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I think I remember pieces. I think I remember him.
But my mind is probably playing tricks on me.
Rico doesn’t come in until closer to opening tonight, and I’m sure he will have something to say, but honestly, I don’t have the energy to worry about it.
I meander through the bar, taking down stools from the tops of the high top tables, and wiping the tables down with some cleaner and a fresh rag. I’m trying not to think about anything but work. Not Liam, not Travis, not Lakeview, and definitely not that weird fucking flower delivery a few days ago. If I hadn’t heard about someone poking around asking about Spencer Maddox, I would have thought it was Travis to be honest. But someone out there knows my secret. Or maybe they just think they do.
I’ve been contemplating running again. Packing a bag, stopping at the bank, and high-tailing it out of town. Another new city. Another new name. I can’t leave Liam though. I tried to leave once before, and he held a gun to his head. He screamed, he cried, he pleaded with me to stay. He’s threatened my family if I run.
My brain and heart have been at war for months. I want to leave. I have to leave. I can’t keep being Liam’s punching bag. But at what cost? I won’t be responsible for him taking his own life, or worse, hurting the people I love.
I pull the last stool off of the last table and set it on the ground, but it slips and falls over. Bending down to pick it up, my sore back feels like it’s on fire, and I wince loudly, dropping the stool all over again.
I hear Cole sigh audibly from behind me and I bend over to pick up the stool once more.
“Stop,” he sighs, and I straighten up, turning around to face him.
“Aria, what the fuck is going on?”
“I dropped the stool, I’m just a little clumsy today.”
“Stop. Stop with the fucking lies Aria!” Cole’s voice isn’t quite a scream, but it’s raised to a level that I’ve never heard come from him. I’ve definitely never heard him curse.
“W-what do you mean?”
“What do I mean?!” he yells. “Come on, I thought we were better friends than this!”
Shaking, I stutter through my response, “Cole, I-I don-“
“You know. You fucking know. Stop lying to us all!”
My eyes are wide and staring back at Cole’s big hazel eyes. His pupils are blown, and I’ve never seen him angry at anything before, but he’s angry at me right now and his eyes are glistening with unshed tears.
“You think you hide it! The makeup, the excuses. So many goddamn excuses Aria!”
“Cole, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I shake my head and feign a laugh. I go to walk around him and he steps in my way.
“No Aria, not this time. We are having this conversation whether you like it or not!”
Just then the kitchen door swings open and Rico walks into the room. “Hey, hey what’s going on here?” he asks, looking wildly confused.
Cole runs a hand through his hair, gripping at the roots, and spins around to face Rico, “Ask her.”
Rico looks around him, and I lower my gaze, trying like hell not to meet his eyes.
“Aria? Honey?” he murmurs, stepping around Cole. He closes the space between us, and reaches out gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him. When my face lifts to the light, he clicks his tongue and sucks in a breath.
“What happened?”
“Nothing Rico, I just had a little spill at home, I’m fine.”
“She’s not fucking fine and we all know it!” Cole interrupts.
“Ahh, Cole. Stop it. What’s the matter with you?” Rico snaps.
“I’m sorry Rico, I’m sorry. She’s family though and look at her. You know she’s lying! It’s always something! Always a fucking excuse. What’s gonna happen next? Huh? Are we gonna get a call from the hospital?”
Rico stands between us, like a father refereeing an argument between his two grown kids. He tries to remain neutral, but I can see the turmoil swirling in his eyes.