Bad choices.

{if Shame <76}What's the worst that could happen?{else
}Maybe I can just stop by for a visit...rest my aching feet. We don't have to... DO anything...{endif
}
"What do you say, you want to see my place?"
"S-sure..."
She followed Denny in her car as he drove to his apartment. He still lived in the same part of town: it was a bit sketchy, and it reminded her of that dangerous thrill of their time together. On the way, she texted Brian.

Beth: Lindsay's dragging me out for a few drinks at Vivid.
Brian: that's ok babe, Kyle and I are catching up anyway. When do you think you'll be home?
Beth: who knows with her.You know how she is. You don't have to wait up
Brian: ok love you babe don't do nothing crazy now.

Of course not.
When they arrived at the apartment building, Beth grabbed a change of clothes from the trunk of her car: she always kept casuals in the trunk in case she wanted to go out after work without going home first.
"Still living in the same kind of dump as before, huh?"
"Hey, don't judge, it's all I can afford. Uber drivers don't make a lot of money." He led her up two flights of stairs and into his dimly lit apartment amidst random sounds of yelling and of televisions played too loudly. It felt very... nostalgic, and she smiled. I remember living like this. When they had lived together, in a different building a few streets over, no one had ever complained about them fucking too loudly or having people over all hours to do blow and roll on E, people here minded their business. Not like her current place, where the next door neighbor lady gave her a look if she yelled too loudly during sex. She hasn't had much to complain about for a while.
His place was dingy, and dimly lit, but it was clean enough and the couch was comfortable. He had a nice TV and she noted the clean, fresh smelling bathroom as she changed into her jeans and a light sweater. She spritzed some body spray, just in case.
Just in case what?
When she emerged, Denny was on the couch, holding two beers and patting the spot next to him, which she happily plopped into, snatching the beer bottle and chugging a third of it.
"You can still drink like a demon I see."
Beth winked. "You know it."
"It's a little surreal, you being here. I thought a lot about you in lockup. Missed you. But I never thought I'd have you here with me, drinking beers after midnight"
"I'm sorry..." she started to apologize again for leaving him all alone in prison, but he waved her off, turning to stroke her cheek with a finger. "I told you, fuck that shit. You had to do what you had to do. I never resented you for it... just... missed you... and now here you are." He lingered his gaze on her face. His fingers on her cheek became a hand running under her hair, rubbing her neck in just that way he used to. This is nice...