Henry was in his own world, refilling his glass, paying no mind to anyone else.

“Listen,” Mark Hughes said, laying a serious hand on his shoulder, “if you truly love her, you ought to respect her decisions. Don’t keep making the same mistakes.”

Finding the red wine too smooth for his taste, Henry summoned the bartender and requested a Long Island Iced Tea.

The bartender set up three glasses and Henry gulped his down swiftly.

As the alcohol took effect, his ...