he put his arm around me before i had a chance to take his hand. i remembered that B&S line: "i put my arm around her waist. she put me on the ground with judo."* and wondered if he'd heard about me and dobbs and if in fact that was the real reason that he'd contacted me. it wasn't in Glen's nature to apologize for things. he was more of the mind to just let time pass and hope that his enemies forgot his indiscretions.

we crossed the street and went into Insomnia, the very place I'd been dumped the previous day. i didn't know whether to celebrate this or refuse to go in. it was D's home away from home and chances were he was in there writing on his geekmachine*. with my luck, Jenny would be with him, telling him about what i'd done this afternoon. would she tell him or would she have felt so sorry for me that she'd have kept it to herself? i'd always thought that she was a woman of the world--and maybe this would work in my favor. maybe she's been where i was this afternoon and felt similar things or acted just as stupidly. i doubted it, but tried to keep my chin up.

the place was packed, as usual, and Paul was serving again. i could see his brain working: don't sit in my section, don't sit in my section. i obliged him, telling Glen we should go to the back because i wanted to smoke.

thankfully one of the couch's was free. rather than sit on the other side of the table, Glen sat next to me. i think part of his logic for bringing me here was to see if he could get me so drunk that i'd ask him home. though i already intended to do just that, i figured more alcohol would help numb me. if not from the neck up, maybe from the waist down. either would do as either would allow me to pretend something else was going on. both would be preferable. i crossed my legs and mentally crossed my fingers.

a new waitress approached us and i ordered the usual. Glen ordered a black and tan. i felt like i was back in high school. it was going to be a long night.

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