The Husband Beside Me(25)

“You know you should seriously lock that door,” I said over the music.

Darren stopped what he was doing and looked up from his paperwork. He didn’t turn around to look at me; instead, he stood up from the barstool and went around the bar to get a lowball glass. Pouring me a whisky, he then placed it on the bar in front of the stool next to him. He finally looked my way and pointed to the glass.

“I don't like locking it,” he said, eyeing me cautiously.

“You should,” I said. “If not, any kind of riff raff would be able to come in here,” I smiled as I sat down.

“You look good,” he smiled gently.

“Thanks,” I said quietly. “Darren—”

“You don’t have to do this,” he said, still smiling.

“But I do. At least let me apologize,” I said ruefully.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I didn’t see it or stop it. I led you on. I took advantage of our friendship.” I bit my lower lip ashamed at myself.

“Addie, I fell for you, not because you forced it. It came naturally,” he admitted, taking his glass and drinking. “I just wished it wasn’t Daimon, but me. I wish I had the balls to tell you sooner. Instead, I let Frank take advantage of you and let Daimon bully you. You honestly think I felt worthy after that? It didn’t bother me to see you date him because I thought for sure he’d fuck it up somehow.”

“Darren, you were there when my mother passed. You helped me decide about Yale. You were there for me from the beginning and never once did I notice. I’m sorry,” I nearly cried.

“Don’t be,” he said quietly as he looked at me. A long moment passed between us, neither one of us saying anything.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Daimon yelled loud enough that it rang through the whole of Darren’s bar.

“You’re right, Addie, I should lock up. It does seem like any asshole can come in here.” Darren squared off as he stood up.

“What the fuck did you just say?” Daimon asked loudly, his voice steel.

“Did you have me followed?” I accused him, jumping off my seat.

“No, don’t be stupid. I do have security on you. I have to, just in case,” he admitted.

“And what? They told you I was here?” I seethed.

“Addie, just go home,” Daimon said more calmly, but I could see he was about to explode.

“Addie, if you want, we can continue this conversation over lunch,” Darren said, antagonizing Daimon.

“The hell she will. Stay the fuck away from my wife,” Daimon barked.

“Why should I? She’s my friend and I love her,” Darren said calmly.

“You had your chance. It’s not my fault you fucked it up,” Daimon bit back.

“I like how you act like you love her and treat her right, when all you ever did was make everything worse for her. Have you any idea what Addie went through in high school because of you?” Darren lost his self-control.

“Darren, don’t,” I warned.

“No, I won’t! He needs to know,” Darren shouted. “Clara and her gang used to fuck around with her shit all the time, to the point that Addie couldn’t come to school. They even started rumors about her being an escort and her parents using her for the rich to fuck with. Or the douches you used to beat up used to go and try to hit her. Do you have any idea how many times I beat the shit out of them for her? All you did—and still do Daimon—is cause havoc everywhere you go. You never and will never give a shit about anyone else but yourself,” Darren finally said all that had happened to me in high school. I sounded pathetic and weak, a feeling I hated.

“That never happened. I made sure they knew she was mine!” he refuted.

“Yeah, the more you did that, the more they fucked around with her, making her pay for you. Addie protected you and all you did was bully her,” Darren accused.

Daimon stood in shock. “Is this true?” Daimon turned to me, his sky-blue eyes begging me to answer him.

I nodded softly.

“FUCK!” he yelled. “Why did you never say anything to me? I told you no one was to touch you,” he berated me.

“If I did…” I voiced meekly, “if I did, they would only make it worse.”

Daimon stood a few feet away from me, but for the first time in all the years I had known him, I felt like he was distant and inaccessible.

“Go outside and get in the car,” he said so calmly that it frightened me to my core. I stood frozen, afraid of what would happen next. “Addie, please go outside and get in the fucking car,” he said to me again.

“Addie, before you go, thanks for coming,” Darren said to me.