"Something like that," I groaned in reply. Then I took a deep breath and managed to lift my head. "Hangover." I figured." Adrienne nodded and looked c...ncerned. "You okay to drive?"I just nodded in response, then got off the bed and slipped my feet into my sandals.Adrienne frowned and glanced around the empty state of the room. "Uh, did you already load my stuff into the car?"I nodded again. After getting dressed, I'd eaten a little and then rather listlessly prepared for the drive home, loading. I still have my doubts.I rode to the Central to see whether that group was bored with their families. The cafe wasn’t crowded, but it was far from barren and it was certainly smoke-filled. Altenberg was at his customary table.“Your highness.”“Did you have a good Christmas?”“Days are days. I ate, I drank, I read, I wrote.”“No celebration?”“I eschew primitive idolatry.”“Cruel.”“Ah, you believe in an ancient bearded entity clad in a nightshirt whose son was martyred to redeem the transgression of. ‘Meg –‘ Glynnis’s tone was half pleading and half monitory. ‘Enough, Glyn. Two minutes after I step out of the shower I stink like Cannery Row, and we both know it.’ ‘I don’t mind, damn it!’ It’s not you I was thinking of. ‘That’s very tolerant of you, but I’d rather not have to wear a plastic diaper to my graduation.’ Glynnis’s eyes narrowed. Her short, round body seemed to tighten from her neckline all the way to her knees. ‘You aren’t getting involved with…men, are you?’ Morgana turned to. The one thing they didn’t know was that I had a degree in psychology and could out-think them in my sleep.Pat was different. She laughed at my jokes and one day, plucking up all my courage, I asked her for a lunchtime drink.I should also explain that I am as nervous as hell of the opposite sex. My tongue gets like a piece of leather and my brain tends to turn to mush and when I meet a stunning woman, like Pat. So it was a rushed gabble of ‘fancyadrinkatlunchtime?’Amazingly she tilted her head.