“No, it’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up in Shane and the wedding.”
It felt good to get that out of the way right off the bat. We never were the kind of friends who let things fester. If there was an issue between us, more often than not we’d talk about it immediately. I wished more people worked that way.
I laughed. “I’m glad we got that out of the way. I miss you, kiddo.”
“I miss you too, Darce.”
The waitress came back with our Bloody Marys. We clinked glasses and drank deep.
“So, tell me about the date you ditched me for,” Amy said when we were done.
“I’m not sure I’d call it a date.”
“What would you call it then?”
I thought for a second. “A meeting of mutually interested humans?”
Amy laughed. “Sounds like a date. Give me details!”
For the next few minutes I walked her through my night with Rex. She looked concerned when I touched on the encounter with Michael, but she didn’t interrupt. That was something I loved about Amy: she rarely interrupted, and she was a fantastic listener. Even if she didn’t agree with what I was saying, she let me finish before responding. I glossed over the details of my time at Rex’s apartment, but I could tell Amy got the general idea.
“Sex on date two, huh,” she said with a laugh.
“I know, I know.” I was glad I hadn’t told her about the close encounter in the bathroom from the week before.
“You have to tell me about it.”
I blushed. Usually I’d give her all the finer points, but for some reason I felt myself unable to talk about it.
“He’s pretty amazing,” I said lamely.
Amy seemed to get the point, and didn’t press. “Are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. We hadn’t made any definite future plans. Rex didn’t seem like the kind of guy who made those.
“Do you want to?”
“Yeah, I think I do.”
Instead of looking excited, concern washed over her face. “He sounds like he’s mixed up with some pretty scary people.”
“He’s trying to get out of it.”
“Do you know who that Michael guy is?”
I shook my head. “No, Rex didn’t really go into detail about him. Just said that he was someone I should stay away from.”
Amy nodded and looked away.
“What’s the matter?” I asked. Amy was obviously concerned.
“Shane told me something about Rex that I need to tell you about.”
I let out a sigh. Shane and his mysterious knowledge about Rex was starting to get annoying.
“I know you guys don’t approve, Amy.”
“It’s not that, honestly. If you’re happy, I’m happy. It’s just, he has a pretty intense past.”
I was getting a little frustrated. I wasn’t used to Amy second-guessing my choice in men. I had to admit that I understood her concern, and I even found myself a little frightened, but I knew that Rex would never hurt me, or let me get hurt. Even if his past was intense or dark, it was all in the past.
“I know, Amy. But I’m fine.”
“Just let me tell you what I know, then I promise I’ll drop it.”
“Fine, but I want you to understand that I’m being safe. He’s not what you think he is.”
Amy nodded. “I get it. But look. Shane told me that when his brother was getting into trouble back in the day, he was involved in this Irish drug gang in the city. They stole cars, robbed trucks, that sort of thing. Apparently, Rex is still involved with those people. I guess Michael is the gang’s leader or whatever.”
That gave me pause. He hadn’t said that he was involved with a gang. I figured Michael was a scumbag loan shark or a bookie, and that was how Rex owed him money. I sat quietly for a second, absorbing this new information.
“What do you mean, a gang? Like the mob?”
Amy nodded. “Apparently they’re pretty dangerous. Shane said you should really stay far away from them. His brother got sucked in, and ended up in jail.”
“What did his brother do?”
“I can’t really say, but it was bad. Shane said he doesn’t know much about Rex, just that the people he’s involved with are pretty serious.”
“He told me he was involved with drugs a while ago, but he said he was clean now. He’s trying to pay back his debts.”
Amy reached out and took my hand and squeezed. “I believe you. I just thought you needed to know everything about this guy before you get more involved.”
I squeezed back, smiling. “Thanks, kiddo. I appreciate your concern. I don’t even know if he’ll call again, or what.” My mind was buzzing with this new information. I had a hard time putting Rex together with the Irish mob, but apparently it was true.
“No problem. Now, tell me all about that cut body of his.” She slipped her hand back and took a large drink.