“Sorry, change of plans.” I hit the gas and this time actual swear words gush from her mouth. Bad idea on my part, there’re probably kids or animals around and I’d hate to get in an accident. I let up on the gas and turn down another side street as the GPS locates an alternative route. The fucker’s still behind us. Yeah, that’s him.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I think we have company.”

“What?” she looks behind us. “Is it the guy from last night?”

“Must be, unless you know of someone else who wants to intimidate me?”

“Shit, pull over. Let me talk to him.”

“Hell, no.”

“I have the check, let me give it to him.”

“Are you crazy? Do you honestly think I’ll let you out of this car and allow you to get close to that dickhead? And why do you have the check on you?”

She pulls out her phone and I hear a ring through our Bluetooth. I forgot her cell’s hooked up to the system as well.

“Everything okay?” Haverty’s voice fills the car.

“No, some nutjob’s following us and Cove doesn’t know what to do.” Sophia shouts.

“Where are you guys?”

“We’re fine. I’ll take care of things, don’t worry.” I flash her an intimidating look so she keeps her mouth shut and then head back toward the Scarlett.

“We’re a few blocks South of the bar. Come save us Haverty!”

“Soph, knock it off. The guy’s not dangerous, just an ass.”

“I’m on my way,” he says and the line goes dead.

“Damn it, you gave him the impression that I’m a pussy.”

“First, I hate that word! And second, I’m pregnant! If you’re not going to save me and the baby, then Haverty will.”

“Sophia! He’s not going to hurt us! He just wants the goddamn money!” I yell and she falls back against the seat in a huff. I park the car, turn to my wife, and she looks behind us.

“He’s gone.”

I turn around and the Chrysler’s vanished. I was too busy yelling at her to see where he went. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“Why did you get so angry with me? Is Haverty just for show, like a trophy wife?”

I shake my head and run a hand though my hair while expelling a deep breath. “I was wrong, I’m sorry. He stressed me out and I didn’t want anything to happen to you... I lost my cool.”

“Well, I don’t want anything to happen to you either, so next time, call Hav, okay?” I nod and she looks behind us. “Clearly, by your reaction, the guy is dangerous, even though you keep saying he’s not. Start telling me the truth.”

“Listen to her Cove. I’m tired of you being a peckerhead as well.” Haverty’s voice cuts in.

“I thought you hung up.”

“Fuck that, I’m not losing you from the line. I need to know what’s going on, especially if I’m headed into an unstable situation, and I’m referring to the fuckface tailing you guys, and the two of you. Now, I’m at the Scarlett, where are you?”

“Drive two blocks South and turn right.”

“Good, stay put. I’ll be there in a second. And Cove... without taking offense, I only consider you part pussy, not a total pussy.”

“Gee, thanks, plug fungus.”

“Eeew! Cove, that’s gross. I can’t believe you just said that.” Sophia’s disgusted as she squirms in her seat.

“That was your best comeback ever, buddy. Good one,” Haverty says.

“No, not a good one,” she shakes her head. “Oh my God, can we go home now so I don’t have to listen to the two of you act like wiener waffles.”

“You guys are killing me,” Haverty sounds like he’s between laughter and tears. “What the hell’s a wiener waffle, Sophia?”

“Don’t ask her that, you’ll get such a detailed description that the image will be stuck in your head for days,” I say.

The Escalade pulls alongside our car and he rolls down the window, finally ending the call to speak face-to-face. I describe the Chrysler Marcus was driving, and Hav follows us around the rest of the afternoon, keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble.

The final two houses appear almost identical, the classic St. Louis brick tri-level with a steep set of stairs leading to the front entrance, with no front porch or decorative elements, just plain-front square buildings. After we drive by them, Sophia’s late afternoon yawns are a cue to get her home for a nap before dinner. She didn’t sleep well last night after the conversations about Paul and the Marcus incident. I wouldn’t have either except my body and mind were exhausted after being up for what seemed like weeks.

I can tell she had a good day by the way she caresses my upper leg on the drive home. My dick’s hard from her touch, but I’m going to let her have her nap instead of another fuck so she’s not in a bad mood tonight. She gets bitchy when she’s tired.

When we park in our building’s underground garage, she’s given a short tease with my tongue of what to expect when we get home from the Scarlett this evening. She says she loves me as our lips release, and I swear if I was sixteen, I’d cum in my pants. Those words fuse my heart into hers and it’s moments such as these when I know she’s mine forever. No matter what happened in my past, or hers, how angry we get at one another, the traumas and anxieties we suffer from, and the stresses in our daily lives, there’s no other person in this world for either one of us.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Holy hell, they dressed up. Haverty’s in one of his black suits that he wears to work, and Alyssa’s in a dark brown cocktail dress with leopard print heels. He holds the door to the restaurant open with a nervous smile... and I know why. He’s touchy about the stares from the asinine closed-minded shits in this world. I’ve heard some of the college crowd who hang out at the Scarlett call him “Black Irish,” and I know they use it in a derogatory way. With his dark features and pale skin he’s a poster boy for the term, but Alyssa, she’s just the opposite. Her skin’s mocha brown and her hair’s a bright copper, so I don’t know if the students are referring to Haverty’s heritage, or his better half when she’s around. Either way, they know people are whispering about them when we’re out, but there’s another reason as well. While Hav’s a tank with solid muscle, a thick neck, and a doublewide chest, Alyssa’s more like a bowl of Jell-O. Her body jiggles when she laughs and she uses the word “fat” when describing herself. They’re boisterous, love to eat, embrace life, and know how to have a good time. My polar opposites. She’s young too, and works the front desk at a hotel, a job she started in high school and continued full-time after graduation, never attending college.

As we approach, Haverty tugs a dangling price tag off her dress and tucks it away in his pocket. Damn, I hope she didn’t buy that to impress us. Now I feel like shit that I chose one of the most expensive places in town. She must have other dresses, right? Haverty’s got money. We pay him well. Yeah, I bet his uneasiness is influencing my thoughts.

“Nice dress Alyssa, you look hot!” Sophia says as they give one another a hug. “I’m pregnant!”

“Subtle, Soph. That was real subtle,” I laugh.

“Well, I’m excited. You made me wait like fifteen minutes to tell your parents that night at their house. It was hell. I get to do it my way when we’re around friends.”

“That’s amaze-balls, Sophia. Is it Cove’s?” Alyssa jokes as the two of them walk into the restaurant arm in arm.

Haverty grips my shoulder and holds me back. “You feeling better?” he whispers.

“I’m good,” I nod. “I had a dark moment that passed, thanks to the strength of my wife.”

There’s a look of relief on his face and his shoulders relax. “I was so worried about you last night that I couldn’t sleep. You know, if you do that again... ,” he shakes his head and exhales. “I can’t stand the thought of losing any family to something so... make sure you... goddamn, I had this all planned out and now I’m at a loss for words.”