LIZ stood in the woman's bathroom, the cell phone to her ear.
"Do not tell me it's a work emergency." Kelly said when she answered her phone.
"No, I'm at the Ball. Bathroom meeting now. I called everyone." Liz said
Kelly said, "I'm on my way."
ROBIN was walking through the dining room, on her way to the restroom, when she spotted Ned dancing with Lainey. She stopped, smiled and thought, I did not see that coming.
She waited for the song to end and then approached them. "Hi, Ned. Looking good tonight."
He joked, "It's not leather pants but it will do."
Lainey raised an eyebrow. "Leather pants?"
"I will show you the videos." Robin said
"Don't you dare," Ned told her, laughing.
"All right, on one condition." Robin said "I need Lainey for about ten minutes. I'm going to the powder my nose. And you know us women can not do that alone. One has to hold the powder while the other one holds the brush. It's quite complicated."
"I bet." Ned said with smile. He looked at Lainey, "Meet you at the bar?"
"Get me a drink, okay?" Lainey asked Ned, her dark eyes meeting his. A look passed between them, one that pushed out everyone else in the room, a look of awareness that something was beginning for them tonight.
Ned asked, "What would you like?"
"Surprise me." Their eyes held for moment more and then he nodded, gave her another private smile and left.
Robin whispered, "Going well, I see?"
Lainey kept her eyes on him. "So far."
EMILY stepped into the bathroom and saw Liz and Kelly in front of the mirror. Kelly was applying red lipstick.
Liz was scowling.
"Oh no," Em said "who did you bring? It looks like he's a dud."
"Not really," Liz said "But he has open mouth insert foot syndrome. I don't know if you know him. He's Lulu teacher at college, Pete Marquez."
Kelly said, "Yum! I saw that hottie at Kelly's just yesterday. But I already had my date or I might have asked Mike to put The Professor in a doggy bag to go with me."
Robin and Lainey walked in.
"So ladies," Lainey asked "what is the verdict? Who got the hottie and who got the snotty?"
Everyone but Robin laughed. "Snotty?" she asked.
They laughed harder.
"Well I so think I won." Kelly said "I know I have your vote Emily. Isn't Nikolas Cassadine the hottest Hottie in Port Charles?"
Softly Emily said, "I always thought so." A hint of sadness passed over her features.
Kelly's face changed. "Oh no. Ouch. Did I screw up? I thought it was over with you two?"
"It is." Emily said a little too quickly. "Totally. And I would rather you date him than someone like... say Carly for instance."
"She would eat Nikolas for breakfast." Robin said "Spit his bones out. And be moved on to Patrick by lunch."
"It's not all that." Emily laughed softly, shaking her head. "The reason I would hate someone like her hooking up with him., it's not even about Carly. But if Nikolas' next girlfriend was the jealous type she might not let him spend time with me. And our friendship goes way back. I don' want to lose that... just because I lost my husband."
She thought about how odd the phrase was- lost my husband. Like he had been misplaced and might turn up if she tacked up signs around town. She could imagine how one might look-
MISSING- then a picture of him on their wedding day- one soulmate, also answers to Prince, treasured companion. Reward for information on how to get him back.
"You don't hate me?" Kelly asked
"Not at all." Emily said
Lainey said, "Okay, so that is candidate one, Nikolas Cassadine. Who can top him in the Hottie category?"
Liz said, "Not me. Pete is pretty good looking. But unless he goes mute by the time I get back to the bar, he loses."
Bobbie walked into the bathroom. "Hi, girls. Having a nice time?"
Everyone chatted with her while she fixed her make up. Then Monica and Skye walked in.
"Em, I heard about grandfather ordering Alice to fill your date's backside with buckshot!" Skye said "Is Milo scared to ever come back to the mansion now?"
Robin, Lainey, Liz and Kelly shrieked "MILO!"
Emily blushed.
"I think he seems like a lovely boy." Bobbie said "He brings my grand children over to drop them off sometimes. He's as sweet as his older brother Max."
"Isn't Milo like a baby?" asked Lainey "How old is he?"
"He can't be a baby and work for the mob," Monica said "Em, why can't you just go back to Nikolas? Or call up Steven Webber? Liz's brother is a good man, a safe man. Wholesome."
"Sorry, Monica, he's taken." Liz said
Monica shook her head sadly. Then moved over to a stall. Skye went into one too.
Bobbie said, "Well, I kinda agree with Monica. I have to say it is a relief Carly is not with Sonny or Lorenzo. I sleep better. But I want her to follow her heart first and foremost."
Robin thought about who her heart ached for. It was a familiar feeling- this wanting what she could not have. For years it was Stone she longed to get back. Then Jason- his blue eyes in so many of her dreams. His anger palpable even with a ocean between them.
But Patrick was never meant to be that serious. She could have not gone to his hotel room and thrown him on the bed, if she thought that much was on the line. Because it was too big. Too much pain. Still here she was again, right back in this old same spot she knew so well.
Once Monica, Bobbie and Skye left, Lainey said "Okay, Milo. Nikolas, Pete, and I brought Ned. So that leaves you, Robin. Who is your candidate for the Hottie Award?"
Robin smiled, thinking of the stud who waited at the bar for her. She had snagged a looker, for sure.
She announced,"I think I won. I'm here with Cruz Rodriguez."
Author's note- Who do you think should win the Hottie Award?