T-- invited me out for a beer tonight. I should’ve been suspicious.

     He waited until after Loretta put down the second round to spring the surprise. We were committed at that point. It was a good move. “My lady’s cousin is in town,” he said. “She wants to meet you.”

     I couldn’t help but laugh. “Wants to meet me?” I asked him. “What does she know about me?”

     “You’re single,” he said. “I told her that.”

     I took a moment to digest the significance of that statement. “So she has some high standards? What else should I know about her?”

     T-- shifted, squaring his shoulders with the television above the bar. Suddenly captivated by a car wash commercial, he managed to spit out, “She’s, uh, interesting.”...

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