“I can’t believe it.”

“You fucking shit, that’s what you want to talk about?”

They sat there watching each other. Dawning on them both, that they were together in the car, that they had crossed the gulf of summer, that football season was nearly over, and they were sitting in Ben’s Impala that smelled vaguely of cigarettes and beer. “Ben, this car doesn’t smell so good.”

“What? Shut the fuck up.”

“I mean it, have you been living in here?”

Ben dove toward him, pulled their faces together, a warm flash, heat, right there in the parking lot, cars passing on the highway. A bolt of heat to his toes, his mouth wet, a feeling that they were both suddenly awake. They came apart, hung together, not wanting to move. Ben said, “You were jealous, you little shit.”

“So were you.”

He leaned back his head, closed his eyes. “I sure fucking was. I don’t know who that guy is but you just about got him hurt real bad.”

Still and quiet. Ben threw one leg out, across Ronny’s. The weight of him like a drug. Ronny swallowed, wiped his eyes again. Ben said, “Maybe you better tell me about him again.”

Ronny explained where they’d met, and Ben got upset at the mention of the gay association—“So he is a faggot, so you were going to sleep with the piece of shit”—and Ronny kept talking—“No, I already told you, I was lonesome, I only went to the meeting because I need to figure out this gay crap, and he’s just a nice guy. That’s all.”

“Oh, bullshit. That guy liked you, you little bitch. You think I couldn’t tell?”

Ronny sighed. “Well, so what?”

Ben tightened his leg over Ronny, as if he wanted to pull them both together again, looked at the traffic, the lights of the parking lot. “So you didn’t do anything with him.”

“No.”

“You wreck the fuck out of me. I wanted you to see that game so bad. What the hell.”

“I did see the game.”

Ben wouldn’t look up. Ronny touched the back of his hand. “Did you hear me?”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Fuck you then. I took the bus to Durham. I got a taxi to the stadium. I stood down on the fence and watched you for all four quarters. Such a dunce. Thinking the whole time you were with Kathy again.”

“So stupid. What would I want with Kathy? She’s a sweet girl. But that’s all over.” He fiddled with the keys in the ignition. “You were really there?”

“I told you. I haven’t missed a game all season, I wasn’t about to miss this one.”

“How’d you get home?”

“Tar Heel photographer was there. She brought me back.”

Smiled a little. “I was pretty awesome today, huh?”

“Yes. You were. Especially deflecting that pass.”

“I was fucking awesome.”

Ronny laughed. “That’s what you want to talk about right now.”

“Nina told me she thought something was up with you. But she didn’t know what.”