Sally grunted, leaning her head back and watching the sun continue to disappear from the sky. She was sweat-soaked and in desperate need of a shower before her show that night, but she had time enough for a beer and a puff or two of Chet’s infamous wacky tabbaccy.
“So?” Chet asked, grinding a nub. “You gonna answer my question?”
“What question?”
“Are you or ain’t you goin’ to space to fuck that alien what’s got you all introspective and cranky-like these last few weeks?”
Sally rolled her eyes. “Well that’s a vast oversimplification of the issue.”
Chet shrugged. “I don’t rightly think so. Seemed to me you was always gonna leave at some point, you just needed the right excuse.”
Sally blinked, looking over at him. “Excuse me? What in hells do you mean bythat?!”
Chet looked at her, simple confusion writ plain across his face. He grunted, his expression clearing into one of mild amusement.
“My apologies, Sally, I didn’t mean no offense. I know yer happy here. And I know how much you love Lou. But I think you and I are too much alike, which is why I can also see howunhappy you’ve been these last few years. Lou knows it, too—Why’dja think she signed you up fer that website? It mightaseemed like a joke at first, but I thinkshethinks if you can get whatever it is you need out yer system, you’ll settle back down.”
Chet paused in his litany to light the joint he’d just rolled. He took a pull, letting it out slowly before passing it over.
“She’s wrong, o’course,” he continued in the wake of Sally’s silence. “As much as you love it, this weren’t never the life you chose. There was always gonna be some part of ya that was lookin’ for somethin’ else.” He paused, looking over at her. “Or am I wrong?”
Sally took two slow puffs off the joint before handing it back. She breathed them out slowly, feeling the marijuana infiltrate her system. She was going to feelreallygood after her shower and a sandwich.
“You know, Chet, I think that might be the most words in a row I’ve ever heard you say all at once.” Sally gave him a tired half-smile, her fingers trailing through the cool condensation on her beer bottle.
Chet grinned, saying simply, “I know.”
Sally thought about what he’d just said.
“I…don’t think you’re wrong,” she finally replied. She looked over at him, guilt weighing her down suddenly. “Don’t tell Lou? I mean about what you just said. I think she’ll just think I’m leavingherinstead of just…leavin’.”
Chet nodded, making a little X mark over his heart. “Lips are sealed, darlin’.”
“You know, you really are somethin’, Chet. I’m glad she found you.”
“More like I’m gladIfoundher. That woman is agoddessin the bedroom!”
“Alright, alright! I don’t need any more o’ that. Y’all traumatize me enough in the mornin’s.”
Chet chuckled, “Fair ‘nuff.”
“So, you gonna propose to her afore I leave?” Sally expected her statement to catch Chet off guard, but he just swigged his drink calmly.
His eyes twinkled at her as he replied, “How long I got?”
“Couple’a weeks, I reckon.”
“That soon?” Chet’s eyebrows got lost in his hairline beneath his hat and Sally flushed.
“The next space flight’s in about a month and I’ve gotta get there a little early so they can make sure I won’t like, have an aneurism on the shuttle.”
“Wereyou plannin’ on tellin’ Lou?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t mean from the airport, Sal.”
“It weren’t like that! I was gonna—amgonna tell her, it just sorta happened real fast! I…didn’t actually think I was gonna go. And then…”
