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Pushing my chair back, I stand immediately, already moving toward him before he speaks again, “You should come here. Now.”
The room has gone eerily silent.
My bare feet carry me until I’m standing in front of Joey. I reach out for his hand to calm him down, but he takes a step back. When he does, I look around him to see who’s at the door.
Becca. Her hands are clasped together at her front, and her head is down.
“Becca?” As I take her in, my eyes widen with confusion. “Are you okay?” She looks paler than usual. Frightened?
Her eyes glance up at me. “I’ve been trying to reach you. This was the last place I could think of where I might find you. I’ve been to your shop, but you haven’t been there. I’m so sorry.” I go to step toward her, but Joey’s hand grips my hip, keeping me in place.
Becca sees the movement and bites her lip. “I shouldn’t have come.” She shakes her head, and I watch as she turns and walks down the stairs, unsure of what just happened or how to feel about it. I stay where I am, Joey’s hand still holding me. When I glance over my shoulder to look at him, he doesn’t seem any less upset, the anger is emanating from him.
“This is your last chance to say goodbye. Nothing more. If any part of your body touches her, I’ll kill her.” He drops his hand from me and strides back to the dining area. I hear soft voices as I stand there questioning myself about what to do.
I don’t know why she’s here.
And because she did come here, my husband is now furious at me.
Reaching for my phone, I unblock her number and see all her messages come through. They are all desperately asking me to meet up, saying that she needs to see me, almost to the point of begging. Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I walk back into the dining area and take my seat next to Joey. He doesn’t look at me, but his hand finds my thigh, and he offers me a small squeeze. My body relaxes at his reassurance, feeling like I can breathe again.
“Your girlfriend showed up?” Lucas asks with a smirk.
Joey turns and picks up a bread stick and hurls it at him.
Lucas laughs as it hits him in the face.
And for the rest of the day, we don’t speak of Becca again.
TWENTY-SEVEN
JOEY
Lunch went well, all things considered. My mother made sure the refrigerator was stocked before she walked out the door. Lucas was the next to leave, thank fucking God. And Sailor and Adora have gone to the kitchen to get more wine, leaving me alone with Keir.
“She makes you happy?” he asks.
“That’s hard to say, but so far, we’re getting along.”
“You seem smitten with her, and I know what smitten looks like. I’ve been there… I am there.”
“I don’t love her,” I point out.
“Yet,” Keir adds, lifting a glass to his lips. “It could be worse. You two could have remained as you were and never got along. This way has a better outcome.”
“What do you know of her father?” I ask the question I’ve wanted to ask all night.
“Not much. Why?”
“He used to hand her out to his friends. Did you know about that?”
“He what?” Keir’s expression shifts clearly confused but catching where the conversation is heading. “As in…”
“She hasn’t divulged everything yet, but yes, that is how I’m taking it.”
“What did she tell you?”
“A man was calling her, and I asked who he was. She told me after…” I don’t add how I got that information out of her by making her come. “That he was a man who she met through her father.”
