Agustín took it and drank.'Mix them long and sip them slow. That's the secret with spirits. You're in quite good shape for a person who drinks mainly...beer. You go to a gym, I suppose?''When the mirror seems too small. You'll excuse me, but I'm very bad at small talk. I think we're here because you care for Mercedes. Tell me if I'm wrong.' He took another sip of G&T.'You can do small talk perfectly well when you want to. You're quite right: I care for her, as does Señor Martínez, but I'd like. I missed. I tried to kiss Carlos as well but stopped at the last second.“Yeah. I’m going to lie down.”I felt human, barely, by noon the next day. The phone rang just as I came back from my shower. It was Alejandra.“Michael?”“Hi.”“How do you feel?”“Like crap, Alex.”She laughed.“Good. You’re alive.”There was a pause, a long one.“Michael, thank you for last night.”“Not necessary, Alex. I’m glad Carlos was there. Thanks for the ride home.”“Michael, my father would like to thank you as well. He asks. “HEY! I HEARD THAT!” Tommy yelled, but he was grinning from ear to ear. “Oh yes, you could have resisted. You just chose not to, Lainie. Hush, Tommy. Lainie, did you... I mean you were gonna do laundry, but did...” “I called Gloria and we fucked our brains out last night, if that’s what you’re asking. And that’s why I’m calling. It didn’t happen.” “I don’t understand. Her husband knows you do things for her that he can’t; it is not secret. What do you mean it didn’t happen?” “I mean she didn’t. I’m not on call this weekend.”“Awesome. Are you planning to go with us to Atlanta? We need to cancel your ticket tomorrow if you aren’t.”“I can go,” she said. “The race won’t thrill me, but I would like to meet your friend Stephie.”“Great! I love you, Babe!”“And I love you, Tiger!”We hung up and Kara and I went up to my room so that I could unpack my bag. I did that, and gathered my laundry to take down to the machine. Once I’d started the load, I set about preparing dinner. As I was getting.