Howie grabbed the bottle on the bar and downed it quickly. Then he threw it in the direction of the glass he’d thrown earlier. AJ had to duck this time and when he stood up, he saw Howie continue with his tirade, breaking glasses and bottles by swiping them off the bar.
"Shit, he’s going to destroy his own bar," thought AJ. He moved to his friend and grabbed him by the arm, "D! Stop! Wrecking the joint isn’t going to change what happened!"
Howie swung at AJ but the effects of the alcohol caused him to lose his balance and AJ caught him. Howie collapsed into his arms crying. "I’ve lost her, AJ! She loved me, trusted me, and I pushed her away!"
"Man, you didn’t do it on purpose! You did it because you love her."
"Did you see her? She wouldn’t even look at me."
"It was because she was scared, Howie."
"Of what? I’d never hurt her."
"She thought she’d betrayed you, D."
"I’m the one who pushed her to do it."
"Look, you’re drunk and tired. Let me take you to my place, sleep off the alcohol, and when you have BOTH had some sleep, you can talk to her."
Howie wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Thanks, AJ."
The two men made their way out of the bar to AJ’s car and AJ drove them to his place.