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“Going to the bathroom, want to come?” Elissa asked Addie as she stood.
“Sure.” Addie jumped off her bar stool and headed down with Elissa.
“I’ll never really understand women,” Jace said to me. “Why the hell do they move in packs, especially when they need to go the bathroom?”
“Easy. They want to talk about us without us knowing.” I took my second glass off the tray of the waitress. The waitress lingered a little too long but I ignored her, and I knew the reason why the instant I took the napkin from her. Her phone number was written on the back. I crumpled it up, not bothering with it.
“Since they’re gone, we can talk about Darren.” Jace picked up his beer, swallowing nervously.
“What of Darren?” I asked annoyed.
“Look—I'm not going to pretend I know what’s going on, but he’s all fucked up. I figure you’re his friend. Right? I mean, I see Rafe at the bar but you’re never there,” Jace said as he scratched the back of his head and fidgeted around.
“I'm married now. It’s not that easy for me to leave Addie.” My tone was cold.
“Okay, listen, at the risk of fucking this up and Elissa getting really pissed at me for getting involved. Being friends doesn’t only mean the good times; it means the bad ones too. Darren feels like he fucked up a lot. He missed out on Addie for your sake and now both you and Addie are distant. I know you said it was okay for Addie to see him, but she hesitates, afraid of pissing you off.” Jace looked me square in the eye. I had to hand it to the fucker. Not many stood up to me.
“Anything else, Jace?” I hissed.
“No.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Elissa hopped back onto her stool while I helped Addie get on hers.
“Nothing. You? What did you girls talk about?” I watched Addie. Almost guessing she might have had a similar conversation with Elissa. Addie’s smile changed; it was back to the old Addie, distant and putting up an act. “Are you okay?” I looked right at her when I spoke.
“Yeah, I'm just not feeling well,” she said, not looking at me.
“Addie, look at me.” I willed her to face me. She turned her head and gazed up. She was pale. “What the fuck did you say to her?” I snapped at Elissa.
“Nothing,” Elissa bit out.
“Sure, that’s why Addie is all fucked up now.” I stood up, waving the waitress over.
“Put the bill on my card,” I told her as I handed it to her.
“Daimon, wait!” Addie protested.
“No, I'm not waiting. We’re going, now. You want to talk about Darren with your friends go ahead. I'm not participating,” I said coldly.
“Darren? What about Darren?” Elissa asked seemingly surprised, but her face changed as she turned to Jace. “This is why I don’t tell you anything,” she said to him.
“Elissa didn’t talk to me about Darren. I'm really just not feeling well,” Addie said meekly.
Immediately, I felt shitty for going in for the attack. “Shit, are you okay?” I took her face into my hands. She was warm to the touch.
“I just feel tired,” she murmured.
“We’re going home.” I held her hand gently.
“Addie, I’ll call you tomorrow, to make sure you’re okay.” Elissa stood up and hugged her awkwardly since I was holding on her other hand.
“Sure,” Addie muttered.
I brought a sleeping Addie home. It was only just past midnight, but she was dead to the world. I laid her down carefully onto the bed, washed her face with a warm cloth, and undressed her. I laid down next to her and held her close, worrying and wondering what was wrong with her.FebruaryI had yet another business gala, something about Valentine’s Day. I had one of these business dinners at least once a month. Since I had to leave work late, Addie had to travel to the Ritz on her own, which upset me. Lately Addie hadn’t been feeling well. I was worried she was hiding something from me, but she never let on. She hated attending these galas, but she never told me, not directly, but I knew her well enough to know. This was part of my world, part of my work and Addie had no choice but to accept it.
“Hey, Daimon,” called out Jeffrey, an investment banker. I hated the fucker with his long, wavy blond hair and the attitude that he was God’s gift to women.
“Jeffrey.”
“I see you came late. Working after hours?” He nudged me and winked. The man was married but was the biggest whore in the city.
“No, asswipe, I actually work,” I bit out as I looked around for Addie.
I finally spotted her with Rafe sitting down at the table, with the usual overabundance of flowers and stupid charger plates. Addie was laughing with Rafe. A small part of me was jealous he could make her laugh and that it was not me responsible for her head falling backward as her full laugh livened up the air around her. I stopped, not letting my jealousy consume me as I watched while Addie conversed and joked with those who sat at our table. I put my hands in my pocket and observed as the men marveled at her, while their wives laughed with her. My Addie, she was changing like she said, slowly, but it was happening.
