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leaned close to Jess, giggled, and whispered something into her ear.
    Ashley took another sip of her beer and spotted him over the top of her glass, sitting in the back row of the sports section. It was no wonder she hadn't noticed him before. He was looked different. Much larger than she had remembered. Strong and solid, rugged looking, like a lumberjack with his full beard, tan and the hint of a tattoo peeking out from underneath his upper arm. He was leaning across his chair talking to the man sitting across from him. As he went to pick up his drink from the table he glanced back and spotted her.
    Their eyes locked and Ashley felt a sudden chill rush through her body. She wasn't sure if she should wave or pretend she hadn't seen him but he held her gaze. It was as if time had come to a standstill. His expression was completely unreadable. Despite the drink, her mouth felt dry and everything sounded muffled and distant.
    He raised his drink to his lips and returned to watching the game on the TV, as though he hadn't noticed her. Ashley hadn't even realized she had been holding her breath.
    “Ash. Hellooo?”
    She blinked a few times and turned to see Nicole and Jess staring at her.
    “Excuse me?” Ashley asked, embarrassed about her distracted and obvious lack of attention to the conversation.
    “I was telling Nicole about the last time we came to visit you, when Coco was only a toddler and she vomited all over Steven's couch.” Jess laughed. “I felt so bad. It was brand new and probably worth more than my car!” Jess and Nicole both giggled. Ashley felt her pulse beginning to return to normal and took another sip of her drink. She forced a smile and felt a shudder spread through her body.
    “Is the bathroom still near the pool tables?”  Ashley asked Jess. Jess nodded, taking another gulp of her beer. “Excuse me a moment.”
    Ashley made her way into the bathroom and paused to look in the mirror. The fluorescent lights made her skin look blotchy and flushed.
    She fanned herself with her hand and turned on the cold water tap, running her hand under the cool water and rubbing it on the back of her neck. The toilet flushed and a pretty young girl with dark hair stumbled out. As she washed her hands she stared uncomfortably at Ashley.
    “You're not from around here, are you?” The girl’s voice was slurred.
    “No,” Ashley replied.
    “I could tell. You're pretty.” The girl hiccupped. “Are you here for the Jamboree?”
    “Thank you, and  no. It's my mom's wedding next week.”
    “Your mom, wow!” The girl struggled to open her eyes wide, like it was the most amazing news she had ever heard. “How do you get your teeth so white?”
    Ashley laughed out loud. “I don't know. I brush them, I guess.” She tried to hide her amusement. “Are you all right?”
    The girl flapped her hand through the air. “I'm fine. Fiiiine. F-I-N-E.” She started to laugh hysterically “That spells finny. I'm finny!” The girl placed her hands on the vanity to support herself. “Like a fish!”
    Ashley tried not to laugh and moved to tuck an arm around the drunk girls’ back before she stumbled and fell.
    “Come on. Let’s go and see if we can find your friends.” Ashley helped her back out to the bar area, scanning the room to see if anyone appeared to be searching for someone. A young girl in a cute white summer dress, denim jacket and brown shoulder bag and dark blonde hair dashed over.
    “Stacey, I was looking everywhere for you. Thank you so much,” the girl said as she helped to support her friend.
    “Not a problem,” Ashley said. “I think you better get her home.”
    “Yeah, we’re leaving. My sisters outside getting the car at the moment.”
    “Isn't she pretty?” Stacey said to her friend.
    Her friend nodded and smiled apologetically. “Thanks again.”
    “Get her to drink a big glass of water with two alka seltzer's before she goes to sleep.”
    She felt sorry for the girl, and couldn't help