Page 76 of Forgotten Pieces

“It was nothing, man.”

He looks at me with doubt. “Is that why she keeps looking over here?”

“She is?” I ask as I turn my head in her direction but her back is to me as she leans on the bar laughing with a customer.

“Sucker.” Mac laughs.

I punch him in the arm and go back to my whiskey.

“How’s the house?”

“It’s great. I never thought I would have something like it. It’s perfect. Just quiet.”

He sips his beer. “Shelley still gone?”

I swallow the rest of the whiskey in my glass and nod as I flag down Trace for another.

“That’s fucked up, man.”

“No shit.”

“I hate to say this, but do you think something is going on?”

I look over at him. “What do you mean?”

“Like an affair.”

I don’t answer him. I can’t. I don’t want to admit it because I’ve had the same thoughts myself. She used to be so loyal to me even when we lived in different states. But my PTSD has taken a toll on her and our relationship. I wouldn’t be surprised if she found love with someone who could love her back.

Not that I’m much better. I look in Tacoma’s direction and our eyes meet. But she looks away quickly, running off with drinks to a table.

I run my hands over my face. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to think Shelley would do that. But I haven’t been the best man to her over the last year.”

“You have reasons for that.”

“Reasons she can’t seem to comprehend.”

We both sit in silence for a few minutes, sipping our drinks. The bar starts to get crowded as a band gets ready to play.

“Do you care?”

I’m shocked at Mac’s question. He doesn’t usually talk to me about these things. He knows I have my turmoil, but he doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t try to fix me. He lets me be. He can sense something is going on between Tacoma and I. Maybe Tacoma told Laney who then told Mac.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. Because I am not sure if I care.

“You guys need anything?”

Tacoma’s sultry voice shakes my thoughts.

“I’ll take a double,” I say, looking up at her but her eyes don’t meet mine. They look over my head and then turn to Mac.

“I’ll take another beer.”

She walks off without another word.

“What did you do to her?” he asks me once she is gone.

“Nothing.”

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