Vagabonds: Anthology of the Mad Ones Vagabonds Vol. 3 | Page 9

“Last call, Billy,” Kristen said, “You want one more?”
“No,” Billy said, “I better get going.”
“Are you okay to drive?” she asked, edging closer to him.
“Yeah, I'm fine,” he replied.
“You know,” she said, leaning against him, side by side, arm to
arm, her fingers lightly taking those on his right hand, “I could give you a
ride back to my place for the night.”
“I better not,” Billy said, his heart rate doubling instantly.
“Why?” she asked, “Got to work early tomorrow?”
“Married,” Billy said, holding up his left hand.
“Happily?” she asked.
“No,” he replied.
“So...?” she started to ask, then leaving out the question, its
punctuation taking form as she curled her hand into his more firmly, her
chin now resting on his shoulder.
The clarity of his situation hit Billy like a punch, and all the lust,
temptation, and potential happiness of the moment was struck down. A
dozen beautiful speeches danced across his mind, all about how he ached
to be with her, about how flattered he was, about what might have been in
another time and place. Instead, he simply said, “I'm sorry Kristen, but I
made someone a promise. I've fucked up and failed at everything else. But
not that.”
As he walked out into what remained of the night, Billy knew that
he was leaving yet another place to which he could never return.
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