I can immediately tell he’s slurring his words. I’ve only had two beers in the last few hours, but Matt is clearly drunk.
Dallas reaches for a new mug, her eyes flicking from me to Matt. “Where are the boys?”
He ignores her question. She finishes filling the mugup with the beer on tap. Every nerve ending in my body is on high alert.
Something is wrong.
“Matt, where are the kids? Are they at your mom’s?”
He chuckles into his beer. “What, you don’t trust me?”
“I didn’t say that. It’s your night with them. Why are you here?”
“Can’t a man go out every once in a while and get a beer? My wife left me. I’m allowed to go out and have fun now, even though I’m sad.”
I snort. Harper approaches me, nodding in my direction.
“Miller on tap.”
“Seriously, tell me who has the kids right now.” Her voice has reached a panicked note.
She pulls out her phone, sending a text. I swivel my stool to face them, but a woman has stepped between us to order something, partially blocking my view.
“I’m a good dad, and you can’t convince me I’m not. You left for no fucking reason.”
“I never said you weren’t a good dad! Why won’t you just tell me where they are?”
“They’re sleeping, all right? Can’t we just talk about us?”
“Sleeping where?”
“Sleeping soundly. Completely fine. Damn, you’re so obsessive.”
The urge to interrupt and demand he tell her where the kids are with my fists is strong, but I force myself to remain in place. If I intervene, he’s definitely not going to answer her questions.
“I’m not sure when you got a stick up your ass, but youused to be a lot more fun. Before we got married, you were cool. Do you remember our third date at the Rangers game? What happened to that girl, huh? I missfunDallas.”
I finally risk a glance over at them and see her expression. She’s glaring at him, pure rage twisting her pretty face. Her lips are pursed.
“I will ask you one last time before I leave and go find them myself. Where. Are. The. Boys?”
The woman between us finally gets her drink and leaves. I grip the beer I ordered, every muscle in my body taut with tension.
He finally sighs, leaning back on the stool. “They’re in the truck, sleeping. They’re?—”
Dallas is already on the move, darting toward the other end of the bar. I jump up and follow her. As soon as she exits the bar area, she starts pushing through the crowd of bodies. It’s not too busy tonight, so she makes it through quickly before heading for the front door.
I catch up to her in the parking lot. My eyes are peeled for the red Chevy. I finally see it, parked halfway up on the curb in the back of the lot. For a split second, I’m worried we don’t have the keys to get in if the boys are inside.
Dallas takes off at a sprint. I’m hot on her heels, passing her and making it to the vehicle a few seconds before her.
“Are they in there?” She pants.
I cup my hands around my face and peer inside. My heart leaps into my throat when I see Dawson and Dutton inside, crying. Their faces are streaked with tears. They look terrified. They’re not buckled into car seats because there’s not even any in the vehicle.
“Hey, buddy. Hey, little man. You remember me?” I pull on the door handle, but it’s locked.
Dallas releases a sob when she catches up to me.
