Fourteen months without a drink, and he had found that the drive-thru on Harbor stayed open until one. He ordered the same thing every time: two doubles, animal style, fries, chocolate shake. He ate in the parking lot with the seat back and the engine running for the air conditioning. Nine minutes, start to finish, and cheaper than one round used to be.

His sponsor said food was fine, food was not the problem. He had gained thirty-one pounds and his doctor had used the word trending. What he did not say to the sponsor, or to the doctor, was that he was not there for the burgers. He was there because it was the only lit window at that hour that would hand him something.