"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"You know the guy who was here offering me the job?" I ask, speaking of Asher.
"How could I ever forget that tall drink of water?"
"He and Fen are brothers."
I swear Es is about to faint. "You know if I wasn't spoken for, I'd be asking if there are more where you boys came from."
I laugh. There are indeed five more, and I have to marry one.
"How are you, Es? What's been going on?" I don't have a lot of time left, so I have to cram as much BFF bonding in as I can.
"We miss you," she says. "A lot. But things are going well. Living at your place has been an absolute godsend. Thank you for that."
I smile, glad it's helping her.
Then she stops walking and clasps my hands. "And the best news of all... I have enough for my surgery. It's scheduled for next month. I'm hoping you can come back for it."
I hug her and squeal. "That's amazing news. I'm so happy for you." Then I frown and pull away. "Es, I don't know if I can be there. I'll try though, I swear."
Es glances to Fen then back to me. "You know, I keep up the smiles and banter because I love you. But I'm not a fool, Ari. I know when I'm being lied to. What's really going on?"
I suck in a breath and kick myself for being such a fool. Of course I couldn't pull this off without Es knowing something was up. Fen glares at me as if I need further warning not to spill the secret beans. "I'm okay, Es, I swear. It's... complicated, but what I'm doing is helping my mom."
I'm wearing a coat that covers my wrists, but as Es holds my hands her fingers slide over my raised mark. She pulls my sleeve up and stares. "What is this? This is like your mom's!"
I yank my hand back and cover the mark with Fen's coat. "It's nothing. Nothing you should worry about."
Es steps back, her expression one of betrayal and hurt. She walks over to Fen and points at his chest. "Is this your doing? Are you hurting her?"
"Es, he's not hurting me, he's helping me," I say, trying to push between the two of them. I give Fen a warning glare and he nods, seeming to understand my best friend is off limits.
Es looks to me again. "You've changed," she says. "It's like you're a stranger." She turns away, toward a bar with a glowing red open sign. She puts her hand on the door. "I'm going to use the ladies' room to regain my composure. Excuse me."
I stand, stunned, as she enters the bar, leaving us alone on the sidewalk.
"If she figures out the truth, she will be in danger," Fen says.
I swipe at a tear. "No one is to know she suspects something, and I won't tell her a thing. She's to be left alone, Fen. She's the only other family I have besides my mother."
Fen nods. "I will not tell. But be careful with her, Ari."
"I will."
We wait a while longer, but something isn't right. She's taking too long. Fen follows me into the crowded bar, and I navigate to the back alley where the bathrooms are. The air smells of cigarettes and booze.
Three beefy men surround Es. Their words are slurred and their steps wobbly. The biggest pushes against her. "Hey tranny, let's see your pecker!"
"I don't think you have the right parts for this bathroom, sheman," another says.
"Back off," I shout at them.
They don't see Fen yet. He's hidden by the shadows. So they laugh.
Big mistake.
Fen steps out of the darkness. They step back.
"What's going on here?" Fen growls.
The biggest, who seams to be the leader, smirks. "Can't you see for yourself? This freak's trying to get into the girl's room. Probably to molest and rape someone."
Fen steps forward. "What I see is a lady trying to use the bathroom. And pathetic excuses for men trying to stop her." He looks at Es. "Go ahead and use the bathroom. I'll have a chat with our new friends here."
Es looks at me, and I nod and join her in the bathroom.
There are thuds outside. Screams and yells. I don't know what Fen does to those guys, but they are gone when we come back out. Es walks over to Fen, and I hold my breath waiting.
She holds out her hand. "Thank you."
They shake. "You're welcome. You deserve to be treated like the lady you are."
I think Es is going to cry. I know I am.
Is it any wonder I'm falling for this man?
We walk Es back to The Roxy, and as we are about to leave she pulls me into a hug. "I won't say a word to anyone. Not even Pete. I don't know what's going on, but that man is in love with you, so I know he'll keep you safe."
I choke back a sob. "I love you, Es. I'm sorry."
She wipes a tear from my eye. "Love you too, girl. Be safe."
When we return to the limo, I feel more homesick than ever. But the home I'm missing is Stonehill, not Portland.