BETWEEN HELLO AND GOODBYE

r searching for prey. I haven’t chosen her yet, but the woman who w

y table. “What can I bring you?” Hmm.

r refinement as displayed by her choice of apparel—a white, barely there tan-top and frazzled cutoff denim shorts. She doesn’t do it for

cated women from which to choose. My choices are more limited in this small town of

ve the Shira

ead of the usual three or four weeks. I’m looking forward to keeping this one aroun

too friendly with the woman sitting next to her. Lesbians aren’t in my repertoire. I spend the next hour scanning the club and come up empty-handed. I’m discouraged. No one s

lege students. Tonight’s search has been a failur

t singer to step forward. A small group of people across the room nominates one of its own. My view of the poor bastard is blo

to the crowd as she takes a guitar from its stand. She lifts its strap over her head and then tosses her long dark hair over one

And somehow overlook

he bares her thighs as she lifts her feet to rest on the bottom rail, but she’s caref

times and then leans into the microphone.

accent sounds different—not like

heer and I hear a man’s voice yell over

. It’s my first night in spain. “Leave with me and I’ll make you

sic you Spanish people like, but this has been one of my favorites for as long as I can re

py and sexy, her eyes closed. She oozes eroticism. She tilts her head and opens her eyes when she b

tells me she can’t see me sitting in the dark corner at t

bounce against the rail of the stool to keep rhythm and I fall victim t

ain as she sings about hiking up a skirt a little mor

direction when she speaks. I can’t take my eyes from the beautiful b

have changed.

cheers and whistles. She smiles as she pulls the guitar strap

able where she is sitting with a blond woman and tw

aces it on the table in front of me. “Excuse

id it was her firs

t pocket and remove a hundred-dollar bill. I

t the people she

up to deposit in the pocket of her black apron befor

his friend is Cross Stone. They’re regu

here with those blokes?

he would be with them?”

ia and he’s here to study wine at the uni. I thi

his? It’s yours if you can find out what she’s doing here and how long s

rested in playing my little game. “I’ll

ng American couldn’t be more perfect for my next companion. Once our relationship is over,“she woul

e promising. I finish my glass of Shi

cut her off before she

ow her name.” I can see this s

ey’ve come to spend the summer with him. She met

gram at the university, I’m guessing they will be at the vintage dinner at the school on Friday nig

his is yours if you can find out what their plans are for the vintage dinner at

. “I could play this ga

az wine and an update. “The guys will be presenting the

arned bill across the ta

sure. Would you like me t

“

ple between us as they shift. I’m disappointed when the foursome gets up to leave, but I see the

n the hallway. When the door to the ladies’ room opens, I walk toward her, but she’s lo

She steps to her left and I mo

Look up

laughs as she lifts he

. We lock eyes and I try to identify the color of he

right. She

ance is an expression we use where I’m from. You know? Like w

with the expression,