"Strike one to the solar plexus."

"Not that I couldn't, Kim... but... I can't." Another pause. "Not if I don't want to start white-chipping it again. And I can't go back to that place."

"That's good to hear. I couldn't bear..."

"It wouldn't be you. It would be me. Every step of the way back down into Hell."

Snicker.

"That strike your funny bone?"

"Everybody seems to have Dante on the brain tonight."

"Everybody?"

"Well... me. And all my little demons, to quote Lindsey Buckingham."

Chuckle. "You remember."

"Not like I could forget."

"You might want to try."

"No. I won't regret you. And I won't give up the memory-- not an instant of it."

"You're gonna start getting to me again."

"I know. And we promised that we wouldn't do that to one another."

"Can you stop?"

"You want me to?"

"No, but I'm not the one in love with someone else."

"Strike two to the solar plexus."

"Didn't mean it to be."

"I know. What I don't know is what I'm doing."

"Want me to hang up and blame it on the booze?"

"Would that it were true."

"I was trying to give you an out."

"Generous of you."

"Tell me what you want."

"You to answer that question."

"You." The unhesitating reply. "Tell me I can have that-- any part of you, in love with someone else or not-- and I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Strangled laughter. "You're not kidding, are you?"

"Not anymore, Kim. You told me not to fight for you, but you won't let me go."

"It's not intentional. But my hands..."

"Keep reaching for me. I know, Kim. I was there."

"You're there all the time."

"I see it in your eyes."

"I try not to look at you."

"I see that too."

"I won't do that to you. I won't do that to her."

"Then make a choice."

"I did."

"And it's not working."

That your opinion or the general consensus?"

"Yours and hers are really the only ones that matter, I'd think."

"You'd be surprised."

"I thought things were changing for her."

"Me too."

"That what's killing you?"

"No."

"Mind if I ask what is?"

"You."

More silence.

"Kim..."

"I lied."

"Second time you've done that to me."

"We're even then."

"For?"

"The shots to the solar plexus."

"Not funny, Legaspi."

"That's good, 'cause I'm really not feeling up to taking my act on the road."

"Really?"

"Meaning?"

"I heard you had put out a couple of feelers."

"Seeing what the market will bear. Not like I have the best relationship with the Board and Chief of Staff." Pause. "Don't give yourself that kind of power over me, Abby. I don't."

"Your third lie."