Could he tell in that moment I wished I weren’t? I ordered another drink, and when it came, I quickly drank it.

Jeff got this serious look on his face. And oh, what a face. He struggled for the right words. I told him not to say anything. See, I was worried he was about to say something I knew we’d both regret.

Instead, he extended a small rectangular box wrapped in a red velvet ribbon. “When I saw it, I knew you had to have it.”

It happened exactly this way. As I untied the ribbon, I heard the first whistle of fireworks being launched. As I lifted the box, there was a burst of purple light over the Magic Kingdom. Inside the box, resting on a rectangle of cotton, there it was—a Goofy wristwatch.

“You may be wondering—why Goofy?”

“Yes, I actually am wondering—why Goofy?”

“His hands go backward.”

It was seminal. The Goofy wristwatch. Reversing time. Me, the drunk one. Jeff, all sober. Me, married but still yearning. He, single and still yearning, too. And the fireworks going on behind him were spectacular.

Later, back in his room at the lodge, we had sex.

TIM

TIM

don’t ask don’t ask what time she got heredon’t ask what she was wearing

because she’s not wearing anything now and don’t don’t don’t ask what was said

because nothing was said as we fell on the bed there will be no kissing

okay so no mouth kissing but there was plenty of mouth her mouth on my neck on

my stomach and elsewhere pitch-black dark her hands, my mouth

her tongue so dizzying, this can’t remembertalking no hello or how are

you or would it be all right if I or would you mind terribly if my penis

no, it was whatever whenever however she on top me on top her on the bed

on the floor don’t ask what time, don’t ask how long we’d been going at it no idea

only sound is her breathing, me breathing we are sex nothing is forbidden

nothing is said nothing need be said and then oh God and then!

ring where was I ring (fumble around in the dark) ring “Hello?”

“Yes, I’d like to leave a message for Mr. Trammel in room—.”

“Uh—this is Trammel.”

“Oh, I thought this was the front desk.”

“Go ahead,” I said, barely audible in a disguised voice.

“I’m really sorry for waking you.”

Louder, in the same disguised voice: “Not a problem.”

“I’m calling on behalf of Mrs. Ashworth. She’s been delayed.”

“Uh—clearly.”

“Wait—Mr. Welch, is that you?”

BEA MYERLY

BEA MYERLY

AROUND MY HEART, PICTURE A TEN-CAR PILEUP. THAT’S HOW IT FELT LISTENING TO my ex-teacher breathe on the other line. “No, it’s Trammel,” he said, trying again to alter his voice. But I knew who it was.