�Hey, don�t worry about it, Claire. He was being an asshole.�

�Diane, this is important. Are you uncomfortable talking about it?�

After a brief pause, Diane said, �Yes, I guess I am. I shouldn�t be, but I am. I was surprised, but I figure your sexuality is none of my business unless you made it my business yourself.�

�I�m not comfortable with the rest of the squad knowing that I�m a lesbian yet.�

�Okay. They won�t hear about it from me. I�ll leave that up to you,� Diane said, wanting to reassure Claire that she had not spilled any beans.

�I mean, the only reason Harry knows is he walked in on me at college. And he has wielded that information like a weapon ever since.�

�I can see what you mean,� Diane sighed.

�But are you okay with it? Are you going to worry about me in the dressing room and crap like that?�

�It might be weird at first, but I�ll get over it and be normal again pretty fast.�

�Just let me know when you�re uncomfortable, because I want to respect your space, okay?�

�Okay,� Diane said. After a brief silence, she said, �Thanks, Claire.�

�Yeah, thank you, too, Diane.�

Diane and Claire were a few minutes late to the meeting, so they crept in and found two chairs together in the back. The speaker nodded at Claire and gave her a wink. Claire nodded back. A few people in the front turned to see whom the speaker had acknowledged. Claire waved to a few familiar faces, and Diane nodded her greeting to a few, too.

�Tonight, I�m proud to announce that Angela has reached an important milestone: she has achieved six months of sobriety,� the speaker said. The audience cheered and congratulated Angela, an attractive woman in her mid-40�s sitting near the front. �Angela has prepared some comments to share with you about her road to sobriety. Angela?�

�Thank you, Steve,� Angela said as she took the stage and allowed the audience to settle. Steve gave her a six-month medallion, and she held the plastic token reverently. She looked happy and scared at once. She was about Diane�s height and build, and dressed very nicely in a beige wool suit and cream silk blouse. Her dark brown hair was braided in an intricate cornrow pattern, and a lighter shade of blondish brown had been weaved in. She looked exotic and professional, classy and elegant.