He's finished his drink, is most of the way through another one, and he's still not close to drunk bit everything is slightly softer and more bearable around the edges. Now and then he has to think for a minute or two before he remember what he's dealing with. A very drunk and very friendly young man to his right keeps trying to talk to him about the Yankees' chances in the playoffs, and he listens amiably enough, nodding at appropriate moments and thinking about the way Neil screws up his eyes when he laughs especially hard.

That's got to be worth giving some things up for.

He sees Neil coming out of the back with mingled relief and apprehension, and he slides off the barstool. The man next to him just keeps talking, oblivious, and for a moment he envies him.