“Rough day?” I ask. I pour him his usual drink, and he smiles.
“You remembered.”
“It’s my job.”
“Yeah,” he looks up at me. “You could say it was rough.”
“What happened?”
I should tell him now.
I should confess before it’s too late, before this gets weird or awkward.
“I had a date,” he says sheepishly, and he looks up at me.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. Suddenly, my entire heart feels like it’s going to explode.
“For what?” He asks.
I can’t do this.
I can’t let this guy tell me about his problems when I was the one who caused them.
I look over at Shannon, who is busy pouring beer.
“Hey,” I tell her. “I need to go. Personal emergency. Can you cover for me?”
“No problem.” Shannon looks over and her eyes go from me to Robert and back to me. She raises an eyebrow, but she doesn’t say anything else.
“Thanks,” I say.
Then I grab my keys and walk around the counter to where Robert is looking confused.
“Down your drink,” I say.
“What?”
“Do it. We’re getting out of here.”
If he wants to argue with me, I can’t tell, and he finishes his drink quickly. He drops the glass on the counter.
“I didn’t pay.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I take him by the hand, pull him outside, and walk around the side of the bar. We’re standing in a narrow alley, but it’s not gross or scary. Claw Valley is much too small for this to be dangerous or unsafe.
“What’s going on?” He says.
“I need to tell you something.”
“You aren’t going to murder me,” he laughs, but it’s an uncomfortable sort of laugh, like he hopes I’m going to reassure him that no, I’m not a murderer.
“I’m not going to murder you.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s about today.”