cassie. I had a problem with pretty women and stopping my eyes from staring; the Asian cast to her eyes fascinated me enough that I made a minute study of the rest of her facial features."Are you looking for something for your wife?" she asked fidgeting as I continued to stare at her."I'm sorry," I said shaking my head to break contact with her not-so-plain brown eyes. "I'm not married." A girlfriend?" she asked."On the reserve list," I replied without thinking"Excuse me?" she asked with her expressive. He smiled back with something of a wicked grin."No, nothing heavy or too filling - don't want to get sleepy. I took a nap today." Brat! I worked my ass off today. You're lucky I'm not already asleep. Just how long have you been planning this, anyway?" You have no idea what today is, do you?", Jeff asked, smiling."No. It's December 9th, I know that much. What about it?" This is the 25th anniversary of the day we met. Remember that bar? Chris introduced us and you told me that you didn't want.