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The bar is loud, but right now, the beating of my heart and his words are the only sound I hear. This Billy is the one no one else gets. The one I told his sister about. I don’t know why he thinks I’m so special that he shows this side to me, but I’m grateful.
“I asked a girl to marry me once.” He smiles a sad smile, his eyes trying to focus as he rises from the stool. “Begged her to fly to Vegas with me that night. I couldn’t risk the sun rising and her running out on me.” I gasp and cover my mouth quickly with my hand as he continues, “She’s too good for me, though. She was smart to run.”
He walks away from the table, leaving me dumbfounded. Does he remember our night, after all? How do I ask if that girl was me?
With my mind whirling, I’m startled when the group comes to my table, collecting me to leave.
“Let’s get out of here,” Chelsea says tiredly.
“Where’s Bill?” Bobby asks, looking around the bar.
I glance around as well, replying, “He was just here talking with me.”
“I’ll check the bathroom again and meet you guys out front,” Bobby responds and then turns and heads to the back of the bar in search of Billy.
“How did that go?” Chelsea asks. “I saw you two sitting here.”
I’m still mad at them for not telling me, but I’m probably more confused than anything. “He’s been drinking. He won’t remember anything that was said.”
Chelsea gives me a sad smile. “Come on, tonight has been a shit show. Let’s go home.”
We walk to the parking lot, and we’re just getting into Adam’s Tahoe when Bobby comes racing outside. “He’s not in there. And his truck is gone.”
“Jesus Christ!” Adam exclaims, pulling at his hair as Chelseaattempts to comfort him. “What the fuck is wrong with that guy? Is he ever going to learn?”
“Let’s go home,” Chelsea says calmly. “We’ll check his house and I’ll make a call to Vincent.”
The sinking feeling is back in my stomach, a deep sense of dread at the thought of all the things that can go wrong.
Tonight has brought an end to so many things, but every end brings a new beginning.
I can only hope it doesn’t come at a cost.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BILLY
The incessant beepingnoise is driving me crazy.
I reach for my alarm, agonizing pain shooting through my shoulder as soon as I extend my arm. A sharp pinch on my skin has my eyes opening and I take in the surrounding scene—white sheets, a bed with bars on each side and wires. So many wires.
I attempt to move my legs and push myself higher on the bed when alarms ring, and a nurse comes running through the door. “Mr. Casanova. Please, lie still.” She rushes to the side of the bed and adjusts the wires and checks my arm before pushing some buttons on the monitor behind me.
“What’s going on?”
“Do you know why you’re here, Mr. Casanova?”
“Stop calling me that,” I answer grumpily. “And no.”
“You were in a car accident. You have a dislocated shoulder, which has since been reset, and a broken ankle. You’re lucky that’s the extentof your injuries. After hearing a bit of what it took to get you out, you’re lucky to be alive.”
She’s not looking at me, and she speaks in a robotic voice as I try to piece together the night.
“What time is it?”
“It’s a bit after ten in the morning. Your family was here all night, but I believe only your brother is still in the waiting room.”
“Can I see him?”
