Page 65 of A Coffee Away

She grabbed my hand and pulled me to a table. “Gustavo is asking one of our couple friends if they want to go to Kweens and see the show, then SW later. Are you up for that?”

I looked toward Eva.

She was quick to nod. “I’ll ask Steph.”

I took her hand, stopping her mid-step. “I haven’t been to a club since before the accident.” A heavy feeling overtook me.

She brushed her palm over my cheek. “Hon, we’ll go as friends. Talk. Have a good time. Robbie would be happy to see you live a little.”

I held my tears back. Robbie loved clubbing and having fun. “Fine. But just for an hour or so.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “If we get there and you want to leave, we’ll leave. Okay?”

I swallowed hard. “Okay.”

Gustavo came to Carmen’s side and shook my hand. “Great to see you, man. It’s been a long time.”

“It has. How are your studies going?”

He grunted. “Some classes are boring as fuck, but I do like them. One more semester, and I’m done.” He patted my shoulder. “How are you holding up?”

Most days, it took everything in me to get out of bed. I kept telling myself Robbie would wake up, that things would settle back into place. I was holding on for him.

“Just barely,” I mumbled.

Carmen intertwined her arm with Gustavo’s and kissed his cheek. “I was inviting them to come with us.”

Gustavo smiled. “Good. Edgar and Maria are coming too.”

Carmen clapped. “Perfect. We’ll go after we eat.”

Gustavo walked ahead with their friends, while I was by Carmen’s side.

“I can’t believe they’re forbidding you to visit. We have to find a way to fight it.” Her high heels clicked against the sidewalk, her footsteps matching her outrage.

I cleared my throat. I had to ask her. “Carmen, what I’m about to ask from you is not only illegal but could put your job at risk if they catch us.”

She stopped, raised an eyebrow, then wrapped her arm around mine. “You’ve piqued my interest.” She pulled me closer. “Anything for you and Robbie.”

I smiled. She was an angel.

“God, how do I put this?” I glanced at Gustavo. Would he defend me if it came to that? I bit my lip. “Is there any way you can sneak me in during your shift so I can see him?”

She grinned, her perfect white teeth shining in the moonlight. “My friend, I’ll make it happen.”

“We’re here!” Gustavo pointed to Kweens. “The bouncer just told me the show hasn’t started yet.” He opened the door for us.

Carmen gripped my arm. “Come on.”

Music boomed around us as we walked toward the stage.

Carmen sat on a sofa. “Let’s plan this shit before the show starts.”

I grabbed my ibuprofen. My head was pounding and about to explode. I hadn’t drunk this much in a while and had to call in sick to A Coffee Away.

After Kweens, we hopped to SW, where we had a blast dancing and drinking. I missed Robbie every minute, but Steph and Eva stayed by my side, making sure I was okay. I called it a night at 12:30 a.m., as did Eva and Steph, but Carmen and Gustavo remained with their friends. It was Carmen’s night off.

I had fun, but it wasn’t the same.