“Don’t take too long,” Joel said as he set two new cocktails on a dry tray.
Claudia let out a little groan and carefully walked the drinks over to the waiting customers.
In only a few minutes, the spill was cleaned up and everything seemed to be returning to normal. Anthony had just laid a hand on Claudia’s shoulder, ready to reassure her that she wasn’t in any trouble, when suddenly the door burst open and Ruxandra strutted in.
“I knew it!”
Anthony growled. “Ruxandra.” He straightened his six-foot frame and strode over to his ex-girlfriend, now nemesis. “You’re not welcome here.”
“I can see that. I might spoil your plans with your new whore.”
“Ruxandra!” He didn’t know what else to say in front of a full bar of staff and patrons, so he grabbed her arm and dragged her outside.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
She flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder. “I came to bring you back where you belong, lover. With me.”
“I’m not your lover anymore, and I belong where I say I belong.”
Unconcerned, she finger-walked her way up his chest. “Then I must belong here too, because we belong together.”
“No. We do not.”
She ripped her arm out of his grasp and pouted. “But I always took care of you, Anthony. You need me. Why do you keep running away from me?”
“Because you won’t let me go.” His posture sagged. “Look. You took good care of me when we were together, it’s true. But your jealousy ruined our relationship. I can’t have you ruining my business too.
“But I’m no good without you.” Her lower lip jutted out as it did whenever she was trying to manipulate him. Her pretty pout used to work but not anymore.
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I’m infinitely better off without you controlling my every move.”
“You’re my maker. You’re responsible for me.” She folded her arms and tipped her head back as if daring him to defy her logic.
“You can’t talk like that in public.” He grasped her arm again and led her back inside to his office. As soon as they were behind the closed and locked door, he took a deep, steadying breath. “I’ve taught you all I know—including not to use words like ‘maker’ in front of humans. We are not lovers anymore and haven’t been for decades. You’re not even my friend. My duty has been met, and you have no claim on me.”
She stomped her foot and the hardwood floor cracked. “But I need your protection. It’s a big, scary world out there.”
He couldn’t help it. He leaned back and roared, laughing. When he had composed himself, she was glaring at him.
“If anything, the world needs protection from you, Ruxandra. My bar is off-limits. I cannot prevent you from staying in the city, but I can ban you from my business.”
“It’s a public place. I don’t need an invitation.”
“It’s my bar, and I can ban anyone who doesn’t behave themselves in it.”
“I haven’t done anything—yet.”
“I’m afraid you have. You called one of my waitstaff a whore.”
She snorted. “Is that all anyone has to do to get banned? Use a bad word? Ha! You won’t be open very long if that’s the case.”
“I won’t be open long if you cause a scene every time you get jealous.”
She tipped her nose in the air and sniffed.
He’d had all he could stand of her. “Ruxandra, I need to get back to work.” He unlocked his office, marched her to the front door, and gave her a shove. “Now, go away.”
A couple passed them on the sidewalk and stared.
“I’ll go for now, but I’ll be back. Mark my words. You’ll regret throwing me away like trash.”
Anthony had to bite his cheek to avoid the retort he so badly wanted to mutter. Instead, he just hoped he’d have a bar to run the next evening.
Stepping out of his flashback, he found the street he’d been looking for near Central Square and stopped to catch his breath—what there was of it.
At the brick apartment building’s entrance, a few buzzers showed names of tenants. He located the one for C. Fletcher and pressed it. No answer. She wouldn’t have left because I said I was coming over, would she? He leaned on the buzzer and didn’t take his finger off until Claudia’s voice shouted, “Cut that out!”
“Claudia! It’s Anthony. Let me in.”
“I tol’ you not to come,” she slurred.
“Well, I’m here, and I’m not leaving until I see you.”
After a few tense seconds, a third-story window slid open. When Anthony looked up, Claudia leaned out. “There. You’ve seen me. Now go away.” She swayed and he was afraid she might fall out.
“Let me in, Claudia.” He was tempted to jump up to that high window, but she didn’t know what he was.
It might scare her straight, but I couldn’t enter without her permission, so I’d just wind up hanging off the side of the building and that wouldn’t attract attention at all.
A young man stared as he walked by. Anthony couldn’t help feeling a little stalker-ish, standing on her doorstep and begging to come in.
At last, Claudia let out a loud sigh and said, “Oh, all right.” She slammed the window shut, and a few seconds later she buzzed him in.
Now what? Is a buzzer enough of an invitation when someone doesn’t want you to enter? He opened the door and cautiously extended his foot past the threshold. Whew. I guess it is. Either that, or Claudia really did want to see him. He went with that assumption and genuinely hoped he was right.
Jogging up to the third floor, he wondered what he should say to her. I miss you? I can’t believe I won’t see you every day?
She opened the door just a crack, but it was enough for him to see her face. Her eyes were red, puffy, and ringed with smudged black mascara. He never dreamed he’d see her like this. She always seemed so smartly put together, but clearly she was falling apart.
“Claudia,” he said softly. “May I come in?”
She hesitated but eventually let out a deep breath and opened the door. “Why not?”
It wasn’t much of an invitation but would have to suffice. She didn’t look like she was going to welcome him with open arms.
“Thank you,” he said as he stepped into her living room. She had always kept his office immaculate, so he was shocked to see her apartment looking like a Tasmanian devil had torn it apart.
A pizza container, empty glasses, and paper plates littered the coffee table and floor around it. Empty beer cans and liquor bottles were strewn across the open kitchen counters. Pillows lay on the floor and sported black stains.
“Have you been crying?”
She swiped at the smudges under her eyes. “No.”
“Don’t lie to me, Claudia. Have you been depressed ever since the fire?”
She wandered over to her sofa and plopped down on it, dropping her head into her hands. Anthony followed and sat beside her. When she didn’t answer his question, he softened his approach.
Rubbing her back, he said, “Tell me what’s wrong, Claudia. This can’t all be because the bar is gone. Even I don’t feel that bad about it, and I owned the place.”
She chuckled.
It was a welcome sound. Maybe she still had her sense of humor. If Anthony could get her to see things in a lighter way, he might be able to save her. He picked up a beer bottle from the floor and set it on the coffee table. “I see you decided to open your own bar.”
She raised her face and frowned at him. “I drink when I’m upset. What of it?”