“I’m sure.”

Doug shrugs, walks around to the buffet.

I stay at the booth and think about what he said. I’m not sure if it’s his optimism or if it’s the beer, but a part of me feels better.

Diane and I have a good life. We’re happy together. Everything that’s happened might’ve put some pressure on us, but there’s nothing that’s going to break us.

We’re going to be fine.

By the time we leave The Body Shoppe, we’re both drunk. The sun has dropped behind the mountains, turning them into a jagged black silhouette along the horizon, as if someone reached up and ripped away the bottom of the sky.

Doug is standing in the doorway, talking to the bouncer. I’m leaning against the building, watching the cars pass along the street, wishing I were home.

Neither of us is in any condition to drive, so we have the bouncer call a cab. Fifteen minutes later, it pulls into the parking lot.

The drive home is quiet. When the cab pulls up in front of my house, I look over and see Doug leaning against the door with his eyes closed.

I sit forward and hand the driver several bills and say, “This should cover getting him home.”

Doug sits up. “What the hell, Jake?”

I tell him it’s a therapist fee and not to argue.

For once, he doesn’t.

I open the door and step out.

Doug leans over, stopping me before I close the door.

“I have an idea,” he says. “Why don’t you and Diane take off at the end of the semester? Go away for a while, reconnect. I’ll give you the keys to my place in Mexico. It’s right on the water. You’ll love it. I haven’t been down in a couple years, so I don’t know what shape it’s in, but-”

“Thanks, but I can’t go anywhere right now. Maybe once all this is cleared up, but not yet.”

“Okay.” Doug nods. “Of course.”

He holds out his hand and I shake it.