Ryan walked through the front door just as Keeley was finishing her third appletini. He sat on the barstool beside her, ordered a beer, and turned to her with a raised eyebrow. He'd never seen Keeley drink outside of a party before and wondered why she was suddenly taking advantage of Happy Hour. The look on her face suggested something was wrong. Tear tracks streaked her cheeks, and worry lines creased her forehead. It was unsettling. He'd always known her as cheerful, funny, and full of smiles. Even failing Organic Chemistry II their junior year of college—and having to retake it—hadn't dampened her unfailing optimism.

"So," he said casually, attempting to lighten the mood, "you like appletinis?" He wouldn't have guessed it. She seemed too down-to-earth for fruity cocktails.

She nodded. "They're one of the only decent things they serve at cocktail parties, so I got used to them."

Keeley going to cocktail parties? He knew her friends; they preferred bowling, karaoke, and ping pong. Stuff like that wasn't their scene. He couldn't imagine her in a cocktail dress.

She saw his confusion and, after downing the rest of her drink and ordering another, explained, "My ex is loaded."

The dull pain in her eyes intensified. Ryan suspected he knew why she was there. Her ex must have done something. Perhaps he'd gotten engaged to a rich girl.

A pit formed in his stomach. If that upset her, she must still be in love with him.

"He sounds like a tool," he offered, trying to comfort her. His sister often bashed her ex-boyfriend, especially after he'd eloped to Las Vegas with her roommate.

"He's worse than that," she said darkly, taking another large gulp. "He's a cheater, a liar, has zero comprehension of human emotions, and he won't leave me alone."

Ryan felt relieved. Her anger clearly indicated this wasn't about love. There was deep-seated resentment. Was she upset that he kept bothering her?

"What did he do?"

"What didn't he do?!" she practically yelled, slamming her hand on the table. "He never cared about me before, so why…why is he being so nice to me all of a sudden? He can't do that! Not after everything he did!"

"Nice how?" he asked nervously. It seemed like the guy was trying to win her back.

Keeley began rambling, and he struggled to follow.

"his fault…he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'guilt,' but he just had to care this time…bringing me water, the Jacuzzi, the mattress, the coffee, this shirt! He carried me three blocks and up an elevator; who even does that?"

Ryan didn't understand everything, but when he heard "shirt," he noticed she was wearing a man's dress shirt.

"Uh…Keeley? I hate to pry, but…did you sleep with this guy last night?"

The dullness in her eyes was replaced with fiery fury. "What do you take me for?! I was sick, and yes, I stayed at his apartment, but I was in the guest room!"

He held up his hands defensively. "Whoa! I didn't mean to insult you. I'm just trying to understand the situation so I can offer better advice."

She calmed down slightly but remained huffy, finishing her fourth appletini.

"I would never degrade myself like that! He was the one who made me sick; I let him take care of me because I thought it would be better to puke in his car than on the subway."

"He…made you sick," he repeated, more confused than ever.

Keeley sighed and rested her face in her hand. "Food poisoning. That idiot made me late, so I had to eat bad tacos. He's a freaking stalker, that's what he is…"

"He's a stalker, and you still went to his house?"

"It was closer than mine! I needed somewhere to throw up!" she said defensively.

"You just said you didn't care if you threw up in his car."

She was contradicting herself. It might have been the appletinis.

"Of course I care! Would you want to puke in a car worth more than your life? You don't know, man, he could destroy anyone…"

Who was this guy? And if she was so afraid of him, why did she go to his place? There must have been some trust remaining. They must have been together a long time.

"Okay, he could destroy anyone. Why'd you break up with him then?" Ryan asked. He needed to know where she stood.

Keeley stared at him as if he were an alien. "I didn't; he dumped me for his side chick."

That explained the resentment. But if she hated him so much, why did she accept his help? This made less sense every minute. He sipped his beer, trying to process it all.

"I'm here, on my fifth cocktail—one I always used to drink with him—because he keeps showing up in my life. Five years! He left me alone for five years, so why is he crawling back now? He's everywhere! I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up right behind you!"

Instinctively, he checked behind him but saw no one. The alcohol might be making her paranoid.

He gently took her appletini away. "That's enough for you."

She began to sniffle, tears returning as he removed her drink. She buried her face in her arms on the counter.

Ryan was at a loss. She shouldn't drink more, especially after being sick, but she was so upset! He'd probably made things worse.

As if comforting a child, he hesitantly patted her back as she sobbed.

"Why is this happening to me? How come he didn't want me when I loved him, but he's being nice now? Why? Why does he keep appearing when I just want to forget?"

"I don't know…I'm sorry, Keeley," he said softly.

That guy was a real piece of work to reduce such a happy person to this state. He wanted to punch him.

Keeley deserved so much better—someone who respected her and kept that beautiful smile on her face. He could certainly do a better job than her ex.