I quickly began a mental rearrangement of my schedule. I would have time for a quick work out, head to the office to finish the work I had planned to ...ake care of on Saturday, call the guys and bail on Saturday’s racquetball game; hell, I could be on the road by 1:00 pm. That meant I could take the Pike over to Dayton and avoid the Interstate.I heard Melissa moving around upstairs. She appeared in a few minutes, fully dressed, looking a little worn from a lack of sleep; but, very pretty all the. En nan irukiren endru paarkaathe free haga thungu, ondrum aagathu endru sonal. Nan jatiyaiyum kayati vittu lungiyai kati kondu nindren.Nindrathu nan matum alla en sunniyum thaan, mami ennai paduka sonnal. Paduthu irukum pozhuthu sunni nilai kuthaga 90 degreeil nindru kondu irunthathu.Mami ennai paarthu sirithaal, naanum sirithen aval udane en sunniyil kai vaithu en maarbu meethu saithaal. Enaku ena seivathu endre theriya villai naanum amaithiyaaga kaiyai avalin muthugail vaithen.Mami marbil. “That’s goddamn right, ‘whatever I say’, you gonna start obeying me, ok, cunt?”“Yes”“Make that yessir, you little piece of shit”My eyes still down I reply “yes, sir”.“Good, now follow me.”We walk down the aisle toward the “exit” sign. We push the door open. Outside it is dark, but I can see just a bit of the… sunrise? I hadn’t realized it was so late. The door opens onto a parking lot in the back of the bookstore. There are several cars parked there and one large van.He walks out through the. Love you.”“Bye, Ryan.”I look over at Andie and reality hits me, again. She gets up and puts her arms around me, saying, “Bit of a dampener, let’s get out of here.”I put my clubbing dress back on. As we leave her apartment she takes my hand. “You okay with this?”I intertwine our fingers, replying, “Maybe.” And I am, being brave about breaking down my barriers. But that doesn’t last long, and I let go of her hand, saying, “Sorry, my bravery is still a work in progress.”“That’s okay. If you want.