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inhaling a long time, Lena finally answered, "No, just...with some co-workers, that's all."
    Katrina said nothing, and this was usually a successful attempt at getting Lena to talk some more.
    "We're just going to see...a guy...another co-worker. He's playing at The Tavern in Oakland."
    "Aaah...and what's his name? This other co-worker."
    Damn, Kat was good.  "Uh, just...Rick...I think, um Rick Murphy, yeah."  Lena felt her skin turn warm, and she was sure Katrina could see her blushing.
    "Oh, well you go and enjoy Rick Murphy Friday night." She laughed.
    "Katrina."
    "No really, enjoy a night out with your friends.  I'm serious...I just hope Vince lets you."
    "Yeah...me too.  See ya later, Kat."
    "Yeah, love ya Leen."
    Inching her way into her apartment, Lena was sure there'd be some type of problem with Vince letting her go out alone Friday night.  There would always be some kind of  problem where Vince was concerned.

Chapter Five
     
     
     
     
     
    Rick was more keyed up than usual before one of his Friday night gigs.  Gary mentioned to him that Lena would be joining them for happy hour, and then she’d stay to watch Rick’s performance.  Usually cool and calm before a show, Lena's presence made him nervous. He wondered if she would enjoy his singing, or if she'd find it lame. After all, he was just a bar performer playing to a crowd for his own enjoyment. It's not like he was getting paid a whole heck of a lot, but he loved the feeling it gave him to sing and play his guitar. Or any instrument for that matter. Music fed his soul, and it relaxed him to play. Tonight, however, he found no relaxation in knowing Lena would be watching. But he was excited to see her.
     
    He went from excited and jittery to tense and agitated in the time it took the waitress to take the order and bring it to the table.  This was how long it took Lena’s fiancé to piss him off. First of all, Rick never thought to look at her left hand; she's engaged, he thought.  Damn.  He really wished she were available.  Second, of course Rick expected Lena to come alone, and third, her fiancé Vinnie, or something like that, was an asshole.  In the ten minutes Vinnie was there, Rick already wanted to punch the obnoxious ass. Curt, impolite and downright disparaging to Lena, Vinnie showed her no respect. Rick could not understand how a sweet, refined person like Lena could be with a person like that, never mind marry one.
    “What’s your problem, man?”  Vinnie tossed his chin in Rick’s direction, addressing the question at him.  “You have a problem with me?  I see the way you’re looking at me.”
    Rick wanted to remain composed, but his blood boiled from listening to Vinnie’s constant belittling of Lena.  He tried to hold his tongue for Lena’s sake when Vinnie called her a clumsy shit because she accidentally knocked over a glass of water when he elbowed her in the rib – all because she didn’t introduce him to everyone quickly enough.  Rick tried to steady his breathing and stay out of it when Vinnie decided to tell everyone that ‘screwing Lena was like screwing a piece of wood.’  But Rick could no longer disguise his disgust.  He took one look at Lena’s timid demeanor.  She was biting her bottom lip and fumbling with the necklace she had around her neck. Vinnie embarrassed her. Rick wanted to remain calm to keep her from further humiliation, but the hatred he suddenly had for this man blinded him from Lena’s immediate humility.
    “As a matter of fact, Vinnie ,” Rick sneered.  “I do have a problem with you.  How you treat the woman you love is repulsive.  It’s sickening and insufferable.  You are a vile man, and if it weren’t for sparing Lena further embarrassment, I’d take you out right here.”
    “Rick.” Gary nudged him.
    Vinnie stood from the table.  “You fuckin’ shit.”  Vinnie raced around the table and threw a punch at Rick.  Rick stopped him mid-punch by grabbing Vinnie’s