"Come on Gabi!" Sofia yells from the living room, putting on her last earring. "If we don't go now, all the cute guys are going to be taken."
"Do I have to?" Gabi asked, walking out of her room with her black strappy heels in her hand. "I mean, I don't mind playing wing woman, but I'm not really in the mood to find another guy that's going to have something wrong with him again."
"You have to get out there," Sofia said.
"But Josh is getting married this weekend," she said.
"All the more reason to find a date," Sofia said.
"I'm catering it," she said. "I don't have time for a date."
"Gabi, you have to stop living in the past," Sofia said.
"But the last guy," she started to say.
Sofia interrupted, "Just don't pick anyone who is on break, under 18, a nerd, or freshly broken up."
"Because that's what I go out and look for," Gabi says.
"Just do it for me," Sofia pleads.
"I hate you," Gabi said, sitting on the couch to put her shoes on.
"Yay," Sofia shrieked before grabbing her purse and coat and walking out the door.
Gabi grabbed her own before following after her.
At the bar, Gabi and Sofia grab a table near the back.
"Lighten up," Sofia said. "Smile. Nobody likes a negative Nancy," she shouted over the music.
"I don't want anybody anyway," Gabi shouted back.
"Go get us some drinks," Sofia shouted.
"Okay," she said.
She walked up to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks. While she was waiting for them, a thin guy with brown hair slunk up to her.
"Hey gorgeous," he said in her ear.
Gabi jumped, turning to look at the guy next to her.
"I'm sorry, I'm not interested," she said, turning back to the bar.
"I didn't ask," he said.
Gabi quickly grabbed their drinks and headed back to the table.
Sofia had a tall handsome guy with blond hair and blue eyes leaning against the table next to her. When she set the drinks on the table, Sofia turned and introduced him.
"Hey Gabi, this is Eric. Eric, this is my roommate Gabi," she said.
"Nice to meet you," Gabi said, grabbing her drink and taking a huge gulp.
"Do you want to dance," Eric asked Sofia.
"Absolutely," she said. He held her hand and led her onto the open dance floor where they began to dance very close.
Gabi took another gulp. She was not in the mood for a night out. Josh was getting married in two days.
"Looks like you need some company," the guy from the bar said, coming up behind Gabi and scaring her again. "You're awfully jumpy." He slid into Sofia's chair, facing her.
"Well, when strange guys sneak up on me," she said, "I tend to watch my back."
"I can cover your back for you," he said, grinning.
"I said I'm not interested," she repeated. She turned her chair the other way and that's when she noticed two bigger guys hanging at the bar, staring her down.
"Why don't we go outside and talk?" he asked. "I'll keep you company while your friend dances with the pretty boy." He put his hand on hers as if to hold it.
"I said, I'm not interested," she shouted, yanking her hand away. When she did, she saw both guys start to head her way, and the guy at the table grabbed her wrist this time.
"I'm engaged," she shouted. They all paused.
"Oh, really?" he said.
She pulled out her phone and dialed the first number she could think of. The entire time, she was trying subtly to get Sofia's attention, but her eyes were glued to the guy that was holding her.
"Hello?" Josh said, answering the phone.
"Hey baby," Gabi said, smiling sweetly for the guys benefit.
"What? Gabi?" he asked.
"Do you think you could come meet me at the Two-Door Bar?" she swooned.
"Gabi, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Thanks, baby. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Gabi, what's going on?"
"Love you too," she said. "Bye."
"I'm on my way," he said, before she could hang up.
She put her phone back in her purse and looked at the guys.
They laughed.
"Nice act," the guy said.
"What?" she asked. "What act?"
"First off, you can't get service in here," he said.
"I have verizon. I get service everywhere."
"Second off, there's no way anyone could hear you."
"It's quiet on his end. He could make it out."
"And third off," he said, "No ring. You're lying to us."
"I am not," she said. "I just didn't want to wear it to a bar where it could get stolen.
"Why'd that girl say you were roommates then?"
"We're engaged, not married," she said. "Besides, how did you know that?"
"We know everything," he said, pointing to his two friends. "Now, let's go outside."
"No," she said, yanking her arm back again.
"You don't want to make me mad," he said, grabbing her arm again. "I'm just trying to keep you company."
"Sofia," she screamed out, turning her head towards the dance floor. "Sofia!" The music was too loud. Sofia never looked up.
"Come on," he said. "You'll be fine. You might even enjoy yourself."
He pulled her arm and began to drag her towards the entrance. She fought him for a while, stepping on his toes with her heels, but between him and the two guys, she had no chance. They managed to get her out the entrance, but lucky for her, Josh jogged up at that exact moment.
"Josh," she shouted. "Josh!"
He quickly spotted her and when he saw the guys holding her, he started running towards her. The guys immediately dropped her arm and she ran to him. She wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him tight. He held her back, protectively glaring over her at the guys.
She pulled back, but only to reach up and pull him down so she could kiss him. He was a little taken back, but kissed her back almost immediately, like it was natural. Her stomach felt like it was on fire.
She kissed her way to his ear, and making it look like she was still kissing him, she whispered, "They think we're engaged. They didn't believe that I called anyone before."
She finally pulled back, but only to wrap her arms around his waist again. He held one arm tightly around her and looked up at the three guys, who looked very surprised.
"I know you weren't just dragging my fiancé against her will, especially into a dark alley," Josh said.
"If she's your fiancé, where's her ring?" the main guy asked.
"Getting resized," he said. "It was a little big."
"I thought you said you left it at home because you didn't want it stolen?" he said.
"Well, I didn't," she said.
"It's none of your business either way," Josh said.
"Dude, calm down," he said. "We'll go."
"Good idea," Josh said. "Let's go home, Gabi."
"You said you lived with your roommate," the guy said, pointing at them.
"Seriously?" Josh asked. "Butt out."
"Well, if you're lying and she's not yours, then I'm going to take a spin with her."
Next thing Gabi knew, Josh let go of her and punched the guy in the nose.
"Don't ever. Lay eyes. Or talk. To her again." Josh said, pronunciation each phrase. "Understand?"
The two bigger guys started at Josh, but the leader called them off.
"Get me to a damn hospital you fools. I think he broke my nose."
Josh was rubbing his fist. Gabi just stood beside him, hands covering her mouth in shock.
The three guys walked off and Josh turned to her.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded, bringing her hands down but leaving her mouth open.
"You sure?" he asked.
She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around his middle again.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," she kept repeating.
"It wasn't a problem," Josh said. "You know I'll always keep you safe.
"Thank you," she said, beginning to cry.
"Hey, hey," he said, wiping the tears from her face. "It's okay now. You're going to be fine."
"Thank you," she said yet again.
"Come on," he said. "Let's really go home."
"Wait, Sofia," she said. "I need to tell her I'm leaving."
After letting Josh pay cover and all but kill the guys for letting Gabi be dragged out unwillingly, they finally made their way to Sofia.
Gabi quickly explained what happened and after Sofia apologized a bunch of times, she told her that Josh was taking her home and wanted to make sure she would be alright.
"Yah, go ahead. Eric can take me home," she said.
After hugging her goodbye, Josh led her out of the bar, his arm never leaving her side until he helped her into his Porsche.