I nudged her arm. “Anytime.”
“Thank you,” Cole mouthed to me as he left the room.
I gave him a small nod and turned back to my magazine, folding down an edge to mark a dress that looked like Scarlet’s style.
By the time I left, she seemed to be in much higher spirits, and I’d fulfilled my job as a best friend.
I headed for Sal’s place with thoughts of tulle and taffeta floating in my mind. I had the night off from the bar and was looking forward to a lounging session on the couch with my man.
“Babe?” I called when I walked into the house, the forced air a welcome escape from the heat outside. I set my purse down on the couch and wandered back to the bedrooms, finding Sal sitting in his office staring off into space, a forgotten security panel in his hands.
I’d never seen him look this way. He looked…vulnerable.
“Sal?” I asked, immediately concerned.
He looked up at me as though I’d surprised him, even though I’d made plenty of noise when I’d walked in.
“What’s wrong?”
He shrugged and gave me a weak smile. “I gotta head out of town for a few days. The guys will watch the house and make sure you get to work and back,” he said matter-of-factly, running a hand through his hair.
Now this, this was the old Sal, the one who didn’t answer direct questions. The one who brushed off concern without explanation. The man who kept me locked out with a firm hand and a false smile. And I wasn’t having any of it.
“What’s wrong?” I tried again, my tone still soft but more forceful as I came to kneel in front of him.
He shrugged. “My grandfather died. I gotta go back to New York for the funeral,” he said simply as though it was no big thing. His demeanor said otherwise.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said softly, my hand on his jean-clad knee.
He shrugged again, put the panel down, and stood up, forcing my hand to drop back to my lap. “No big deal. I haven’t seen him in years.”
I bit my tongue from saying if it weren’t a big deal, he wouldn’t be traveling thousands of miles to pay his respects.
“When do you leave?” I asked, rising from my position on the floor and following him out to the kitchen. He cracked a beer and leaned his hip against the counter, regarding me with a guarded expression.
“Tomorrow.”
“Ah,” I nodded, my heart sinking. If I’d ever wanted some divine intervention in the form of a relationship expert, now was the time. I didn’t know how hard to push him, but I did know the distance he was putting between us wouldn’t work, not for the new improved version of us. “You know I’d come with you in a heartbeat. I’d be glad to,” I offered. He needed to know where I stood and how I was firmly behind him.
“Thanks, but it’s a quick trip. You’d have to miss work and no one wants to spend any time with my mother, trust me,” he snorted, taking a sip of his beer.
“I can relate to that sentiment, babe, but I wouldn’t be going to spend time with her. I’d be going to support you,” I said, hoping I wasn’t pushing too hard. The thought of him going back home alone to face his estranged family was the last thing I wanted for him. I didn’t know how much easier I could really make it, but I sure as hell wanted to try.
He gave me his little false grin again. I hated that grin.Hatedit. “Appreciate the offer, but I’ll handle this solo. I gotta go take care of some shit. I’ll probably be back late. If you need to go anywhere, call Wes, okay?”
My heart sank at his tone and his demeanor. “Don’t do this, Sal,” I said quietly.
“Do what?” he asked casually, throwing on his cut, his dark eyes avoiding mine.
“Shut me out,” I answered him, crossing my arms to block out the chill I suddenly felt.
“Don’t read into this, babe.” He sighed as though exasperated. “Like I said, I fly out tomorrow, but tonight Cole needs me to take care of some shit. I’ll be back soon as I can.”
He came over and delivered a quick kiss on the side of my head.
Damn, I didn’t want to get pissed off. I took a deep breath and swallowed my emotion. It wouldn’t do any good to blow up at him. He was obviously hurting, and making this about me and my feelings would just push him farther away.
“All right, Sal. You go do your thing,” I told him, pleased I’d kept the frustration out of my tone. Well, mostly anyway. I turned on my heel and headed back to the bedroom. I heard the door shut and moments later the sound of his bike roar off.