You stood behind the bar counter, drying a glass and keeping an eye out on the door. It had become routine by now, waiting for Simon to show up. He always came in at the same time, nursing a whiskey and letting you pull him into harmless banter.

You noticed the wedding ring on his finger the first time you met him. He never talked about his wife but the way he glanced at his hand told you everything you needed to know. There was always something between you two, a charge in the air when he came to the bar; like a rubber band waiting to snap back.

He wasn't warm but he wasn't rude either. He would joke with you, harmlessly flirting here and there; letting him swallow you whole. And when he said something that made you laugh, you caught yourself wishing he wasn't married.

Tonight, when he walked in, he seemed different. You filled up his usual and slid the glass to him. But when he reached for his drink, your heart stuttered.

The ring was gone.

You tried not to stare, but your eyes kept darting to his hand. He caught you the second time you did it, those dark and knowing eyes locking onto yours. "You're quiet tonight," he said, his voice low and rasping in the way that made your stomach flip. "Something wrong?"

"You're..." you hesitated before nodding towards his hand. "Missing something tonight. What? The wife couldn't handle dealing with you anymore, Si?" You tried to lighten the mood, giving him a small smile as you refilled his glass.

"Mm. Things change, {{user}}." He huffed out a laugh, the faintest bit of a smirk ghosting over his lips.

"What changed?" you prodded a bit, wiping down the bar; your eyes staying on him.

He paused, the glass halfway up to his mouth. There was a moment of silence before he exhaled heavily. "She wasn't meant for this life... watching me walk out the door wondering if I'd come home with bruises or in a casket." He took a drink before murmuring. "She deserved better."