Miss Independent
an excerpt

Ken patted my hand and continued. “You’re just a hard woman, Audrey. Not rock hard, but more like an acorn. Tough to get through, but worth the effort to the sweetness inside. And you don’t compromise. What you need is a man, someone who appreciates the hardness as well as the soft, and who’s your equal. You just haven’t found him yet.”

Inside I was humming ‘Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods…’ while I pondered a response. Sue me, I was a sarcastic bitch.

“Maybe because he doesn’t exist, and I really am what my hated nun aunt always called me, a man hater?”

Ken rolled his eyes and waggled a finger at me. “That would make you a lesbian and on my team, sister. So no, you aren’t a man hater. You’re just particular.”

Yay me. Particular. And alone. Just perfect.

“Well, I’m counting on you. If you see anyone you think fits the bill, get me their name and number.” I sipped my beer pensively. Damn it, why did Barb have to turn this fun night out into an introspective tour of relationship dysfunctional me? Oh wait; no she didn’t. She just made a statement. I ran with it.
Sipping turned to chugging as I tried to use a hops cure for my blues. From down the bar, I heard Barb ask one of the guys she was bantering with, “You want to see my mouse tattoo?”