Tucker says something that makes Elizabeth burst into tears and then, they’re hugging again.
“This might push Lizzy over the edge. I can’t believe that fucker. He’s going to disappear and then all of a sudden talk to her in a bar when he sees her?” Scott is standing now too. The moment Tucker walks away, leaving Elizabeth hunched over the bar clearly looking defeated, Scott goes to walk over to her, but I move faster and stop him.
“You can stay.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Marco?”
“I said you can stay. It’s not your fucking place anymore, Scott, so back the hell off. I’m here to take care of her. You can sit your ass back down because I can guarantee you, between the two of us, it won’t be you she’s going to want for support.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but Sylvia grabs h
is arm and tugs him back. I don’t wait any longer to argue with him. He pisses me the fuck off with that shit. It surprised him that she talked to me. We apparently aren’t the same thing as him and Sylvia and now, when Elizabeth needs someone, he thinks he should be the one to go to her? Fuck that!
She’s my girlfriend. I don’t give a flying fuck that she’s his sister-in-law. She’s mine. Mine to care for. Mine to look after. Mine to be there for. He’s done those things since Roger died, but he can take a step back. He no longer needs to be her go-to person because I am and I swear to all that is holy if he steps in front of me one more time, I’m going to punch him in the throat.
With a deep breath, I release the anger. I place a hand on Elizabeth’s lower back, startling her.
“You look like you saw a ghost,” I say as I take the seat next to her. I’m facing her with my knees apart. Elizabeth stands, steps into the space between my knees, and slings her arms around my waist as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“I did. Roger’s best friend, Tucker, is apparently here. He saw me and wanted to catch up, I guess. Tonight must be a night of flashbacks.”
“Excuse me?”
I glance over at the sound of a girl’s voice.
“O.M.G. You are Marc Polinski! Can I get a selfie with you?”
Elizabeth stiffens in my arms. It’s brief, but she does it. She pulls away before I can stop her. I take the selfie with the girl and the moment she turns her back, I pull Elizabeth back into my arms.
“Do you want to go home?”
“And let this margarita go to waste? No.”
“What happened with Tucker?”
She shrugs and sips more of her drink. “He just wanted to apologize for disappearing on me because we were friends too. He and Roger were close, closer than Roger and Scott, and his death was really hard on him. He’s felt guilty about it. He said it didn’t feel right to reach out after what he had done, but once he saw me, he had to say something. I’m glad I saw him, but I hate it, too. I’m glad you’re here, though.”
“Tell that to Scott,” I mutter.
Elizabeth pulls back. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” I answer with a shake of my head.
“No, I tell you stuff. You tell me.”
“He aggravates the shit out of me when it comes to you. It’s like he still thinks you’re the same Lizzy when he doesn’t see how you’re my Elizabeth. He thought he should’ve been the one to come over to check on you once Tucker walked away.” Elizabeth frowns. “Same exact thing I thought, and I had to argue with him. I get why he does it, and it’s good that he does, but not if I’m around, there’s no need. He doesn’t fucking see that. I swear, he doesn’t see that I’m capable of being there for you.”
“Cut him some slack.”
“What?” She can’t be serious.
“You don’t know everything, Marc,” she says quietly. “He’s taken care of me for the past six years; sometimes, he had to because I didn’t do it myself. He’s not going to stop overnight just because you want him to, even if he should. Please, keep doing whatever you’re doing, but don’t let it get to you too much. Don’t be mad at him for taking care of his family.”
Holy. Fuck. There’s shit I still don’t know? Important things that cause Scott to basically hover like he has and be like he’s been? How much more is there? I sigh and give in. “Only because it’s you.”
She smiles. “Thank you. I feel better now.”
“Let’s get back to the table, then.”