Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"If you need more proof, I've got it. Just an hour ago, we were sitting at that coffee shop near her place, chatting away."

"Every word of it true, feel free to check it out-"

Cliff glanced at the person next to him whose expression had soured to the extreme. "..." Is it too late to turn off the speakerphone now?

But Corley just added fuel to the fire, "Did you get all that? Need me to repeat it? Maybe someone should record it, take it back, and analyze it thoroughly."

Cliff: "..." Oh, come on! That's totally unnecessary!

"Uh... Corley, you're busy, and I've got things to do here, so I'm gonna hang up now, okay?"

With that, Cliff quickly ended the call.

Corley chuckled and sped off.

"Murray..." Cliff started cautiously, "Don't listen to his nonsense. It could all be fake..."

Murray, expressionless, turned around and went back to the private room.

Cliff hurried after him, thinking to himself, this is not going to end well...

York sat on the couch, utterly baffled, frantically signaling Cliff: [What's up with him? How did he manage to come back from a smoke break looking like he'd been through a war?] Cliff: [Sigh, don't ask. I'm so over this.]

Murray called the waiter over: "Bring us two bottles of whiskey. Nobody's leaving until they're finished."

...

the whiskey was gone, and everyone was drunkenly sprawled

the bar, eyes closed, but his lips murmured dreamily:

leaned in

his fingers, not needing to hear to guess: "Crying

didn't leave Roseanne an ounce of dignity. Now he's all regrets." "Such

coughed, "Ease up a bit.

been

to drive? Let's just

him sleep it

and

head back in

"That works." Cliff agreed.

...

the morning,

was half-asleep, the constant ringing of his phone pounding in

better be important!" he answered irritably, not even checking who it

she's in pain. I don't know what to do, maybe you should come and check on her?" Murray frowned, "If she's not feeling well, go to the hospital. I'm not a doctor. What

"The doctor

been here. Says stress

help. She

the baby,

to be faking it. What