Page 40 of Movers and Shakers

Chapter Seven

Lila

Lila: You free tonight?

Barry: I am, but it’s been a long day. I don’t know if I can help you with music tonight.

Lila: What happened?

Barry: Long story.

Lila: I could bring tea.

Barry: I don’t want to bore you with my family drama.

Lila: Please? I want to be sure you’re okay. We don’t even have to talk about it, but I don’t want you to be alone.

Barry: Fine. I’m at my apartment.

“How long am I staying for?” Juno asked.

“No idea.”

“If it’s an all-nighter again, please just text. And give Barry my number. I want him to have it in case either of you need backup.”

“I will,” I said. “Thank you, Juno.”

I grabbed the box of tea she had purchased for me and walked to the door of Movers and Shakers. When I knocked, he opened immediately.

But this was not the man I knew. A shadow had fallen over his face, making him seem darker. I’d only seen Barry angry when he talked about his family.

What had they done to him?

“Are you okay?”

“Tonight isn’t a good night.”

“You said as much. Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Okay, then tea it is.”

I brushed past him and went up to his apartment. I was in helping mode and I didn’t want him to be alone with whatever had happened. “Sorry, not sorry, but I’m going through your cabinets to find mugs. I hope you don’t have a dildo collection hidden here.”

“Why would I put that in my kitchen cabinets?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you sanitize them in the dishwasher.”

A tiny, almost imperceptible smile crossed his face, and I took that as a win.

I busied myself with warming up some water. When I brought it to him, he looked at me like it was the kindest gesture he’d ever experienced. “Thank you.”

I sat on the couch next to him. “Do you want to talk about it now?”

Barry let out a long sigh. “There isn’t much to say. Other than the fact that my dad is a sexist asshole, and I hit him for it.”

“You . . . oh.” My pulse thrummed. I usually didn’t care for violence. But Barry? Maybe I wouldn’t mind seeing that, especially if the person being hit was a sexist asshole.

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