“Dude. . . When’s the last time you got laid? Or went out for a drink? Or just had fun that wasn’t involving birds or math?”

He missed national kiss day. Not like anyone was going to kiss him anyways.

“Come hang out with me tonight! We can go out and get a couple drinks, have actual fun. Come on, haven’t you missed me?”

“Since college? Geez, you really need to get out some more. Good thing your pal Richie knows how to have a good time.”

“Work, work, work— come on. You need to get out there. So you can say you had fun and didn’t die a workaholic.”

“Who the fuck is passionate about fucking accounting, Stanley? Literally no one would ever say that.”

“Comedy? I like making people laugh. I get paid to get up in front of a bunch of drunk strangers and make them like me.”

“I don’t fucking know. I pay someone else to do that shit for me.”

“Maybe I’ll hire you to do my taxes next year, huh? Gonna get me a nice tax return, Stanley?”

“Oh, don’t be like that. I’d pay you. I’m not going to make you do my taxes for free.” He elbows him back with a small chuckle.

Drop kicks @BIRDSNDBOOKS.

Good— You’re still alive. Just checking. Heh.

With my dashing good looks? I’m very much aware, Stan the Man! You should’ve seen the names I had your mom calling me last night—

Is that even a question? You should know my answer to a drink is and will 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 be yes.

He’s reaching for the glass, bringing it up to his lips and taking a long sip from it. Richie drinks a lot. Probably relies on alcohol more than he should, but. . . What else was he to do? “So. . . How’s Patty?”

“See you decided to stay behind. Wait, don’t tell me. . . You have too much work to do, right?”

There’s a hesitation in his next sip. Something flashing across his face for a brief second. He takes his sip before clearing his throat. “Well. . . Can’t say that I saw that one coming.”

“There isn’t much to say. I’ve just been working, honestly. Seems to be what adults do in adult life. But at least I get to travel while I’m doing it.”

“I mean. . . Yeah? I like making people laugh. I like living the wild lifestyle. I always have. I just. . . Mom’s gone, dad and I don’t talk much. Guess I just get lonely sometimes? I don’t know, it’s stupid—“ Richie has never liked taking about his feelings.