“She’s hot and scared, and she knows when you’re close.”

“I need to stay on my feet,” he insisted, folding his arms tightly over his chest.

“I’m completely useless to everyone if I let my energy drop.”

He checked his wristwatch, then looked up at the digital wall clock mounted above the vending machines.

It read 1:18 AM.

Ethan reached into his leather messenger bag, pulled out a sheaf of printed presentation slides, and flipped through them under the bright overhead lights.

He tapped his thumb against the stapled corner, his eyes skimming the corporate bullet points without really reading them.