Page 36 of Old Habits

“I thought it was the other way around.” He twists on his stool to face me. “You’re telling me you asked my cousin to marry you and then took it back the next day? I feel a compelling urge to kick your ass right now.”

“It wasn’t that simple, all right?”

“Enlighten me, then. Complex this shit up or we’ll take this outside.”

I laugh at his stiff expression. “You know, I almost believe you, Tucker.”

He relaxes. “I’m mostly serious.”

I nudge the paper in front of me. “Even with this, I feel like there’s a piece of the puzzle still missing. I always assumed Jovie was angry and that’s why she left. If that were true, then she never would have left this, right? She would have wanted to leave me hanging and she wouldn’t have cared how I felt about it. Right?”

“I don’t know,” Tucker says, trying to take another drink from his empty bottle.

My eyes drift to the table-for-two in the corner behind us. “We shouted and argued with each other, almost like no time had passed at all.”

“Sounds awful.”

“No, it was just the opposite. I mean… think about it, Tuck, if Jovie and I fight with the same passion as we used to, then that means that everything else about us is still there — just waiting beneath the surface to be reignited in some way.”

“You’ve lost me, man.”

I stare at my reflection across the bar. “This isn’t over.”

“Damn right, it’s not!” He belches. “This night is just getting started. Yo, Lucky! Can we get two more?”

I silently shake my head, basking in the sudden clarity and wisdom until a vibration rattles my pocket.

I reach inside for my phone, curious to see who’s calling me at this hour. “It’s Marv,” I read aloud.

Tucker’s face screws up as I answer it.

“Hey, Marv.”

“Hey, Will,” he says. “I just got a frantic call from Lola down the street. Says she saw some hooded bastard breaking into the shop. Can you go check it out?”

I squint. “Why aren’t you calling the police?”

“Because the local cops are idiots.”

“And why can’t you go check it out?”

“Just do it, Will. You live closer. I’m busy.”

I open my mouth to explain how many drinks I’ve imbibed tonight but he hangs up before I can speak. I grunt with annoyance and gesture to the exit.

“Tuck, let’s go.”

“Go where?” he asks.

“Marv says there’s been a break-in at the shop. Wants us to check it out.”

He stares at me. “But I’m drunk.”

“I know.”

“And so are you.”

“I know that, too.”

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