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“A long time.”
Dale looked confused, but he said, “Old friends, huh?”
I turned my grin back to him. “Since we were kids. We grew up together. Then he left and I stayed here. We grew apart. You know how it is.”
“Oh?” Dale said, looking at Mark. “I didn’t know that.”
“I had to leave,” Mark said, hands in fists at his sides. “Family thing.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Family. Because nothing is more important than family.”
“Right,” Dale said slowly, glancing between the two of us. “It can be the most important thing.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “Sometimes a family of choice is better than that of blood. But that’s not for everyone.” I nodded at the guys at the table. “Ain’t related to any of these assholes, but they’re still mine. For the moment.”
“We’re so dead,” Rico whispered to Tanner and Chris.
“And sometimes people are put into positions where they have no choice at all,” Mark said evenly.
“Oh my god,” Tanner breathed. “Do they have to do this now?”
Dale laughed uncomfortably. “I think maybe I’m missing something here.”
I waved him away. “Nah. You aren’t missing a thing. Because I’m not missing a thing. Right, Mark?”
“Right,” Mark said, eyes narrowing.
Rico cleared his throat. “As fun as this is—and believe me, I’ve never been more entertained in my life—we don’t want to keep you from your… night out.”
“You could join us,” Chris offered. Then the blood left his face as he glanced at me. “Uh, no. Don’t do that. Go away.” He winced. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Just don’t… be here.”
Tanner put his face in his hands.
“It’s okay,” Dale said. He seemed like such a nice guy. I fucking hated nice guys. “We won’t intrude. It’s been a while since I’ve had this one all to myself. Gonna take advantage of that.”
“Christ,” Rico muttered. “Of all the things to say.”
“Sounds fun,” I said cheerfully. “Nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
“You too,” Dale said before pulling Mark toward the bar.
I watched them disappear into the crowd before I slowly turned back toward the table.
Rico, Tanner, and Chris sank even lower in their seats.
I took a long drink of my beer.
“He’s nice,” Chris tried.
“Works in a coffee shop,” Tanner added. “Over in Abby.”
“We only met him once,” Rico said. “And while we told him to his face that we thought he was a great guy, obviously we were lying, because why would we even think something like that when you’re our friend?”
“When you least expect it,” I said. “When it’s slipped your mind. When you’ve forgotten this moment, that’s when I’ll come for you.”
I shouldn’t have felt as good as I did at the look of fear in their eyes.
I WAS drunk.
