“That’s what I’m counting on,” said Todd, and he told Sara about what he’d seen at the diner.

“Wow, Janis, you dog,” said Sara. “Jesus, if word gets out that Lockjaw Janis is getting some, the universe might just explode in shock.”

“Lockjaw Janis?” said Todd.

“Some of us call her that,” Sara said, “On account of she never smiles.”

She rolled over on Todd, and poked a rib just below his right nipple.

“Guess she’s got something to smile about now,” said Sara, and moved her hand down toward Todd’s crotch.

Todd stopped her, a fact which came as a surprise to both of them.

“What are you doing—”

“You know what I’m doing,” said Sara.

“—here,” finished Todd.

Sara frowned.

“I’m doing what we always do. We don’t do anything else.”

“Sara, I haven’t seen you since I don’t know when,” said Todd. “Last time we spoke, you were freaking out about Terry finding out, and Janis making life hard for you. And now here you are, all calm and relaxed.”

Todd reached for his beer to clear his throat. It was probably the longest speech he’d made since the Saturday nights of yore.

Sara was looking less breezy now. “I just thought you might want some company,” she said. “Janis is gone, and I guess I missed you. You were out of circulation a long time.”

This was another topic that interested Todd.

“How long exactly?” he said.

“A month,” Sara said. “Six weeks maybe.”

“Six weeks?” said Todd. So that’s how long it takes to write the Great American Novel, he thought.

“Yeah,” said Sara. “At first I thought you were out of town, but then Yvonne Morris said she thought she saw you driving to the drug store, so I figured sooner or later you’d get back in touch,” said Sara. “And here we are.”

Todd furrowed his brow in a rare moment of concentration.

“One name you haven’t mentioned,” he said. “Terry.”

There was a moment’s silence.

“Terry’s gone,” said Sara.

Todd flopped onto his back.

“That’s not why I’m here!” Sara said.

“Really,” said Todd. “Terry moves out, and you come looking for a sugar daddy.”

Sara began to shake. Her eyes watered. For a moment Todd thought she might be having some kind of seizure, then he realized she was laughing. A minute or so later, when she had stopped, Sara said:

“Todd, believe me, you are no one’s idea of a sugar daddy.”

“Then why are you here?” said Todd, revealing new levels of low self-esteem.

“Because I like you,” said Sara. “Is that so hard to believe?”

Yes, said a voice inside Todd.