"Free dating sites?" Gina asked, between sips of her margarita, "How c

"Free dating sites?" Gina asked, between sips of her margarita, "How can they actually be free?" Her best friend, Maria, laughed and replied, "Well ok. They are always free to join but then they charge you for certain services after that... but at least you could get registered and start creating some profiles!"

Gina smiled and squeezed Maria's hand. She had been such a good friend for so long. Maria knew that Gina had almost forgotten how to feel since she got her heart totally broken by Jeff. He had been the light of her life until she found out that he was having an affair with a far-too-sexy receptionist at his office. Gina had been devastated at being replaced by a women less than half her age.

"Look," Maria said matter-of-factly, "age is really not a factor on those free dating sites. Everyone can sign up. I mean, Gina, you have to believe that there is someone for everyone in this world. Don't you?"

Truth be told, Gina just wasn't sure anymore. She had been set up on lots of blind dates. Friends and relatives always "knew someone" that she needed to meet - and she had probably dated more brothers, cousins, nephews and other related flotsam and jetsam than anyone ever should. She just hated to say no when she knew that people were just trying to help - and she especially detested all the follow-up questions about whether or not the date worked out and would she be seeing the fellow again.

"I guess," she responded quietly, "but I just don't know if I'm comfortable with the idea of free dating sites, Maria. I mean, what kind of people sign up if they aren't even willing to spend a little money to participate?"

"Well, I don't know, Gina, but there are a lot of girls at the store where I work that are using those sites. I have to admit I'm almost jealous because their social lives have never been better. They seem to have dates all the time, they're traveling, they're going out dancing and being wined and dined by some awfully sexy men. It's crazy!" Maria laughed. She had been married for twelve years to Bryson so wasn't in the market for a date herself.

"Well fine then, my friend. Let's make a toast, shall we?" Gina raised her glass to Maria's. "To free dating sites and the possibility that I might actually have a date one of these days where I don't have to report back to the person that set me up!" As she giggled into her glass, Gina knew in the back of her mind that she was actually going to give it a try... and no one would ever have to know.