Looking back, he realized he’d been the one falling in love, while Crystal was just working on training him. Sex was the treat she gave him when he performed. Apparently, he’d been the only one thinking of forever. He’d been the one making plans while she always said there would be time to get serious later. With his graduation close, he must have pushed too hard at the forever plan. He doubted she’d even filed paperwork to muster out, or even applied to grad school. All the signs were there; he just hadn’t wanted to see them.

What hurt the most was that letter. Sure, they’d been arguing, but that was nothing new.

The letter had mapped out her new plan, one that didn’t include him. She’d finish school online, stay in the army, and retire in her forties. She’d see the world and make it better for all somehow, while he’d be teaching chemistry to high school kids who didn’t even care about learning. She loved her job in the army and was never going to leave it to live in some little town.

Ketch closed his eyes as he moved across the crowded floor with a stranger in his arms. He could almost pretend he was dancing with Crystal. Almost. But the tall blonde didn’t feel right against him. Maybe no one ever would again.

When the dance ended, he thanked the girl and went back to his beers. After several more bottles, his brain seemed to slow down and Ketch watched the world as if he were underwater. Nothing seemed real.

When Wynn asked one of the blondes to join them at the table, Ketch saw his chance to leave. It was almost closing time and he knew he’d be going home alone.

As he walked out of the bar, his head started pounding and he felt like he was on a boat rocking with the waves. He stumbled and fell hard onto the gravel parking lot. Rolling to a sitting position, he waited a moment, wondering if he could stand without tumbling again. The ground didn’t seem steady. His head was square dancing and his stomach was a stoned rocker. Two or three drinks was his limit usually and tonight he’d quit counting at eight.

It took all his concentration to stand and try to figure out which way was home.

Something wet trickled over his eye and he looked up to see if it was raining, then he sobered enough to recognize blood. He felt the gash across his forehead, just deep enough to drip. “Damn, what next?” he mumbled, feeling like he was in a fight with fate.

“You all right?” came a voice from the darkness.

“No,” he answered. “I’m leaking.”

The waitress with the sad jade eyes moved out of the corner blackness.