Mistakes, I’ve Made a Few…

Diane turned around and faced everyone at the party. “I better stay here,” she said. “I don’t want to deal with him waiting outside my apartment.”

“By all means,” Danny agreed, putting his hand on her shoulder. Andy looked like he was going to explode.

“Are you out of your friggin’ mind?” he bellowed.

Diane buried her face in her hands and her hair fell down around them as a shield.

“Andy,” Danny said, putting his hand on Andy’s arm to pull him back.

“After what you and Jill just went through on account of that scumbag, on account of his stupidity? And now he shows up loaded? Have you learned nothing?”

“I know,” Diane said softly, shaking her head.

“You have to put a stop to this. This can’t continue.”

“I know, Andy.”

“This scumbag excuse for a cop is a drunk, and you can’t be part of that.”

“I know, Andy.”

“With you getting shot and all, you’re going to be more sensitive now. You don’t need his crap. You don’t need it right now. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“All right?”

“All right. Yeah.”

Andy was much calmer. Diane looked so small. It occurred to him that she was well aware of the magnitude of Denby’s betrayal. “Okay, well, I gotta go. Happy New Year.”

“Yeah,” was all Diane could manage.

Greg looked very uncomfortable. “Yeah, well, I gotta go, too. Happy New Year, Diane. Danny,” Greg stammered as he grabbed his coat and left. Baldwin and his date said their goodbyes and left with Greg, too.