Art wasnât stupid, no. Perhaps he closed his eyes and acted like he didnât know anything to preserve his relationship to Tashi and their daughter, perhaps he did that so it hurt less â it didnât. But Art wasnât stupid and he knew what had happened in Atlanta.
When he had saw his wife and former best-friend at the same table, turning around to sign a baseball cap just to find them gone.
No, he wasnât stupid â he knew thar Tashi was cheating on him with Patrick, and yet, he didnât say anything about it. Didnât make any allusion to that night or any of the others. He wasnât sure how many times it had happened but he didnât care.
Well, at least he acted like he didnât. Because God, it did hurt; it hurt as much as loving Tashi felt like. And thatâs probably why he didnât say anything â he didnât want to lose her.
But that didnât mean he couldnât be mad about it. So when Tashi excuses herself for the night, pretexting a dinner with sponsors, Art decides that him too, deserves a night out to forget everything. He needs a drink, a strong one.
The bar is empty at that time of the night, itâs past-midnight, thereâs a half drank beer in front of Art and sorrow in his eyes. He doesnât even know if he really want to be there, while Tashi is with Patrick.
His blue eyes lift up from the glass, mindlessly looking around when they finally fall on you. God, where were you all this time? He gulp, goosebumps on his arms â the feeling he had gotten when he saw Tashi Duncan for the first time. Itâs inexplicable, but heâs drawn to you.
He shouldnât â he loves his wife.
But Artâs feet moves before he understands, and next thing he knows, heâs standing next to you at the bar. âIâm sorry, umh⊠Can I sit here?â he asks, a bit disoriented. âIâm not a creep, I swear.â