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“That’s not an option.” My gut churns. “Just see to her for me. Don’t let Dee go off on some wild goose chase and tangle with O’Malley.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t. But this is some bullshit, Mick. Someone obviously ran into your fist last night.” His eyes drop to my bandaged knuckles.
“I ripped them on the punching bag.”
“Oh yeah,” he scoffs. “And the blood Dee saw on your shirt?”
“It came from my knuckles.” The lies keep rolling. “Dee is looking for things that aren’t there.”
“She didn’t imagine the two glasses and bottle of whiskey.”
“A couple of former teammates stopped by. They had whiskey, I didn’t. Are we done now?”
“You’re lying, man. Your right eye twitches ever so slightly when you do. Right now, it’s twitching like a motherfucker.”
“Is that what they taught you in detective school?”
“Ah…classic. Sarcasm as a defense.”
“Give it a rest, Victor. I’m good.”
“Good, you’re not. You were off your game at practice. You’ve got circles around your eyes darker than a raccoon’s and you look like hell. When did you last sleep or have a decent meal?”
“I don’t need mothering.”
“What you need is a good kick in your ass. But it’s no fun kicking a man when he’s already down. I’ll feed you instead.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Too bad. Bells is preparing lunch and Dwayde has a joystick with your name on it.”
“I won’t be good company.”
“No shit. But we’ll have you anyway.”
“I’m not drinking, Victor.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“That’s what this is about. Did Dee send you here to babysit me?”
“Call it what you like, but I’m not leaving you on your own.”
“Christ, you’re annoying.”
“I ooze charm and you know it.”
Lacking the energy to argue, and frankly being alone with my own miserable company isn’t appealing, I pick up my jacket and pull it on.
“She loves you, man.”
I know that with everything inside me. I must have read her text message a thousand times. But it’s her love for me that puts her at greatest risk. “Dee needs to move on.”
“That’s what you want her to do?”
“Yes.” Another lie that almost strangles me.
“I applaud your altruism.” He slowly claps his hands in a mocking gesture. “Very generous of you not to stand in the way of Dee getting on with her life and eventually meeting someone else.”
