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"Truly." He nodded, rolling his eyes a bit. As if I didn't know the half of it. I didn't. People never told me their stories or shared personal shit. I was too busy beingunapproachable.
I pointed toward the door. "Should I just go? Would that bebetter?"
Acevedo shook his head as he dipped his hands into his pockets. "No, you're not doing that," he said. "Just do both of us a favor and leave the women alone if you can't mute the pick-up lines. Halsted will actually kill you if that doesn'tstop."
I laughed but the sharp glint in his eyes shut me rightup.
"He's a former Navy SEAL. He owns a private security firm now. The guy has connections," Acevedo said. "He's also extremely protective. Andy, Shannon, and his sister Lauren—you haven't smarmed all over her yet—went out to a club a few years ago. They wanted to go dancing and we all went along because what else would we do? A few drunk guys wouldn't leave them alone. Will dragged all five of these guys out of the clubat onceand whipped the tar out of them. By himself. He didn't have a drop of blood on him and I don't think he broke asweat."
I ran my hands through my hair. "Oh,shit."
Acevedo pulled his pager from his pocket and studied it for a moment. "He has a crossbow in his basement. He let me shoot itonce."
"Oh, shit," I repeated. "He will actually killme."
"Yeah, he will," Acevedo replied. He tipped his head toward me, pausing. "You know, it shouldn't require the threat of a woman's husband gravely injuring you to leave her alone. If she's not interested, you could back off. It's a matter of basicrespect."
"Don't give me the respect lecture, man. I respect womenplenty."
"Seems debatable," hemurmured.
"It was a misunderstanding. I'm not one of those guys." I rubbed my temples and stared at the floor. It was old hardwood, scarred and battered. I felt that. Every dark mark in the glossy golden wood mirrored my roughly patched spots. "This is why I don't do things with people from work," Igrumbled.
"Because someone will call you on your bullshit?" Acevedoasked.
"No," I said, finally meeting his eyes. "Because I fuck shit up. I'm not good with people or—you know—anything that isn't surgery. I didn't want to come here tonight, but Hartshorn dragged me by the ear. I was going to stay at home, or hang around the hospital and pick up procedures because I have no business at events likethis."
Acevedo regarded me for a long moment. "No, dude. You're in the rightplace."
I had a salty response ready but it died as I turned his words over in my head. "What the hell does thatmean?"
He jerked a shoulder up. "It means you should come inside with me. You're in good company," he said. "I don't think many of them make a habit of hitting on married women, but they have their own quirks." I gave him a dubious stare and he laughed. "Come on. Andy made paella. Do you likepaella?"
"I—uh—I don't know," I replied. "I don't think I've ever hadpaella."
"You'll like it," he said. "The rice on the bottom gets nice and crispy. It's the bestpart."
"You want me to stay," I said, "and eat crispyrice."
"Yes," he said,nodding.
"After everything that justhappened."
"Yes," he repeated. Stillnodding.
"I don't understand this city," Imurmured.
"You don't have to," he replied. "We'll eat, we'll drink, we'll reminisce about the days when we were young and naïve and the world wasn't a dumpster fire. Just stop trying to pick up the ladies and they'll adopt you before the end of thenight."
My lip curled into a scowl. I was thirty-eight years old and I'd managed well enough without any form of family for nearly two decades. "That's the last thing Ineed."
Acevedo scratched his chin as he stared off into the distance for a moment. "There was a time when I thought the same thing," he said. "I was wrong about that, and a lot of other things, too." He started back toward the apartment, glancing at me over his shoulder. "Come on. We'll get you one of Riley's drinks and you'll forget any of this everhappened."
"He'll probably dip his balls in it," Igrumbled.
"I wouldn't doubt it," Acevedo replied. "But like I said, we'll feed you enough liquor to make you forget all ofthis."
Acevedo was rightabout the crispy rice. The drinks, too. And Hartshorn was right about sitting in the corner and sulking. I needed all of those things to keep myself from floating away on a river of resentment and bitterness tonight. It helped that I had an unobstructed view of Emmerling once she arrived, and plenty of time to admire her while the boyfriend snarled atme.
