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Bobby is flushed and grinning at Trey. “I’d like to go with Trey.”

“You want to take my car?” she asks.

“I am happy to drive him back,” Trey says.

Liz leans back down and whispers something to Bobby. He blushes further and nods. She gives him a brief hug and he pats her back.

“You be nice to him, okay?” Liz shakes her finger at Trey. “He’s a small-town boy.”

Bobby looks mortified. “Lizzie!”

Trey crosses his heart. “We will finish these drinks and then we will grab a bite to eat, then to my place for some fellatio. That sound nice enough?”

Bobby’s mouth drops, his cheeks now crimson. Trey pats him on the knee.

Liz huffs, amused and irritated in equal measure. “I really don’t want to think about my brother getting blown. But we only have one car and I don’t have a spare key because we didn’t think we’d be separating tonight...”

Trey and Bobby look at each other and shrug. “I offered to drive him,” Trey says. “I promise it’s not a big deal.”

“It’s really not a big deal, Lizzie,” Bobby says.

“It is!” Liz raises her voice. “You’re in a new city. You’re my guest. I’m responsible for you. And, no offense, Trey, but we’ve just met you.”

“A little offense taken,” says Trey. “I work with your boy Joe here.”

“Give us a minute, okay?” I say to the guys, grab Liz by her elbow, and lead her out of the bar.

“What’s going on?” I ask once we’re outside and it’s a bit easier to breathe. “Do you really have a problem with Trey and Bobby leaving together? If you say that’s because Trey is Black, I swear to God...”

Her eyes widen. “No! God, no. Not at all! I don’t have an issue with the two of them... I mean it’s obvious they really hit it off...”

“So what is it then?”

“It’s just ... the logistics of it all.”

“The logistics of it all,” I repeat stupidly. “Look, you can give the keys and the car to Bobby and spend the night at my place. See him tomorrow.”

She flashes me an irritated look. “You know we don’t do that.”

“What? Sleep over?”

“Yes.”

“But we could. It’s Saturday tomorrow. We can laze about all weekend.”

“I am not sleeping over at your place, Joe.”

“Why not? I really don’t understand.”

“I’m just not, okay? Stop pushing.”

“I could also come over to yours. Spend the night. Or leave early if you prefer.”

“I don’t want that either.”

“You don’t want me to go to your place?”

“No. We’ve never done that before.”