“you’re cute, you know that?” you say, smiling. he’s given you your third free drink tonight. this one’s a shirley temple, he doesn’t want you getting too wasted. he grins. “i know.” he says. “you hungry? sorry we don’t serve food, dear.” he says. some girl waves him over. “one second.” he turns away, and he barely looks at the woman speaking to him. he gives her the shot, then returns to you. “there’s a diner a couple blocks down, you ever been?” he asks. it’s a thursday night, the bar is closing soon. it’s nearly ten pm. you’d been coming here with robin recently, steve’s best friend. but she’s busy tonight, and you came anyway. steve thinks that’s a good sign. you stick a maraschino cherry in your mouth, letting the stem hang out.