“To the bar.”
Mara’s jaw clenched and I could tell she was fighting tears, trying to honor my request for her to not manipulate me with crying.
She was trying. I needed to at least try to meet her in the middle.
On my way out the door, I bent to kiss her forehead. “I’m glad you’re in my life too. This is just a lot.”
“Okay,” she said.
She was still rooted in the same spot when I let the door close behind me.
“Hey, man.”
A hand clapped my shoulder at the bar. I was living out some Hollywood fantasy of hanging my head over a glass of whiskey when I was upset.
I turned to find my teammate Guy Stelle, looking concerned. “Do you want to sit with us? We’re just hanging out. No New Year’s shenanigans. We’ll probably be in bed before midnight.”
I could have said no, and I wanted to keep feeling sorry for myself. But I’d already been at the bar for an hour and had three whiskeys. Plus the reminder that it was New Year’s Eve made me realize I really needed to not drown in my misery.
Sydney and I had gotten married on New Year’s Eve. She said it was the most glamorous night of the year and she deserved only the best.
I never would have imagined she’d ruin the date for me forever.
My stomach got so upset when I thought about our wedding that I often felt like I had to shit. I tried not to think about it as much as possible.
I should have known how bad it would be from then. I should have seen the train coming.
But I was desperate. Desperate for someone of my own. My parents had chosen JP over me long ago. Papi was gone. I needed someone just for me.
I stumbled getting off the barstool and Stelle grabbed my elbow so smoothly no one would notice my clumsiness. “Got ya, bud.”
I grimaced as I sat down between Stelle and Obi at the high top bar table. Stelle’s wife Kitty and Obi’s girlfriend Annie sat on their other sides, Annie and Kitty close together. They’d grown up together, Obi meeting Annie while in Stelle’s wedding to Kitty.
And Stelle’s wedding to Kitty was when I told Sydney I wanted a divorce, and she yelled to everyone in the room that I have a small dick, I’m not a man, and I’m a pussy who won’t man up and take control. Oh, and that I like it up the ass.
Something I literally asked for one time just because I was curious.
“Leroy, where’s your woman?” Kitty asked as I sat.
“With the kids,” I mumbled.
“You alright, buddy?” Obi asked, leaning in.
Stelle gave Kitty a look to tell her and Annie to butt out for a minute.
“Fine,” I said.
“What did you get in a fight about?” Obi asked.
“She told me she loves me.” I blurted it out, then felt bamboozled. “Wait, I didn’t say I was in a fight.”
Obi looked smug and sat back, messing with his beer on a cocktail napkin. “I’m a good guesser.”
Stelle chuckled. “Only you would think your wife telling you she loves you is a bad thing.”
I rolled my eyes and flagged the waiter down. “Another whiskey.”
“Nope,” Stelle said. “Get him a Coke, please.”
