Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

"Pooh!" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

"Girls' night out!" Sarah fluted as she hugged her friends with a grin. Jacob looked slightly piqued. "You guys always calling it 'girls' night out' is a bit misleading, don't you think?"

Lisa frowned and followed Jakob to the last free table of the otherwise full restaurant. "Why?"

"Because I'm a man?"

"Why don't you consider yourself a woman of honor," Sarah informed him, setting the reservation card aside.

"What's that supposed to be?" echoed Lisa, sitting down on the bench and stuffing her coat next to her. Jacob moved to her free side and Sarah took a seat opposite.

Her friend shrugged. "Youthful language. You wouldn't believe what the chicks are coming up with these days. I'm not sure about half of it, what it means exactly. When did we get so old? We're not even 30, are we?" She gestured to a waitress, who nodded in affirmation.

Jacob glanced at the menu as he cheerfully remarked. "Speak for yourself ... After all, you were there for my thirtieth. Getting back to the 'girl' in 'girls' night out' ..."

Lisa snorted as Sarah leaned over and gave his dark hair a friendly tousle. "Oh, don't be like that. You'd better be glad we're reducing you to your brains regardless of your gender."

"That's a pretty chauvinistic attitude."

Lisa waved it off. "We can't be chauvinistic because you're one of us." The waitress brought a tray with three colorful cocktails, which she distributed haphazardly. Jacob rested his head on the tabletop and sighed loudly while Lisa chose a drink.

"You do realize that most of what you're saying doesn't make sense?" he cried out again.
Sarah slid him a mai tai. "Just drink something and it will be easier."

He followed her advice and grumbled, "This is exactly why I like men. Anything else wouldn't even make sense." Then he shook himself and looked at his cocktail in disgust. "What's that?"

Lisa tasted. "A mango mai tai."

"Okay, why is there mango in my alcohol?" His mouth clearly had a disgusted tug.

Sarah switched their drinks. "Oh, a few vitamins will do you good. Who doesn't like mango?"

"Anyone with taste buds. Couldn't we go to a sports bar for a change? Drink beer or something? I like beer." Jacob took a sip of Sarah's drink and accepted the exchange. Then his eyes lingered on the front door, whistling softly through his teeth. "Why, hello, who goes there?"

Lisa followed his gaze as she drank her strawberry daiquiri and choked. Without a doubt, Darrer had entered Sausalitos and let his gaze glide over the crowded tables. Like a lion scanning the savannah for prey. She quickly ducked behind Jacob. Damn the luck.

With a grin that made Lisa's stomach jump, he sauntered up to a dark-haired woman who was just standing at the counter, waving her arm. He whispered something in her ear and she turned to him, smiling. A conquest, how typical. Of course, he was good-looking. Well-trained, dark hair, blue eyes. Plus this self-confident manner, downright arrogant. The dark-haired woman shook his hand and looked up at him. As if he was a hero or something similar. Ew.

Sarah poked Lisa in the side. "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"A smelly ghost," Jacob added, smirking.

With a nod, Lisa gestured toward the counter. "That's my neighbor."

"The cream slice?" Jakob leaned back a bit and eyed Darrer.

Lisa screwed up her face and nodded.

"Fancy," Sarah commented.

Darrer leaned over the counter and ordered from the bartender while the black-haired woman continued to adore him. "Why don't you grab him?" asked Jacob.

With a frown, she pointed to the scene. "Because I'm not going to join the long line of his admirers."

"Because lining up isn't exactly your strong suit, huh?"

Jacob knew where to press, and Lisa realized her comment needed further elaboration. "Just take a look at him. He's way too handsome for a man. Women go for him, I mean, he's pretty!"

She raised her hands and decorated the compliment with quotation marks. "You never have a man like that to yourself, and sharing just isn't my thing." She doubted sharing her husband with Hanover's womankind had been her mother's thing, but at least she wasn't about to make the same mistake.

Jacob rolled his eyes and chuckled. "You're so shallow, Lieschen. I mean, you reject the poor guy because he's good-looking. I think that's a little unfair. I'm sure he has feelings too."

An athletic redhead was just arriving at the entrance. She caught Lisa's eye because she rushed to Darrer with quick steps and untangled him from the counter girl. If looks could kill, the newcomer would have died on the spot thanks to Darrer's admirer.

Jacob shrugged his shoulders. "See, that kind of thing is hot."

Lisa's gaze drifted to Darrer's butt and she silently agreed. But the pretty ones were dangerous, Jakob would learn that too. After all, that had been seen with her father. Even after he had finally left, her mother still mourned his handsome face. And even after that - until her death - she had been attached to the man.

Carefully, she changed the subject. "How are things with you and that artist, what was his name?" she inquired of Jakob.

He took a bite and screwed up his face. "Oh, those artists... There are only these states between sky-high cheering and saddened to death. It's so exhausting." Sympathetically, Sarah patted his shoulder and Jacob continued, unusually serious. "His name is André, but I'm not sure it's worth memorizing."

"Oh no," Sarah intervened, "I thought it was something solid. I mean, you guys had taken that short vacation, in London!"

Jacob nodded. "True. But if I'm honest, it became apparent then that we have different views on life. He tends to live in the here and now, while I'm looking for something long-term."

The somber moment was interrupted by a waitress and everyone ordered another cocktail. Along with that, Jakob ordered three more tequilas to loosen them up a bit.

At just before midnight, the three left the cocktail bar slightly buzzed and pretty relaxed.
"I think I'll treat myself to a cab today," Lisa decided.

Jakob looked at his watch and groaned. "I'll regret this in the morning," he whined, putting on his cap. Sarah laughed and hugged Lisa goodbye.

"Love you. Sleep tight," she murmured, then hooked up with Jacob. "Come on, I'll let you walk me home today."

Jakob rolled his eyes and gave Lisa a goodbye kiss on her right cheek. "See you next time, Lieschen," he whispered.

Lisa waved after them, then looked around for a cab. Along with Grandma Trude and her brother, these two were her family. She couldn't have asked for a better one.

The voice that sounded behind her caused her to almost stumble into the street. "Are you following me?"

From the shadows beside Sausalitos, Darrer stepped toward her, smiling his winning smile. At first, Lisa had ignored him in the pub and had actually forgotten about him after the second cocktail, but now he was standing in front of her. With each encounter, she was pushed out of her comfort zone. Another point that spoke against him. There were few things Lisa liked less than not being the master of the situation.

She swallowed her surprise and eyed him, trying to find anything tangible behind his handsome facade. Everything was perfect. Not even a pimple dared to mar him. He wore a slim-fitting gray coat and just pulled a pair of gloves out of his pocket. So he was organized, too. How unappealing. Lisa had forgotten her gloves, so now she had no choice but to put her cold fingers inside her jacket. "Of course not, apart from the fact that we went to the Sausa first," she explained with well-dosed arrogance.

Paul's expression looked pleased as if she'd just been on to him. Automatically, Lisa frowned.
"So you saw me when I arrived?"

Bummer. "Maybe," she replied vaguely.

"And not welcomed. I'm hurt." He placed a hand on the spot where his heart should be beating beneath layers of sturdy woolen fabric.

Faced with his theatrics, she couldn't help smiling. "I didn't mean to interrupt your date. Or your dates? That's where you get confused."

"Are you jealous?"

"Why would I be?"

Paul took a step toward her, now invading her comfort zone considerably. "Yes, why?" he asked in a raspy voice.

Lisa swallowed. Despite the cocktails, she had an insanely dry throat. She felt like a bunny running straight into the arms of the hunter. A thirsty bunny with an urgent need for water.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a cab approaching. With a movement far too fast to remain inconspicuous, she dodged Paul, stepped into the street, and raised a hand. The cab slowed and stopped beside her.

Relieved, Lisa opened the door and was about to sink into the leather seat. Then she realized that this might seem like an escape. For a moment she paused. Her thoughts whirled through her head like thunder flies. Finally, she turned back to Paul. "Would you like a ride?"

At that very moment, she would have liked to bite her tongue. A cab ride together? He was making her sweat now without them squatting on top of each other in the back of a vehicle. Side by side, she corrected herself in a panic. Side by side! On his neck, she discovered a small birthmark that attracted her gaze like a small magnet. I wonder if he had more of them.
Paul stood close behind her and a fascinating smell emanated from him.

Fortunately, he didn't seem to be able to read her thoughts this time and only shook his head regretfully. Some aftershave. Tart, masculine, but not overbearing.

His voice brought her back. "As a matter of fact, I'd love to, but I have to wait here for my escort. I don't think that would be very decent, just leaving like that." With a smile, he closed the door. "Another time with pleasure."

Paul watched the cab ferrying his dark-haired neighbor home. Lisa was her name. Mrs. Kramer, the elderly lady across the street, had been able to tell him a few things. Apparently, she had moved into her grandmother's half of the house last summer. Paul had actually had little contact with the older lady since he had only been home to sleep now and then in the spring because of the tournaments. He had been able to elicit a few childhood stories from Lisa from the friendly Mrs. Kramer since she had grown up in her half of the house. Lisa had always seemed to be made up of an interesting mix of tough and tender, always driven by a desire to prove herself.
She had really looked scrumptious when she had just stood in front of him with those red cheeks. A bit like Snow White. A slightly tipsy Snow White. Smiling, he watched her go, even though the cab had long since disappeared from his view. There was something about her. Something beyond her penchant for putting her foot in her mouth.

From behind, he was jostled rudely. "Are you asleep, vixen?" Daria had joined him and snapped him out of his thoughts. "No, I'm thinking of the countless torments you've caused since you snowballed into my life."

"In general, or of any particular torment?"

"I just let a beautiful woman drive home alone," he complained.

"The gold digger from inside? Even you should realize you'll thank me when your hormonal congestion lets you think straight again."

Laughing, Paul tousled her auburn mane. "No, not that one. Not a sports groupie. A real woman I've met. Her name is Lisa." Paul deliberately held back on information. Otherwise, Daria would have stuck her little nose far too deep into his business again. All for his own good. He snorted silently.

"If she's that great, you're an idiot. Why didn't you text me that you were going alone - we were leaving anyway?"

Concerned, Paul looked at her. "I'm not going to let you walk around alone in the middle of the night!"

She puffed out her chest. "I can take care of myself."

Paul put an arm around her shoulders and led her down the street. "I know, Dar. But I'd never take the chance."

Daria rested her head on his shoulder. "You know, I'm really glad I snowballed into your life," she murmured.

"Me too." She was closer to him than his own sister. Even if he didn't like to think back to the day she had irretrievably become a part of him. The day shortly after her tenth birthday when her brother Torben had taken his own life out of lovesickness.

It had been sad. Sad and unnecessary. Torben had been only fifteen years old himself and Paul's best friend. He had fallen madly in love with a girl from the fencing club. Michaela. She had made fun of him and he had jumped off a bridge. Just like that. Paul still missed him after all this time. He didn't want Daria to notice where his mind had drifted and gave her a hug. "Most of the time, anyway. When you're not being a thorn in my foot. Come to think of it, that is, rather rarely, actually."

She nudged him and laughed.