The server placed Melinda’s stack of strawberry and banana pancakes— with extra fruit and whipped cream— in front of her, and she prepared to dig in.
“So what happened with Ryan last night?” Bella wanted to know from behind her own stack of cheesecake pancakes.
“Well, I had called him to come over and help out, right? And when he shows, he’s dressed up really nicely and he’s holding a single red rose. When I answered the door, he was like, you’re not going out dressed like that are you? Dude thought we were going out on a date.”
“But you weren’t?” Darlene asked. She sipped her diet soda.
“Oh, come on! Ryan knows the score. There’s monsters to slay, and I’m supposed to do it in pantyhose and heels?” She took a bite of pancake. “I am starving. I’m always hungry after a kill.”
“Hence the IHOP girls’ night and after action review,” Bella said. “So, Ryan didn’t approve of your outfit…”
“I will have you know that I picked my outfit very carefully. Also, I did my hair special. I braided it and pinned it up on top of my head– there was no way any fiend from hell was going to be able to grab it.”
“Good thinking,” Bella said, “especially after last time.”