Page 2 of Falling for Hailey

“We’re the last of a dying breed, my man. These losers chose the ball and chain and now they have favorite cartoons. And they think the bar is too loud.”

“Next they’ll say they need Tums because the wings gave them heartburn,” Aaron shook his head.

“It’s a sad state,” I agreed. “I’m surprised any of them stayed past seven-thirty. We used to have such a good time before the senior members of the group decided to go and get pussy whipped.”

“Rick,” Kyle said warningly.

I cut my eyes at Aaron as if to say, ‘here we go. He’s gonna give me a women’s studies lecture.’

“What? Are you saying you’re not?” I challenged.

“I’m saying don’t be an ass,” Kyle said. He’d always been blunt, almost as much as me.

“As soon as it was out of my mouth, I knew you wouldn’t appreciate it. I’ll call it something else from now on.”

“You’re in marketing, put a spin on it,” Hamilton said.

“Enthralled with your wives, how’s that?” I said sardonically.

“Better. And more accurate,” Drake said. “But I’d advise you not to refer to any part of my wife’s anatomy from now on.”

I tipped my chin down, realizing that the guys who used to talk shit with me were now offended by the same. Time and aging and change and all that, I guess.

“I’ll buy the next round as an apology.”

“I’m out,” Kyle said. “Have a good semester, I’m sure we’ll talk or message.” Drake got to his feet. “Me, too,” he said, checking the time on his phone.

Hamilton took one last drink of his beer and followed them with a simple, “’Night, boys. Don’t stay out too late.”

We watched them rush out the doors to go home to their wives. I shook my head in disbelief.

“How the mighty have fallen,” I said. “Happiness is one thing. Being shackled so you can’t even have a drink with your friends without rushing off—that’s another.”

“We used to hang out all the time. Now it’s just the two of us. Why do they even still get invited?” Aaron asked, put out.

We were in our twenties—probably twelve, fifteen years ago—and it seemed like the life. Live in Berkeley, teach the classes, have a beer with our friends, and talk about whoever we were dating or whoever pissed us off at work.”

“The good old days?” he said.

“Exactly.”

“Do you ever wonder what it’s like? To have somebody to go home to?” Aaron asked.

“Are you going soft on me?” I replied.

“Nah, I just wondered,” he said.

“Once in a while, but the last couple women I went out with were just after my money. I worked too hard for it to give it away to some gold digger that wants to spend it on bougie crap she saw on TikTok,” I said.

“Damn,” Aaron whistled. “Little bitter? I’m not trying to bust your balls, but if they only come after your money, maybe the money ain’t the problem,” he laughed.

“Are you saying my sparkling personality isn’t attractive enough?” I laughed. “I’ve got no filter, I know it. Used to get my mouth washed out by my Papi for it, too,” I said, “so I say what I think. Guess he didn’t use enough soap.”

“I guess not,” Aaron said. “But you gotta grow up sometime with the ladies, or that’s what I hear. I still like to get them while they’re hot. And by hot, I mean twenty-five, tanned, and not ready to settle down.”

“Please, I’m begging you never say that in front of Kyle. He will have a stroke and then we’ll have to look at a slide deck about misogyny. There’s not enough beer in this joint to get me through it.”

“I won’t,” he said. “I’m just saying, I’m holding on to the good life as long as I can.”

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