That evening I got Karen to drive me into town and brought along some Percocet. We had big plans—dinner, and, God willing, drinks. I felt all right while we ate, and the bar we went to afterward was sparsely populated. We set up camp with local IPAs in a corner booth.

“What’s going on with you and Chloe?” Karen said.

“Nothing,” I said.

“Fuck you, nothing,” Karen said. “Jim’s been going around saying he should kick your ass.”

“If there was something going on, I wouldn’t tell you,” I said. “The first rule of having an affair is not to tell anyone you’re having an affair.”

“So you are.”

“That’s exactly what I didn’t say.”

My leg was starting to ache, but we’d just gotten there, and I needed to learn to deal with the pain. I looked up to see Chloe and Jim walking in.

“Small town,” Karen said.

“Be cool,” I said.

They spotted us and walked over. Jim extended his hand. “Look at you, out and about.”

“I am risen,” I said.

Chloe widened her eyes at me.

“We were gonna meet some folks but it doesn’t look like they’re here yet,” Jim said.

“So have a beer with us?” Karen said, and kicked my good leg under the table.

“That’d be great,” Jim said. “If you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” I said.

Jim went to the bar and Chloe sat down with us. She played with a strand of hair that had fallen into her face.

“Been reading anything good?” I said.

“I just read The Razor’s Edge,” she said. “I liked it except for the end.”

“Sort of dated maybe,” I said.

“I’m at the point where I only want to reread stuff I’ve already read,” Karen said. “Why read something new when you know there’s something you already like?”

“Because it gets tedious?” Chloe said. “Even if it’s bad, at least it’s something different.”

Jim came back with three beers.

“This one’s for whoever,” he said. “Whichever one of you wants it first.”

“What’s going on with you, dude?” I said.

“I went climbing out at Kootenai yesterday,” he said. “The big wall was open and it was perfect conditions. I brought a newbie and she did a great job belaying.”

“I would never trust someone like that,” Karen said.

“Oh, come on, it’s the best feeling in the world,” Jim said. “Your life in somebody else’s hands.”

“It’s only in somebody else’s hands if you mess up,” Chloe said. “The first line of defense is not falling.”

“Right, but I wouldn’t trust myself not to fall,” Karen said.

“That makes sense,” I said. “I wouldn’t, either. But I guess I understand why somebody might find that fun.”

“Fitzgerald says that’s the sign of a smart person,” Jim said.