Tommy was wiping glasses when I entered Gunn’s. He looked up as I plopped myself down at the bar. I set my hat on the seat next to me.

“Hi, Nick,” he said.

“How you doin’, Tommy?”

“Can’t complain. What can I get you, as if I didn’t know?”

“The regular.”

Tommy poured me a shot of bottom shelf rotgut. I picked up the shot-glass and tipped it back.

I was torn. As much as I wanted to see her, I would have paid money I didn’t have to never lay eyes on her again.

“Another.”

Tommy’s eyebrows arched.

“Something up, Nick?”

I picked up the refilled shot-glass and tipped it back.

“Yeah. Maryanne wants to see me tonight.”

“Maryanne… Is she the one that…?”

“Yeah.”

“Hunh.”

I tapped the shot-glass on the bar. “Another, Tommy.”

“How many have you had today?”

“Not enough. Pour.”

He refilled the glass.

“You gonna see her?”

“I shouldn’t.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, Nick.”

“Hunh.”

I tipped the whiskey back.

“Another, Nick?”

“God, no.”

I picked up my hat and walked out into the rain.