Page 104 of The Prodigy

“Sitting at the bar. Smiling at me. Taunting me.”

“You want me to come up there?”

“No. No, it’s okay. I just needed to talk to somebody.”

“Can you stay in the back until he leaves?”

“No. Grant called out, so I’m behind the bar by myself.”

He sighed. “Alright, I’ma come up there.”

“But—”

“I’ll sit in the back. I just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

I closed my eyes and nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Thank you, Dario.”

“Not a problem.”

Twenty minutes later, he walked through the front door. We locked eyes and he nodded upwards, but he didn’t go to the back like he said he would. Instead, he took a seat at the far end of the bar and glared at Brett like he was ready to throw hands. I had to admit, having him there was comforting.

Besides my father, Dario was the only one who knew my history with the eldest Hightower sibling.

I gave Dario some Jack Daniels, but we didn’t speak at all until an hour or so later when Brett threw a fifty on the bar and left out the door. Relieved, I poured myself a shot of tequila and made my way back to Dario.

His face was creased with concern. “You good?”

“Yeah. I really appreciate you coming down here.”

“It’s not a problem. But one thing doesn’t make sense to me.”

“What?”

“Your husband. Why isn’thein this seat?”

I looked down at the oak bar top. “He doesn’t know.

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t talk about it. I don’t wanna talk about it ever again.”

“I mean, I get that, but—”

“Leave it alone,” I warned. “I’m handling it the best way I know how to.”

“Okay.” He put his hand on mine. “You know I always got your back. I know I ain’t always been the best boyfriend, but I’m your friend, and I care about you. So I’m here.”

I smiled. It felt good to hear him say that.

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