Beautiful Redemption

I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to. Sawyer was breathing in my ear in much less time than it should have taken him to walk to my chosen stool.

“Hey, beautiful.”

“They won’t take your money at the strip club?” I asked.

He grimaced. “You’re in a shitty mood. I know you’re not teacher’s pet anymore but no need to project your anger.”

I took a drink. “What do you know about being teacher’s pet? No one likes you.”

“Ouch,” Sawyer said, offended.

“I’m sorry. That was harsh. But in my defense, you would make at least one friend if you signed your damn papers.”

He blinked. “Wait—what are we talking about?”

“Your divorce papers.”

“I know, but are you saying we’re not friends anymore?”

“We are not,” I said before taking another drink.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Liis. You spend one weekend with Maddox, and you’re drinking the Kool-Aid.” He shook his head and took a swig from the beer bottle Anthony had set down in front of him. “I’m disappointed.”

“Just sign the papers. How hard is that?”

“Contrary to popular belief, ending a marriage is hard.”

“Really? I thought it would be easier for a cheater.”

“I didn’t cheat!”

I arched an eyebrow.

“Her”—he gestured to his eyes and head—“thing was driving me nuts. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be with someone and not be allowed to have any secrets?”

“Then, why would you cheat on her? You were basically asking for a divorce, and now, you won’t give her one.”

He laughed once, chugged his beer, and then set it on the bar. “Because I thought she’d stay out of my head after that.”

“That,” I said, nodding to Anthony when he set down a fresh Manhattan, “makes you sound like an idiot.”

He fingered his bottle. “I was. I was an idiot. But she won’t let me fix it.”

I craned my neck at him. “You’re still in love with Val?”

He kept his eyes on his beer. “Who do you think gave her the bunny on her desk for her birthday? Damn sure wasn’t Marks.”

“Oh, shit,” Anthony said. “I had a bet going with Marks that you were gay.”

“Your gaydar is off,” I said.

One side of Anthony’s mouth curved up. “I bet that he was straight.”

Sawyer’s nose wrinkled. “Marks thinks I’m gay? What the fuck?”

I cackled, and just as Anthony leaned over to speak, Thomas sat in the stool next to me.

“Anthony needs to tell you that I’m here,” Thomas said.

My back stiffened, and my smile faded. “Maddox,” I said, greeting him.

“No shade, Maddox,” Anthony said. “I just promised I’d have her back from now on.”

Thomas looked confused.

“He means, no offense,” I said.

“Oh,” Thomas said.

“The usual?” Anthony asked, seeming annoyed that I’d had to translate.

“I’ll have a Jack and Coke tonight,” Thomas said.

“You got it.”

Sawyer leaned forward. “Bad day, boss?”

Thomas didn’t answer. Instead, he stared at his hands clasped in front of him on the bar.

Sawyer and I traded glances.

I continued our conversation, “Does she know?”

“Of course she knows. She knows everything,” Sawyer said with a grimace.

“It might just be time to move on.”

A couple of young guys pushed through the door. I’d never seen them here before, but they walked with their chests puffed out and their arms swinging. I began to turn around as one of them gave me a once-over.

“Nice blazer, Yoko,” he said.

Sawyer put his foot on the ground and began to stand, but I touched his arm.

“Ignore them. The Casbah had a rock concert tonight. They’re probably coming from there and looking for a fight. Look at the big one’s shirt.”

Sawyer quickly glanced in the pair’s direction, pointing out the two-inch long rip around the collar of the man’s T-shirt. We ordered another round. Thomas finished his drink, tossed a bill on the bar, and left without a word.

“That was weird,” Sawyer said. “He hasn’t been in here in how long?”

“Over two weeks,” Anthony said.

Sawyer spoke, “And he shows up, has one drink, and leaves.”

“Doesn’t he usually only have one drink?” I asked.

Anthony nodded. “But never when he has that look on his face.”

I turned toward the door, seeing the ripped T-shirt guy and his friend leaving. “That didn’t last long.”

“I heard them say they were bored. Apparently, the service was too slow,” Anthony said with a wink.

“You’re brilliant,” I said with a grin.

“You should talk to Val one more time, Sawyer. Lay it all out on the table. If she doesn’t go for it though, you need to move out, and you need to sign those papers. You’re not being fair to her.”

“You’re right. I hate you, but you’re right. And no matter what you say, Lindy, we’re still friends.”

“Fine.”

Sawyer and I tabbed out, said good-bye to Anthony, and then walked across the dark room, pushing out the door. The sidewalk was well lit, traffic was normal, but something was off.

Sawyer touched my arm.

“You, too?” I asked.

We carefully approached the corner, and someone groaned.

Sawyer meant to take a quick peek around, but he stared, and his mouth fell open. “Oh, shit!”

I followed him and immediately pulled out my cell phone. The two men from the bar were lying in matching puddles of blood.

“Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”

“I have two males, early to mid-twenties, badly beaten on the sidewalk in Midtown. They’re both going to need an ambulance on the scene.”

Sawyer checked them both. “This one’s unresponsive,” he said.

“They’re both breathing. One is unresponsive.”

I gave her the address and then pressed End.

Sawyer glanced around. A middle-aged couple was walking in the opposite direction on the next block, but other than them and a homeless man digging in the trash on the corner to the north, the block was empty. I saw no one who looked suspicious.