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There will be another double post today! Check back later for part 2!

*****

The next few weeks seemed to fly by. Gavin and I were in a honeymoon stage after our fight: spending most of our spare time together, being extra affectionate, ripping each other's clothes off... I'd been making an effort to carve out time for him and he'd been supportive and understanding of the times when I was busy or stressed. Things were good.  

It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was with the team drinking victory beers at the Ice Box after an early game when Josh proposed his idea. "Let's keep the celebration going! Let's go out tonight!"

"I'm in!" Ainsley chimed in. I barely restrained myself from laughing at her obvious eagerness. Ainsley had been nursing a huge lady boner for Josh for ages, poor girl. " Al, Rach, you down?"

"Not me," Rachel said, shaking her head. "Derrick and I have plans already."

I shrugged. I'd been looking forward to a night in. I had a paper to finish for Contract Law, and Gavin was supposed to come over after a concert he was going to with some of his friends. I didn't want to upset our current balance by ditching our plans to party with the team. "I dunno, guys, I might sit this one out."

Josh pouted dramatically. "Come oooooooonnnnn, Allie! Karaoke at The Foxhole, you can't say no to that!"

We all groaned. Rumour has it that The Foxhole had once been a nice enough pub, but if that's true, it must have been when I was still in diapers. Now it was a complete dive, mostly frequented by creepy, unwashed men addicted to VLTs. Yet, it was something of an institution in the city. There was a decrepit stage at the back that no band had performed on since the ball dropped on the year 1995, and they used it for karaoke on Saturday nights. Despite the fact that the bar was rundown and grungy, it drew a fair sized crowd every Saturday. 

"Somehow I think I can resist the dubious allure of The Foxhole." I laughed as I swigged the last of my beer. I got up to pay my bill at the bar, and Ainsley followed me. 

"Allie, you have to come, please. I really want to make something happen with Josh and I need my wingwoman!" she pleaded. 

"Ains, I don't think so. I really need to work on this paper and I have plans to meet up with Gavin later."

"Perfect! Invite Gavin to come! Pleeeeeease, I'll owe you and I'll never ask you for a favour again, pleeeeeeease!" Ainsley's begging was so over the top that I couldn't help but laugh. 

"Okay, I'll check with Gavin, but I'm only coming if he's cool with the change of plans..." Ainsley cheered and skipped back to the table. I shook my head and made my way back to the table, texting Gavin as I went.

The team is going out to The Foxhole later. Would you be down to meet up there? No pressure!

I got a response almost instantly. Sure thing, babe. Sounds like fun. I'll text you when I'm leaving the concert. 

"What can I say, Ainsley twisted my arm." I replied, rolling my eyes. "I just had to check in with Gavin, and he's going to meet up with us at The Foxhole."

"YES!" Josh cheered. "Now it's a party!"

"So we're finally going to meet the mystery boyfriend, huh?" Reid teased. "I was starting to think you'd made him up." I balled up a napkin and threw it at him like the mature adult that I am. 

"You guys will love Gavin, he's a great guy." Rachel said.

"I'm excited to meet him!" Sarah said.

"He's pretty awesome," I said, smiling and shrugging. I grabbed my bag and put on my coat. "Okay, I seriously have to go now. Some of us are trying to get a degree in something other than day drinking." They all booed as I hustled out. 

"I'll pick you up at 8:30!" Ainsley called after me.

*****

I tried to work on my paper for the rest of the afternoon, but by 6:30, I was slamming my MacBook closed in frustration. I just couldn't seem to focus. My attention kept wandering to the get together at The Foxhole. For some reason I couldn't quite put my finger on, I felt kind of nervous. 

I officially gave up on my paper, and moved  into my bedroom. I sifted through my closet, making a face as I pulled out outfit after outfit. Twenty minutes later, I was still standing there, only now I had a massive pile of rejected clothing at my feet. Sighing in frustration, I abandoned my search and hopped in the shower.

An hour and a half later, I approached my closet in a much better frame of my mind. I was freshly scrubbed, my legs were shaved, my dark brown hair was straight and glossy, falling halfway down my back. I'd kept my makeup to just eyeliner, mascara, blush and lip gloss, since we were going somewhere so low-brow. I reached for my go-to favourite jeans and a thin, slightly sheer black V-neck. I finished the outfit with a set of jade earrings and the matching necklace that nestled into the open neckline.

My phone buzzed just as I was pulling on my black, flat heeled boots. I grabbed my purse, jogged down the stairs to the lobby, and out the front door where Ainsley was idling in her Mazda. Here we go, I thought to myself.