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Barry slid over my drink. “Good to see you, Puker. Welcome back.”
Minty’s shoulders hunched up, shaking his head at whatever Windy whispered in his ear. Windy darted a glance my way and winked before going back to whispering to Minty and sipping his own Jolly Zima.
Antonio threw his arm around my shoulder. His breath was rank with beer and garlic. “Seriously, how ya been, Heartbreaker? We’ve missed you.”
Minty tossed a disdainful look over his shoulder at me.
“Looks like you’ve earned yourself another nickname,” Barry said, leaning on the bar with a smirk. “Heartbreaker.”
“How about the Heartbreak Kid,” Windy said cheerfully, grinning so that his eyes nearly closed. “I like that better.”
“No, plain old Heartbreaker,” Antonio insisted, his words slurring a little. “He’s gonna be that a lot longer than he’ll be a kid.” Antonio’s eyes clouded and he shook his head in confusion. “Did that make sense? I’m speaking English, right?”
“Yeah, because you don’t know another language,” Windy said, rolling his eyes.
Antonio laughed. “Dude, how many beers have I had? I feel so fucked up.”
“You took that tab earlier,” Minty said. “Remember?”
“Shit.” Barry swiped the beer from Antonio’s hand. “Water for you then.”
Antonio grabbed my arm and tugged me closer. His other hand slid down the front of my plain black T-shirt.
I leaned away from his touch, taking a step back.
“Wow, that’s asoftshirt you’re wearing, Heartbreaker. Will you give it to me?”
“No.” I pushed his hand away.
Antonio laughed and patted the empty barstool between him and Minty. “Sit down.”
“It’s okay,” Barry said, nodding. “Have a seat.”
Minty fixed his eyes on the opposite side of the room, refusing to acknowledge me. Windy sent me another wink but didn’t speak. Antonio became fixated on rings in the grain of the wooden bar, rubbing his fingers around and around. I sipped my club soda.
Barry shook his head and sighed like a father over squabbling children.
“Aren’t you even going to ask?” Minty asked me finally, turning to glare directly into my eyes.
I swallowed thickly, my pulse pounding. “About what?”
“About Daniel? Or don’t you even care?”
Sweat slid down my forehead, and I crunched some of the ice from my drink. I stared down at the mysterious shadows around our feet under the bar. “I care,” I whispered.
“For what it’s worth, he’sfine,” Minty said, ice in his tone.
“Actually, he’s not,” Windy threw in, shaking his head sadly. “He’s having a shit month.”
“It’s nothisbusiness,” Minty burst out.
Windy plowed on, ignoring Minty slapping at his arm. “Firstyouand then his mom.”
“What’s wrong with his mom?” I asked.
What if she was dead? What if Daniel was left with no parent at all? And two little siblings?
“She fell off the wagon again.” Windy tilted his hand up like he was drinking from a glass. “Daniel’s a mess right now, truth be told. But he’s holding it together.”
