“What the fuck man? Where’ve you been?” Halloway asks me, looking angry and concerned. He takes a pull back on his beer and sets it down, heavy against the bar.

“Been busy,” I say, staring at the television screen in the top corner of the room. The juke box is blasting Rolling Stones’ “Can You Hear Me Knocking,” and I just can’t stop thinking about how Helena might dance to this song, how she might place that ass of hers across my lap, all sultry and cute.

“Come on,” he sighs. “Tell me the truth. You’ve been locked away with Helena for days. When you going to have some time for a brother?”

I nod and look down at him. “I’m sorry, man. I’m here aren’t I? Isn’t that good enough?” I ask him. He nods and calms down a little. After all, he’s just a little drunk and oversensitive. Just a typical Navy boy, cryin’ all the time about his problems.

“Yeah,” he says. “It’s all good. I’ve just been havin’ women problems is all.”

“Shit,” I laugh. “That tends to happen every now and then.”

“Pfft,” he laughs. “Like you know. Everything’s going peachy in your life.”

I shrug. “I mean, now it is. We’ll see how long that’ll last. I tend to fuck these things up.”

“Well, if you think like that you most definitely will,” he says. I know he’s right. Truth is, I’m feeling confident about this whole thing with Helena. The only reason I’m here is to be a better friend to Halloway. Plus, Helena is out at one of those PTA meetings they have every now and then, so it’s not like I have anything else I can really do.

“What’s up with you? How’s that Judy woman?” I ask him, motioning at the server for another Coors.

“She’s good.” He nods. “But that’s just the thing. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. I look into my wallet and realize I only have forty bucks to my name. If I’m going to survive with Helena, I’m going to need to go back to work. The thought of doing that makes me sick to my stomach.

“I just mean that Judy’s an insane woman,” he says, laughing and shaking his head.

“Well, that’s good right?” I laugh with him. “You’re an insane man. Seems like two peas in a fucking pod, if you ask me.”

“Well, you got me there, brother.” His laugh is scratchy and long, from years of talking too harsh and drinking way too much. “But, I’m not sure if we really like each other, you know?”

“Lay it on me,” I tell him. “I don’t know, but I’m sure I can empathize.”

“The sex is great. Don’t get me wrong. The sex is like a higher level,” he keeps laughing. “Thinking about living a life without fucking her is pretty much impossible at this point. But, man, she’s fucking boring. I’ll say it right now, and I know it sounds a little harsh, but I just tune out every time she starts speaking.”

“That’s pretty harsh,” I agree.

“Now don’t get too soft on me here,” he says. “I can tell she does the same when she’s with me. I talk about my hopes and fears, and I swear she’s in another world, thinking about mathematics, or whatever it is she’s teaching.”

I sigh and place my hands on the table. “Just break up with her,” I say. “If you don’t like her, what’re you doing?”

“The. Sex,” he repeats. “How many times do I gotta tell you?”

“I gotta be real with you,” I tell him. “I think that Judy woman is not a person to mess with. I think she wants something real and deep. Anyway, that’s what she’s tellin’ Helena.”

“She’s at that age, huh?” His smile fades away and he starts analyzing the grooves in the tiles, on the floor.

“I guess,” I shrug.

“I know it sounds insane, but I don’t think I ever want to settle down. I mean, you and Helena, do what God wants you to do. But, as for me, I think I’m better off alone,” he says. I glance away from him and he notices that I don’t know what to say.

“Don’t get all weird, now,” he says. “It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. I like being alone. I like women. I can’t be with just one thing. That’s always been me. You know that.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “I guess I do.”

“I’m going to end it,” he says, nodding. It’s a revelation for him. I can tell. And I’m glad I could at least help him figure this all out for himself. “Yeah, I think it’s time.”

“Anyway,” he continues. “I think that principal at that school wants to bang her. He keeps calling her about assignments. I thought he was a fucking dweeb until I saw the way she talks to him. She laughs at all his dumb jokes. It’s crazy.”

“I’m sorry, man. I’ve always got your back,” I say. There’s not much else to say, to be honest. He’s made his decision and he seems quite content with it.

“I’ve got my eyes on that woman, right there,” he points to this young, blonde in the back corner talking to her friends. “So, I don’t really care who Judy ends up with. I’d rather she be happy with someone else than bored with a guy like me.”

“True, true,” I say, finishing the last of my second beer.

I can’t stop thinking about Helena. I still have her perfume smell around my lips. I can still taste her. Even when I’m far from her, she’s still right beside me. It pains me, and that’s not how Halloway feels about Judy at all. It gives me comfort and reassurance. I want her more than anything, and I’m going to make it official. I’m going to propose to that woman and make her mine forever. Us forever.