Beer and wine, with something to snack on was the usual fare, not a meal, but good for the evening. Couple of beers or wines and I?we were good to go....We had a group of regulars and we had been on jobs many times just like this one, in other words we knew each other, somewhat. I knew the guys that had girlfriends, and the girls that had boyfriends, and it did not bother me so see them leave together, it was none of my business.So when Linda stayed with us one evening, and we were talking, we. “Just kidding.” After a brief pause to taste the wine, Alia said casually, “You and Sia have a very unusual relationship.”Apprehension made my body tense. Did she know something? “What do you mean?”“It’s obvious Sia adores you. You two have a special relationship. As I said, very unusual.”Cautiously, I responded. “I don’t know any other single father raising a teenage daughter, so I have no point of reference.”Peals of laughter echoed from the living room.Alia smiled. She nodded towards the. We sat down and she introduced me to her friends.Through all the pleasantries of the evening she never let go of myhand. I could feel it holding onto me as if she would fall if I letgo, I felt the same way.Last call came and we had one more drink and one more slow dancebefore we left the club. I walked her out to her car trying hard tocontain my disappointed in the end of the evening. She acted thesame but, I was afraid to say anything. "John, would you like tostop by my friends house we. I let myself go. But, I... my biggest mistake was trusting you with my future, my happiness."With a deep sigh, he dropped his head, "No, maybe it wasn't trust, maybe it was just laziness. I don't know right now." Raising his head up, his eyes cold and glaring into hers, "But, one thing I do know. That has end."Waving his right hand around to then point an index finger at his chest, "If all this has taught me anything, it's that from now on, I'm looking out for number one first."Holding up two.