Bill climbed the garbage-smelling stairs and entered the apartment above the shop.

Tom, Rick, Mike, Dan, PJ, and a few guys Bill had never met before all shook Bill’s hand and then offered the tour.
“Damn, look at that television,” Bill said. “Are those the lazy-boys with the refrigerators built in?—Damn, Carol and I just purchased a juicer—you all would love it—”
Dan cracked his hand in a whipping motion.
When the conversations died down, and most of the beers as well, Mike stood up and hung his head all solemn, garnering the immediate attention of the brothers. He then raised his beer can, signaling a toast, and said, “I’ve had enough of this sausage-fest, let’s take Bill here out to find some skanks-ass-hoes.”
The men all raised their beers, Rick offered a slurred, “here, here”, and they drank up.
“I’ll meet you guys down there,” Bill said.
“Sure you will,” Dan offered. The other men looked slightly disapointed, but their excitement returned as they headed out into the cold air.
Bill sat in the car, hands on the steering wheel, his breath fogging the window. Go home to Carol. He started the ignition. His car moved three feet when he saw Rick stumble out of the door and look around as if lost.
“I’ll take you down there, Rick, but I ain’t coming in,” Bill said. It was five past midnight.
When he arrived home, it was 5:15 in the morning. Please, let her be asleep. Please let the tequila smell a lot stronger than that girl’s perfume.

When he closed the door, he turned the handle so the lock wouldn’t make as much noise as it shut.

Yellow light came from the living room. In the far corner, she sat in Bill's favorite chair, a closed book on her lap. Bill grinned and said, “Hey baby, what are you--” She stood and walked very quickly towards him. For a second he thought that she might smack him. He stepped to the side, and she kept walking, their arms brushing as she passed. The bedroom door slammed behind her.
He rapped once with his knuckle.
“Come on, baby. Open the door,” he said. “I fell asleep at Mickey’s—I didn’t want to wake you up.“

Lying was easier with a good buzz.