Page 49 of The Wrong Guy

I sometimes wish I could go back to the simplicity of being alone. I remember how easy it was, and now everything is messed up.

Stavros has been impressive. He’s been amazing. I’m the one who has made everything complicated because of Derek. Our relationship would be perfect if it weren't for me.

I followed Shelly’s directions exactly as she told me and was met by a man next to the door. He greets me casually before handing me my keys and then pointing to my new car. I’m still in shock that Andreas got me a new car.

Everything begins to hit me all at once when I'm in my new car. Nothing will be the same anymore; I can do nothing about it. Derek is gone. That is the one thing that is hard to swallow. Derek is dead, and I’m looking like the perfect assailant to have killed him.

I start to feel the tears well up in my eyes as I consider everything happening right now. I’m being investigated for the murder of my husband after he tried to kill me and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

The tears fall unchecked from my eyes, but I start the car anyway. I have to get to the restaurant and tell Britney everything. I need to have my best friend with me right now.

Rico’s isa perfect little restaurant downtown. It is small enough that you don’t feel crowded but busy enough to keep the staff busy. I’m just happy to have a quiet place to talk to my best friend about everything that has happened lately.

When I get to Rico’s, Britney's already there and is being served a couple of margaritas.

“I figured you wouldn’t turn down a margarita.”

I plop down in the seat and immediately start drinking it. I give her a thumbs up when the lime taste hits my tastebuds first. “Thank you!” I state as I swallow the puckered liquor down. “I needed it.”

“You don’t look so good. What’s going on?”

“Brit, everything is a big mess.”

The waiter comes out to get our orders. Chips and dip are delivered to our table by our waiter before disappearing to go do other things.

“Let’s talk about the hospital. I was going to come, but I couldn’t see you like that,” she whispers.

“Stavros and Andreas were there the whole time. Or most of the time. Stavros had to leave a couple of times to do something, and then Andreas had court. I was fine. Don’t worry.”

She reaches out to my hand. Our fingers lazily meet in the middle. “Let’s talk about what happened with Derek.”

I take another big drink from my margarita. “He’s dead. I’m still surprised he is gone. The police are investigating everything to see if it was caused from the fire or what happened.”

She’s looking around before redirecting back to me. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I heard a rumor.”

I can’t believe Britney glossed over the investigation part of Derek’s death. Usually, she would be all up in it trying to get more information. If there is one thing I know about my friend, that would be her love for true crime. She is always watching the shows on television and listening to all of the podcasts.

I decide not to ask her why she isn’t more interested in the investigation. “What?”

Our food is delivered in front of us, and both of us dive into the food.

“You can’t freak out about this because it is only a rumor.”

“Okay…” I hedge. “Should I be worried?”

She vehemently shakes her head. “Absolutely not. However, you’re going to freak out when you hear this.”

“Spit it out.”

I’m taking a big bite of my lunch as our waiter stops by again to make sure we’re okay. We wave him off to continue our gossip session.

“Stavros’s dad is in the mafia.”

I drop my fork. “Even if that were true, how would you know?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “How would you not know this information? You’re living in his house.”

“Britney, I don’t want to get into it.”

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