What was the point? What she said was, “My God. “I think about you all the time, too, Carol. It was over. I need to get back earlier tonight, because Larry called last night before I got back and I had to convince him I was at a movie.”
“Okay.”
“So I want to go back to your hotel,” she said, “and make out for the rest of the day.”
“Gee, I dunno,” he teased. He had remembered something. My God, he thought. And you need some, Chuck.”
He wiped his eyes, then smiled. “What?”
“Tell me how you feel about me. When he thought he was calm, he opened the envelope and looked inside. That letter destroyed their friendship. “But you know that can’t happen, Charlie. Uh, yeah. I need to get back earlier tonight, because Larry called last night before I got back and I had to convince him I was at a movie.”
“Okay.”
“So I want to go back to your hotel,” she said, “and make out for the rest of the day.”
“Gee, I dunno,” he teased. Just hold you?”
Very softly: “I can do that.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
His anticipation mounted. Holding you is enough. I’ve never seen you this way.”
It was true. They never spoke of it, and both went on pretending that he was just
