Outside it was raining. It does not rain inside. The rain ran down the retaining walls, past the housing developments from the nineties. Past the elementary school where the crosswalk carabinieri waited.

In the Starbucks it was fine. If you have been to the Starbucks, then you know how it is. Sometimes clean and warm and cold, and the fine strong girls from the suburbs with their infinity scarves and rose gold iPhone cases and pumpkin spice lattes. Sometimes Emily and Madison and Ava. Sometimes Hailey. She had been there as long as the caramel frappuccino, longer than the one barista with the septum ring and the tattoo that read “perfectly imperfect,” and she understood how it is.

“Darling,” she said. “Live, laugh, love.” She looked very young and fresh and contoured. My stomach went hollow and empty at the sight of her.

“You are an HB6 Becky, you could looksmax and be a HB7.5,” I told her.

She smiled though her lash extensions. “Tell me everything, all at once.”

“We will go to Olive Garden,” I said. “We will have wine and a fine meal on a mahogany colored table that is the mahogany of your lowlights. We will split the check. I am not a cuck who buys girls dinner.” I tried to tell about the differences between the zuppa Toscana and the minestrone, and how the neverending pasta bowl was splendid and not like Panera pasta at all, but I could not tell it as I cannot tell it now. I told her it was reasonably priced. I told her that you got a good meal.

“Then we will drive to the sea in my 2004 Honda Civic,” I said, “which gets excellent mileage and allows me to save 40% of my STEM paycheck. We will be fierce and free and fly down the highway in the rain like two birds, but not so fast that it hurts the mileage.”

“But I can’t stand the rain, darling,” she said. “Who got the keys to the Jeep? I’m driving to the beach, top down, loud sounds, see my peeps.” She was crying. It was no good. I knew Chad’s cock had been inside her.

“Adios,” I said, but it was like saying goodbye to a statue or a Stacey. After a while I left her standing in front of Lululemon, and walked to the Dollar Tree in the rain.