Chapter 4

Leighton stood atop the steps looking at nothing in particular. She had her coat, gloves on and a hat. After a while she thought the hat made her look ludicrous. She took it off. Her hair flowed down her back and covered her ears so it wouldn't burn and fall off. She flung the "mickey mouse' printed hat on a chair near the porch careless. She was dressed in all black.

Her hands clammy in a cold environment gave away that she was anxious. Finally the person came into view.

She clasped both her hands together and rubbed. She did always get cold fast. "This is such a lovely idea, takin' a walk in such lovely weather"

Caphrey rolled his eyes at her. "I think it was yourself who told me that sarcasm was the lowest form of wit."

"Good God, Nick!" Leighton snapped, "It's bloody cold! Goddammit!" She stepped back retreating to the door. Trying to get warm.

"Come then," he stepped forward, "let's go for that walk."

He placed his arm around her small shoulders and walked together in silence. Side by side for a few minutes. Getting somewhat comfortable she rested her head into his chest. Receiving knowing looks as Caphrey guides her into the bar.

Leighton smiled. "Double Deuce, huh? This place has changed a lot since we've been here."

When Leighton turned eighteen. Caphrey took her there on the night of her eighteenth birthday and they partied hard. The place grew to become their hangout, a place where they spill their guts as well as their secrets.

The bar was retro themed with neon colors, the interior designed was all wood. Mahogany, pine and oak furnishings. A television was set up above the bar along with a surround sound system. Leighton remembered drunkenly watching the world cup with Nick on one of those stools.

She smiled at the memory and cleared her throat. "Don't look now but I think that waitress is Cindy,"

"She has two kids. Good boys but fathers aren't in the picture."

Leighton snorted. "Could you imagine she used to call me a whore in high school.."

"She always was always such a bitch" Nick laughed

Cindy approached the table with a bright smile. "I heard you were back in town, but I never believed it, how's it going Leah?"

Leighton smiled. "I'm doing really good, how are you and Mickey? How's marriage treating y'all?"

"Well, Leighton, you know relationships that age doesn't work out"

"That's a Goddamn shame you guys were great together!"

Cindy blushed prettily and laughed. "My God, Caphrey your friend surely didn't lose her potty mouth"

Nick and Leighton shared a look before hesitantly smiling at Cindy. "Two beers and a two portions of fries - No, Leah you always say you don't want and pick from me"

Cindy tried to hide her smile and nodded her head. Leighton and Nick leaned back into their seats. Leighton could hear Cindy's pencil gliding across the notebook, she repeated the order and made herself scarce.

There was a brief silence before Leighton began.

"Margret - "

"Don't -Leah, don't go there."

She raised an eyebrow and sigh tiredly already feeling a headache build up. "We gonna have to talk about this sooner or later."

"I'm tired, okay. I'm tired of her accusations all the time. Dawg, what the fuck? Can't I have a beer with a long time friend?"

Leighton smiled. They were getting somewhere. "Have you given her any reasons why those thoughts and accusations are in her head?"

"Fuck it, Leah!" he sat back, "No! I don't talk to nobody. This job fucking traumatizes me I don't even have time for myself! Much less another woman!"

There was silence.

"You never were a good liar" She said absently picking her nails.

He ran a hand through his head, he said. "Haylee Jackson. But it was two years ago."

"No way!" she screamed scandalously. She gave a hearty laugh drawing attention to herself. She kept looking at Nick and bursting out in laughter.

"Dawg! Nick! Wasn't she a lesbian in high school? What the fuck? How can you do that to the lady"

"It was a mistake, Leah" he said then added. "And she wasn't a lesbian in high school she was just confused"

Cindy came back with their drinks and food. She gave Leighton a terse look and gave Nick a suggestive one.

"Dawg, Haylee Jackson! That's a fine piece of ass" Nick shook his head and for the first time in a long time he didn't feel guilt he allowed himself to get caught up in her mirth. He threw his head back and laughed.

"She a bit ghetto though" he smiled, "God, we're so toxic"

Leighton sobered up and took a sip of her beer. "What you did was wrong, Nick. You just ruined her. Margaret is constantly gonna be questioning herself where she went wrong? What she could do better. She's living constantly on edge when she sees you interacting with other women."

"I know that - but -"

"Worse yet a confused lesbian she knew back in high school" Leighton let out a snort. "You wild yes"

There was sullen silence and Nick was looking at Leighton as she smiled her lazy smile.

There was sullen silence before Nick began his interrogation.

"Don't watch me like that, bruv" she said. Nick recoiled laughing though the subject he was approaching was considered sensitive.

"Like what?" he smiled.

"Like I'm a suspect in a homicide case" she wiped the corner of her mouth, picking at her fries.

"We're gonna have to talk about it eventually, Leighton," he said and waited. He gave her a few minutes before he began again.

"I know you're going through your shit Leighton but I need to know what happened, " he stopped and watched her face for a reaction. If she didn't give him a straight answer he'd figure it out anyway.

"We were honestly fine until a few months back, I started to act up you know. I guess that's when the fights started, i guess. They're calling it domestic abuse but he was fine before."

"Fuck! Leighton, I warned you about him, I fucking warned you about getting mixed up with him! He manipulated you, separated you from your family, isolated you, made you into his personal maid and had you under constant pressure" He held her hand across the table, let it go quickly and ran a hand through his frustrated hair.

Leighton leaned back and looked at Nick. His hair was tousled attractively, the first few buttons on his shirt loosen and rumbled. His eyes worried and his crooked nose.

She chuckled and he raised his eyebrows. "I was just thinking about that time I punched you and broke your nose."

"Funny you should've punched Micheal like that after the first slap." Nick said bitterly.

"I should have, shouldn't I?'

Nick rolled his eyes. They exited the bar and Nick walked her to the door. Maddius was at the porch sipping tea. He gave Nick a smug smile.

"Fix your face, Piotre." Nick said. Leighton was two steps above Nick and he still towered over her. She turned and hugged him goodbye.

"I hope it works out with Margaret. Do something romantic."