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“Whathappened,Devon?Whyare you having a bender in my storeroom?”Hescans the space, then focuses on me again. “Where’syour girl?”
Hiseyes are filled with a knowing sympathy.Sincethis is the first time in five years he’s found me here like this, it doesn’t take a genius to know it has to do withShae.
“She’swithBeau.”
Onegrizzled eyebrow arches, but he doesn’t ask for details.Turningaway, he heads to his tiny kitchenette. “Coffee?”
Myhead throbs. “Yeah.Thanks.”
Whilehe gets the machine going,Iheave myself off the far-too-small bed and reassemble it into a sofa.WhichIpromptly collapse back onto.
Whenhe brings me over a chipped mug,Ireach for it gladly. “Thanks.”
Heuses a booted foot to drag a chair away from the table, and then he drops down onto it.I’mexpecting him to probe some more, but he doesn’t. “Howlong will you be crashing here?”
Agrimace of a smile forces its way onto my face.Thankfuck for men likeMickwho understand the benefits of not talking. “Idon’t know.Afew days?”
Henods, then takes a sip of his coffee. “Ifyou’re here every morning,I’mgoing to put you to work.”
Alaugh erupts from me. “Iwouldn’t expect anything else.”Isurvey the messy room. “Whatdo you need done?Iassume you don’t expect me to work out front.”
“Asmuch asI’dlike the extra business that would bring,Idon’t think that’s the best idea.No.”Helooks around, much likeIdid. “Igot stock that needs sorting.Defectiveitems that need to be shipped back to the supplier.Thinkyou can manage that?”
“IthinkI’llbe okay.”
“Gotany gigs coming up?” he asks.
Ilet out a sigh. “Notfor a few weeks.Justpractice and fuckingPRevents.”
“Yeah.I’mimaginePRshit can suck the life from you after a while.”
Inod.Ican blow off some of thePRstuff and get away with it.Butnot practice.Aknot forms in my chest at the thought of seeingBeauafter what went down last night.Andif he bringsShae—
Theknot in my chest tightens so much my breath almost cuts off.
Fuck
Myhands shake asIbring the mug to my mouth again.
Mick’sshrewd eyes assess me. “DidIever tell you what happened with my first wife?”
“Ididn’t know you were married at all.Letalone more than once.”
“Itwas a long time ago.Idon’t bother talking about it much.”
Mylips twist.Iguess bringing it up now means he has some words of wisdom to share.Apparently,I’mnot going to escape without a lecture after all.ButI’mcurious despite myself. “Whathappened?”
Asmile flits acrossMick’sface. “Wewere high school sweethearts.Gotmarried right after graduation.”
ThatwasnotwhatIexpected him to say.Butthen maybeMickwas more of a romantic back in the day.
Heshakes his head. “Fuck,Iloved that girl.Wascrazy about her.Toocrazy.”Helets out a heavy sigh. “Ihad a friend.Nota best friend, mind you, but a good one.Thetwo of them got along well.Hestarted hanging around more after we got married.Ididn’t like it.Iwas jealous of their friendship.Thefriendlier they became, the moreIpulled away, sure there was something going on.She’dask me what was wrong, butIwouldn’t talk to her.Toodamn stubborn to confess my fears.Tookafter my dad that way.Hedidn’t talk about feelings, and neither didI.”
Ilook on in shock asMick’seyes turn glassy and he blinks a couple of times. “Anyway, one dayIcame home late.”Helooks at me. “I’dtaken to staying out late after our sessions, going to bars, you know the thing.”
Inod.
“SoIcome home late, three sheets to the wind, and whenIsee his car outside,Icome barging in like a bat out of hell.Andmy worst fears are realized.Ifind them in a compromising position on the couch.”
