Gary hovered near the edge of the pub, pint in hand, watching the room like a man assessing a battlefield he was wildly unprepared for.

He could feel eyes on him. Or maybe that was paranoia. Or maybe it was the swelling making his face feel larger than usual. Either way, standing still felt like a mistake.

The dentist laughed again at something a customer said, and Gary felt the pull of it. The ridiculous hope. The idea that tonight could still turn into something other than a cautionary tale shared among friends.

This was usually the moment he sabotaged himself. Said something stupid. Did something worse. Walked away pretending he hadn’t cared in the first place.

But the pain was sharp now. Focused. It wasn’t going to let him forget why he was here.

Gary took a breath, squared his shoulders, and decided.

Whatever happened next, at least it would be something.

Approach her properly → Page 17

Lose your nerve and melt into the crowd → Page 21