I never have, and I never will."
         "Don't care for men named Max?"
         "Something like that."
         By this point in the conversation, I was definitely getting the feeling that we were both sending out tentative feelers.  Surely the woman who sat next to me was a lesbian.  She had to be.  Unfortunately I always get panicky when I think about saying something outright to a new acquaintance, especially if the acquaintance is someone who looked as delicious as Dr. Terri. 
        She was about 5'8" to my 5'6".  A little on the lean side, but definitely not emaciated.  She had just enough padding in all the right spots.  Her dark brown hair was cut in a style that was reminiscent of a pageboy, making her look like a throwback to an earlier decade.  Her eyes were unforgettable, as they scrutinized me from behind the cover of her bangs.  They were a rich van dyke brown. 
        I tried to pull my thoughts together.  I wanted to believe that her flirtatious manner indicated that she was as interested in me as I was in her.  That the spark I was experiencing was real chemistry between us and not just my overactive imagination.   However, I was acutely aware of the fact that I wasn't operating on all circuits.  It had been a long day.  I was tired and sleepy.   It could be that my wishful thinking was misinterpreting her words and expressions, and the spark was merely the result of a little faulty wiring in my mental breaker box.
        The silence that fell on our conversation was almost oppressive after the light badinage.  When I could stand it no longer, I ventured hesitantly, "Well, I suppose I had better find my way to the parking lot.  I'm sure you need to get back to work."
        Rising slowly from her seat Dr. Terri smiled at me and said, "Yeah, I do need to get back to my wing pretty soon.   I hope the coffee perked you up enough to get you home.  How far do you have to drive?"
I got the distinct impression that Dr. Terri wasn't quite ready to end our conversation, so I walked slowly back to the elevators.  "Only about ten miles or so.  I live on the south side of town."
        Dr. Terri's face lit up a little bit.  "Oh, really?   So do I, if you could call it living.  I really live here.   I just check in occasionally at my apartment."
        "Which complex?"
        "Sandy Lake Villas."
        "I'm in San Juan, around the corner," I interjected, not bothering to wait for her to ask.
        "What do you know?  We're practically neighbors.  At least, we would be if I were ever home.  I really don't know anyone around there, since I'm gone so much."
         "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to when you are home, I'm in apartment fifty-seven.  I'm usually awake until at least three, so it doesn't matter if it's late."
         "Thanks.  I might take you up on it.  It isn't easy to find anyone who is awake at all hours."
          Not knowing quite how to end our conversation, I said, "Sorry again for my rudeness.  Hey, you never ate your lunch."
         Dr. Terri's face reddened.  "Actually, I wasn't on my way to eat lunch.  I was just coming down for coffee.  My money was in what used to be my lunch bag, which got torn open on the corner of a cleaning cart.  That's

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