I told her, “Actually, I’m feeling a little exhausted right now. I’m just gonna go back and crash.”

“Go back to where? What hotel do they have you staying in?”

I failed to name my hotel on purpose. I didn’t want any surprises that night. Too many women knowing your hotel had gotten me into trouble before, several times.

I said, “It doesn’t even matter. It’s just a room that I’m gonna sleep in.”

Rachel looked at me with glassy eyes and responded as if she hadn’t even heard me. She said, “You don’t have to do any work. All you have to do is lean back, and I’ll do the rest.”

Her strong advances didn’t even sound tempting anymore. I didn’t feel guilty about it either. The Johnson had spoken, and the Johnson wanted the cute-as-apple-pie white girl.

I shook my head and said, “Not tonight. I’ma have to pass.”

“You gonna pass on these lips and this pussy? Why? You want that little white ho instead? She don’t have enough for you.”

I smiled and couldn’t help it. I said, “Look, I told you earlier, I’m not here with a white woman. I came by myself, and I’m leaving by myself. Now let me get over here and tell all of these folks good-bye.”

I walked away from her and didn’t look back. Time was wasting. I approached Kim and let out a deep sigh.

She asked me, “So what happened?” She was still referring to Victoria and her friend Jill.

“She was a little peeved at me for not being able to, you know, introduce her to folks and whatnot. I mean, I just don’t feel like it tonight.”

Kim nodded and grinned, knowing my history. She said, “That poor girl had no idea that you’d be the last person walking around introducing people. Hell, you act like you’re the only person alive in the world sometimes.”

She was hinting at my selfishness again. I really didn’t care anymore. I had to get out of there.

I said, “Yeah, well let me say my good-byes to everybody.”

“Okay. But make sure you call me when you make it in.”

So far so good, I thought to myself. I had knocked two down with two women to go; Paula and her insatiable niece.

I figured I would approach Paula first. It was the respectable thing to do. Besides, Paula would be the easier one to say good-bye to.

“Hey, ah, I’ll see you next go ’round,” I told her as soon as I approached them on the dance floor. She and her niece were still having a ball dancing.

Paula looked at me surprised. “You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah, I’ve already put in my time,” I told her.

She looked at her watch and said, “It’s barely after eleven o’clock.”

Actually it was closer to midnight than eleven, but I understood her point. The night was still young.

I said, “I’m not as young and energetic as I used to be. So I take my cues to rest when I get them. And right now I’m feeling a little bit exhausted.”