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sound.
    He heard scuffling footsteps, and the next moment his friend was right next to him.
    “Not any time soon, no. One of the few pleasures I’ve got.” He pulled in a long puff and then blew the smoke in Bill’s face.
    Bill waved the cloud away. “The others being poetry and stalking people?”
    “I’m not stalking anyone. Just wanted to see how your big date went.”
    Bill wished he’d never told him he was going out with Eliza. Not that he could have avoided it; Nate had seen Krista talk to him and hadn’t missed the goofy grin on Bill’s face after the girl had left. He’d pestered him relentlessly, until Bill had finally fessed up. Nate had been easily convinced not to mention anything to Greg, but Bill knew Nate would never get off his case if he found out about the mess that had been the date.
    “It was fine.” He quickened his step, hoping against hope that Nate would change the subject.
    “Fine?” Nate grabbed him by the shoulder, making him turn and face him. “It was… fine ?” He threw his arms up, sending ash flying all over Bill’s shirt. “Could you be any less informative?”
    Bill squinted at him in the dark. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but Nate’s voice sounded slurred. “Are you drunk?”
    “Are you my girlfriend? No, I’m not drunk . I had a drink or two.” He smacked the back of Bill’s head playfully. “You had your fun, and so did I.”
    Bill rubbed his head. “There wasn’t much fun to be had,” he mumbled.
    “What was that?”
    “There wasn’t much fun to be had. Not that I blame her.” Nate was giving him his full attention, and Bill thought maybe—just maybe —he could tell him the truth and not pretend he’d had a first class date. “It was the date from hell, man. Wrong place, no chemistry, ant-attack, no chemistry…”
    “So she didn’t thank you…properly?” Despite the naughty meaning behind his words, Nate seemed serious.
    Bill was incredulous. “ I wouldn’t have, if I were her, and I’m easy .” He shuffled his feet. “I did get a goodnight kiss, though.”
    Nate grabbed both of Bill’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Tongue?”
    “Minimal, as was duration. I somehow doubt I’ll be seeing her again. Possibly ever . Not even by accident.”
    Bill decided telling Nate the truth hadn’t been a good idea after all, judging by the howl of laughter that followed his last statement. He knew he should have stuck with the typical macho bullshit; he should have fed Nate a made-up story about an awesome date that ended with oral sex—him in the receiving end. That would have gotten the jackass off his case.
    “Don’t sweat it, man. Happens to the best of us. You two just weren’t meant to be.” Nate wrapped an arm around his shoulder, turned him toward the direction he was originally going.
    Bill sighed with relief and was about to thank him, when Nate let go and swatted Bill’s ass. “Now go play with yourself thinking of might-have-beens.”
    “You’re such an ass.” Bill didn’t waste a second to put some distance between them.
    ***
    “ That’s my girl,” Nate whispered. He tossed away his forgotten cigarette and lit a new one. “One for the road,” he muttered to himself, forcing his feet to lead him the opposite direction than the one tugging at his entire being.

Chapter Six

    Despite having told Krista she wouldn’t give up, Eliza woke up feeling quite down.
    The date with Bill had provided laughing material for a lifetime, and she’d genuinely liked the guy—as a person —but somehow the evening had brought home the very real possibility that she’d never find out who’d kissed her.
    Days had gone by, and she was sure that the mystery man would have shown up by then, if he was really into her. Unless maybe he was deformed. It could be a Phantom of The Opera kind of thing.
    She shook her head at her silliness, rolled over, and buried her face into her pillow.
    It could still be Cal, she thought,