Page 57 of Filthy Little Lies

“Tony, if I could⁠—”

“You can. You’re choosing not to.” He sits back in the booth, shaking his head and looking down at his hands. “So fucking typical.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Cassie demands.

I put my hand on her knee. We can’t have this turn into a screaming match at the diner. One, they might not let us come back, and they have the cheapest breakfast slam in town, and two, Damien looks ready to pounce.

“It means when I need help, Savvy’s too busy or you’re too gone.” He huffs.

“Are you serious?” She leans further across the table, trying to keep her voice down. “Was she too busy when she went to juvie for you?”

“Cassie,” I snap. “Stop. Just stop.”

“You’re using again, Tony. And from the look of it⁠—”

“You know what, fuck you, Cassie.” He drops his head again.

“Tony.” I reach across the table with my hand open. “You have to⁠—”

“I don’t have to do shit.” He slaps my hand away.

Damien’s at our table before I notice he’s even moved.

“It’s time you leave.” Damien stands at the end of the booth glaring Tony down.

When Tony lifts his eyes up the tree trunk of Damien’s torso, his eyes widen and he recoils.

“Damien, it’s okay. Everything’s fine.” If I could get out of the booth, I could smooth things over, but Cassie is purposely blocking me. She’s always accused me of being too soft when it comes to Tony, and maybe she’s right.

“He needs to go now,” he answers me while staring at Tony.

“What the fuck is this?” Tony asks me as he scoots to the end of the booth. “I’m going. I’m going.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll call you later. I promise,” I rush out.

Damien steps to the side, letting Tony out of the booth, then watches him as he makes his way out of the diner.

“You didn’t need to do that.” Looking up at Damien, I frown.

“He touched you,” he says simply.

“Do these guys have any nuance?” Cassie leans back and laughs. “He’s just like the other guy; there’s one way and that’s it. Anything other than that is wrong.”

“Are you talking about Lucian?” I swing my attention to Cassie. A tint of pink touches her cheeks.

“No, nothing. I should get going. I have to finish packing, and I need to head over to the flower shop to give my notice.”

“You’re set on leaving Friday?”

She gives a firm look. “Don’t you start, too.”

I put my hands up. “I’m not. I just was hoping we had the weekend.”

“I can’t. If I get down there Friday, I’ll have a chance to get my place squared away before I start on Monday.”

Once she’s made her decision there’s no going back, so I don’t push.

Damien lets her out of the booth while signaling to the waitress he wants the bill.