It wasn’t that I was shy. I could make conversation with people. I did it all the time as an ER doctor. People came in with unknown disorders, and you had to know how to draw out information. But this was different. I was on my own, but I couldn’t be myself. I had a role to play, but I wasn’t sure what it was.

Chris was on the dance floor with women around him, gyrating and junking with multiple partners to the beat of something thumping and bass-heavy. It was a big mass of bodies, flesh against flesh in a free-for-all freak boogie. I’m sure Chris noticed me when I came in—his eyes were never far away from the entrance of any building—but he made no attempt to welcome me. That was expected. That he’d leave me to flounder took me by surprise. He knew I had no idea where to go or what to do. I suspected he was relishing my discomfort. I knew that although he had forgiven me, there was still lots of stray anger.

Okay, I said to myself. You have all your bones intact and your face doesn’t look like grape jelly. Keep your eye on the prize. With my head and body erect, I scanned the room for somewhere to sit. Suddenly an arm hooked around mine. It was Brie. She was clearly tipsy, but she was also a familiar face and that grounded me. She had squeezed her formidable body into a gold sheath minidress. She bumped her hip with mine.

“Wanna dance?”

“Maybe a little later.” I looked around. “Where are you sitting?”

“Wherever I can find a lap.” She broke into giggles.

“Uh, that wouldn’t work for me.”

She giggled again. “Why not? The boss is having fun. So should you.”

“I like your reasoning, but maybe I should sit first and find out what the boss wants.”

“Good thinking. Men get so weird sometimes.”

“Honey, that is the truth.”

A server came up with a tray of champagne. Brie took two flutes and gave me one. “C’mon. What’s a party without the bubbly?”

“Thanks.” I took a sip. “I love your ’fit.”

“You think?”

“Yeah. Your body looks killer in it.”

“Aw, too kind, too kind.” She squeezed my arm tighter. “I like you. You’re not stuck-up like that other cunt.”

“Which other cunt are we talking about?”

“Her!” She cocked her head in Chris’s direction. He was freaking with Talia.

I said, “She was a cunt?”

“God, she was the worst! Everyone was happy when he dumped her sorry ass.” She turned and smiled at me. “And now you got the ring, so hahaha.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

“Sure you don’t want to dance?”

“No thanks.” I smiled again.

Just then a panicked Jorge took my elbow. “Sorry, Doctor. This way.”