That night, Joe finished work just as late as he had the night before, but this time he made his way home instead of going to a party. He clambered up the stairs of Rocky's building, let himself into the apartment with his key, and headed immediately to the fridge to get a beer. He heard Rocky in the shower and decided that it would be a good time to call Shelly.
As he slugged down some beer, he fished through the pockets of his jeans for Shelly's phone number. It was scribbled on a slip of paper which he'd torn from an envelope; she'd dictated the number to him at the party, and he'd secreted it hastily in his pocket.
Joe found the precious scrap of paper in the left rear pocket of his jeans and uncrinkled it to read the number. Swallowing more beer, he dialed the phone, the receive
