Page 53 of Go Back to December

Sofia stands at the entrance to the bar.

Baz releases me quickly, fumbles for his crutches. “Mamá—”

The rest of his reply dissipates as his mother delivers what I’m assuming is a wicked Spanish tongue-lashing. That calm mask of hers is gone, replaced by a familiar fury that I’ve observed in a few of her children.

“You’re inexcusably late.” She switches to English. “And you’re not dressed!”

Her tone is scathing, but Baz isn’t engaging in offense or defense. I’ve never seen him walk away from a fight like this.

“If you don’t intend to pay your final respects, what are you doing here?” Sofia demands.

When Baz looks at me, he doesn’t camouflage the panic on his face.

“I called him,” I say. “I was feeling light-headed.”

It’s not even a lie. After my sweat fest and the whiskey, and Baz holding onto me like I was his lifeline, my head is cotton.

Baz deftly slips his cool expression in place, arching a brow to acknowledge my quick hustle. With his armor back on, he says to Sofia, “Melody’s not feeling well, Mamá. And Dooley’s waiting in the car.”

Like some sort of repressed nineteenth-century noble, he shuffles to her, bends awkwardly, and kisses her on the cheek. “I’m sorry we can’t stay.”

He holds my gaze for one painfully long moment before he limps down the corridor.

Chapter Thirteen

When Dooley pulls up at Baz’s building, I fall out of the car, slam the door, and escape to the small park across the street. They are wise enough not to follow me.

As I pace the path that cuts across the small square, the air bites cold and damp, and the darkening sky promises precipitation. The chill outside does nothing to quell my racing heart. It will probably take a few hours before I can cool down and return to the apartment.

If I decide to go back.

I don’t know how to process this day. There are far too many emotions involved, and not just my own. Baz stalked me, smashed up another service establishment, and didn’t have the balls to attend the funeral of a woman who meant so much to him and his family.

And I let him off the hook. Covered for him when I should have flayed him for it.

The only reason he was there at all was because he was worried about me.

My phone buzzes with a succession of notifications on a group text. I’m now subscribed to the Johnson Family Chat. More accurately, the Johnson Family Women’s Chat. They’ve left off Baz for obvious reasons, and I’m sure Peter said in his quiet, firm tone that he wants no part of such nonsense.

Sofia Johnson

Thank you for coming today. I hope you’re feeling better. Baz too.

It’s an olive branch after her argument with Baz at the club bar. Not exactly owning up to her part. She could have handled things better, I’ll admit, but I understand why she reacted to Baz’s antics the way she did.

Sofia Johnson

He can be such a pill when he’s not well.

Luiza Johnson

And by pill she means complete bastard.

Sofia Johnson

Luiza!

Thank you. I’m better, and Baz is too.