34. Robert
thirty-four
Robert
With an extra pep in my step – maybe it was the ice cream – I drove to Delia’s bar to invite her to Corinne’s recital. I couldn’t believe that little shit Benny had come in handy, after all.
Two Christmases, huh, Benny?
As I stepped into the bar, the noise hit me like a wall—laughter, clinking glasses, the thumping bass of music.
It was a different atmosphere than when I’d been there before. It was more reserved that night, but this night it was packed, and people were laughing shrilly like they’d never been told a joke before in their lives.
I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and scanned the room, but I didn’t have to look far because Delia was at the counter. She was with someone, a little too close for my liking.
I could just make out her gorgeous locks pulled into a high, loose ponytail, tendrils escaping freely, and I could see half of her form, her ass pushed back as she arched her back to get close to whoever it was she was with. She could have been wearing a toga, and I would notice her ass.
The guy moved in closer to her, and when she turned, he turned, and I felt an ice cold hand reach out and squeeze my heart when I realized I was looking at Jeremy and Delia together.
I watched as he leaned toward her, his body language far too familiar, a lazy grin on his face as he said something that made her frown and glance away.
He said something else, and I saw her stiffen. His hand brushed her arm, lingering just a moment longer than it should have. She jerked back slightly, subtly, but enough for me to see.
That was it.
I didn’t remember crossing the room. I didn’t even register the blur of faces as I stormed toward the bar. All I knew was the heat rushing to my head, the pounding in my chest.
My voice came out sharp and loud enough to cut through the noise. “What the hell are you doing?”
Jeremy’s head whipped toward me, his brows furrowing at the sudden interruption.
Delia turned, too, her eyes going wide when she saw me. I barely looked at her. My focus was locked on him.
“Robert?” Jeremy said, his tone casual, like he wasn’t doing anything wrong. That infuriating smirk was still on his face.
He spun in a circle on his stool, planting his hands on the seat between his legs so that he looked like some absurd redheaded frog.
“What are you doing here? Is everything okay at home?” I understood his dig, that I must be getting drunk.
“Right as rain,” I shot back, my voice colder than I meant it to be. “What are you doing here, Jeremy?”
Jeremy straightened, letting out a laugh that had no humor in it. “What does it look like? I’m having a drink. Talking to Delia.”
“Talking to her?” My voice dropped to a dangerous level, and I stepped closer, towering over him now. “That’s what you call it? It didn’t look like talking.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes, still smug, still so damn calm. “Relax, man. I was just checking in on her.”
I glanced at Delia, who stood frozen behind the bar, her face flushed and her lips slightly parted as if she didn’t know what to say.
My jaw clenched, and I turned back to Jeremy. “Jeremy, I saw what you were doing. I don’t fuck around about harassing women.”
“Harassing women? She’s my ex. I work with her. We know each other, and we’re fine.”
I reached out and grabbed his collar roughly, pulling him down from the chair so that he stumbled awkwardly.
Jeremy looked at me with wide-eyed shock for a moment before a grin broke out on his face.
In a smarmy tone, he murmured, “Maybe you should go home, Robert. I know how fragile your headspace has been lately.”
I growled into his face, “You think I care that she’s your ex? I don’t give a fuck if she’s got a sign that says ‘harass me.’ Step away from the lady.”
Jeremy barked out a laugh, but there was nothing friendly about it. “The lady?” He looked back at Delia, whose eyes were wide in horror, then back at me and hissed, “This isn’t a lady, Robert, trust me.”
Before I could even register what I was doing, I felt my knuckles make contact with his face, crushing the bone underneath them. I felt my vision go black and heat rise into my face.
I came out of it breathing heavily above him. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth. Delia was sobbing softly behind the counter, gesturing wildly to a bouncer that was already making his way over.
Jeremy rose to his feet and spat, and blood trailed down the front of his shirt as a bouncer approached us.
Delia gestured for him to take Jeremy, and I saw confusion pass the bouncer’s face. Jeremy was the one covered in blood. It didn’t seem fair. Guilt stabbed me yet again, even as Jeremy hissed, “Don’t pretend this is about chivalry. You’re pissed because it’s her .”
I froze. The words hung between us.
The bouncer stepped forward, and Jeremy held up his hand to signify he was leaving. Before he did, he tilted his head, his expression suddenly sharper.
“You like her, don’t you?” he continued, almost amused, smiling a smile that showed teeth outlined in red. “I get it, Robert. She’s beautiful, kind, smart. But you might be a little too late, bud, because she’s pregnant.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I watched Jeremy walk away, his form blurry like I was waking up from a dream. Everything in me stilled. The noise of the bar seemed to fade into the background. My breath caught, my thoughts racing.
Pregnant. Pregnant?
I glanced at Delia, whose face had gone pale, her eyes wide with panic. She looked like she wanted to disappear.