Carmela's mama had been worrying about how long it was taking her to collect a boy for some time, uttering statements like, "In the old country, you w...uld be promised to a man, at least, by now -- but you're not even dating!" One look at Chuck and Mama was going to be thrilled to death..."Oh, well, then..." Chuck pulled Carmela to her feet. "I'll suffer through it." Taking her hand, he led her off toward the communal showers.Saturday morning found several couples in mussed party clothes eating. “You wish.”“Sorry,” Rhys stammered. “It’s such a strange name.”Hagazz sighed, a sound coming from the deepest recesses of his soul. “Believe me, if I had a gold coin for every time someone tried to make fun of my name, I wouldn’t have to sell my skills to Thurguz.”“Is it so bad?” Rhys asked.“When the girls are spirited like today, yes. Brings back bad memories of all my female siblings piling on me. Can you imagine being the least wanted being under your roof?”Rhys nodded emphatically. “You. " They had been cut-ups in high school, and it was obvious they had remained friends since, as the foursome didn't do any catching up. Hayley was glad to be included, and, all things considered, glad to be remembered by them.Steven wasn't doing so badly, and she was proud of him for trying. She gave him a break, trying to pick out the slower numbers, when they could dance...close. Being "close" in marriage lasted only moments, usually an embrace before stripping and making love. But dancing. The fourteen-year-old freshman cheerleader was staying in the state capital, along with the rest of the cheerleading squad and the boys' football team, because tomorrow morning the football team would be competing in the state semifinals.Although the coaches, both the boys' and her squad's, had sternly shepherded all the teenagers into their rooms for the evening shortly after dinner at the Country Buffet, the pixie-cute brunette had lucked out. She was assigned a room with Nadine Tucker, a.