IT HAD BEEN A long time since I had an opinion about going into work, but after storming out of the Honey Pot, I didn’t want to go. This sudden change—the dread in my gut—did not feel good. I swallowed it down with some Alka-Seltzer and told myself it was a hangover. I’ve had a lot of practice lying to myself. I could pretend that’s a Hell thing, but it’s universal.

I made it to my cubicle without seeing anyone. I hung my jacket over the back of my chair and sat down, which was when I saw the bottle.

One beer.

Coors.

I snatched it and pulled it in to my chest before I realized how ridiculous I looked. How pathetic. But I didn’t put it down. There was a folded piece of paper underneath.

Don’t be mad.

—C.

She knew where to get beer. The whole time at Jack’s: the wide-eyed look, the hushed tones, the I-don’t-do-drugs-but-you-can-do-what-you-want moment—all of it was an act. She lied the whole time.

I shoved the beer into my briefcase. If it had been anything else, I would’ve put it on her desk. But I wanted that beer, and I wasn’t going to suffer on principle. Down here, principles are worthless. I had forgotten that for a second, but not forever. If nothing else, Hell gave us plenty of time.

“Hey, buddy.” Cal knocked on my cubicle divider, fidgeting with the seam of an oversized sweater. “Did you get my present?”

I nodded. “Regret showing Trey your true colors yet?”

I was being sarcastic, but she pitched forward instantly.

“He’s batshit, huh?”

I looked at her with my eyebrows raised until she backed up. “You should drink some water,” I said, nodding toward the kitchen. “They keep bottles in the fridge.”

She pulled harder on her sweater as she shook her head.

“Listen, you seem like a good guy, so I’m going to level with you. I was trying to go for a long game; I really was. I wanted to work the sweet-sad-girl angle for as long as possible, but I think I showed my cards too early last night. We didn’t have booze on Third; I guess I’m a bit of a lightweight now. Trey won’t shut the fuck up about it; he beeped me all night. If he tells KQ, I’ll be back to square one. I’ll have to go with a whole new character, and that’s just not how I planned it. I know I’m not your favorite person right now, but do you have any interest in making Trey sound like a moron?”

“What makes you think I’m a good guy?”