Joel nodded along, like a friend humoring an impassioned outburst. He had enough brains to swallow down his own laughter though, and only furrowed his brow at Father Time. He deserved that jab, for sure, since he’d been poking at Jane’s age himself. In all actuality, getting older hardly bothered him. Maybe if he was paunchy and easily winded he’d be touchy about it, but he could run circles around most of the guys in the department who were near his age and some that weren’t, so his ego was pretty safe from any real knocks.
“You think a couple of beers is going to be a problem, Rusten?” he returned. “What kind of tolerance do you think I’ve got?” He’d already decided to cut himself off anyway. Imagining the bad press that he’d get if some nosy citizen noticed him sloppy drunk was enough to curtail any real desire to go further than his tolerance would allow.
He pushed back so his chair teetered on the back two legs.
“I’ll make sure you get home safe, and even tuck you in if it’s necessary,” he continued. “Least I can do if I’m responsible for you.” Jane was capable herself, and probably a better drunk that Joel if he put the two of them side by side, “If you leave with someone else you’re on your own, though.” Who that someone else would be in an almost empty bar was the real question. He considered it some kind of progress that he hadn’t heard anything about Jane’s ex-wife lately, and it seemed like the visits to the UMCB were lessening. But that was Jane’s business, so he left it alone.
“Just give me a heads up if you’re going to leave, so I know I don’t need to rally the department to look for you.”