Next to me, the very drunk, very loud guy spun around and directed his attention toward the two of us. “Oh shit, did I trip you, doll?” he slurred. “You wanna let me buy you a drink or—”

I turned my face slowly toward his with the energy I once brought into the ring. I didn’t say a word. Only stared. He flinched, face ruddy, stepping back and then farther away.

“Uh, you know what, I’m gonna go over here. Sorry about that, uh, Dean. And Dean’s…lady.”

I waited until he disappeared before turning around to find Tabitha with a bemused smirk on her face. “My dad told me you were a pro boxer. He didn’t mention that you could literally scare a man with a scowl.” She sat up straighter and raised her chin. “It’s an honor to now be known as Dean’s Lady. Do you know what the requirements are to be your lady? Do I appear at all your matches and wave my hand like a queen? I’m not super into wearing a crown, but obviously I’ve rocked a tiara before and I’d be more than willing to wear one for you.”

My lips wanted to tug into a smile. Tabitha always had that effect on me.

“It’s nice to see you,” I said.

She dropped her chin into her hand. “You too. I guess it’s been, what…since I graduated, right? So nine years or so? Fuck me. I missed you. How are you? What’s new? Everything, I’m assuming.”

My fingers gripped my beer bottle tightly enough to shatter it. It was the shape of her lips saying fuck me followed by a phrase I never thought I’d hear her say: I missed you. But she was always like that in school and around the neighborhood. Friendly. Warm. Hell, I’d clocked five other former classmates here in the bar tonight. She would probably say I missed you to them too.

“I’m okay,” I finally said. “What are you doing here? Home for a visit?”

She nodded and ran her fingers through her red hair. It was shoulder-length and wavy. She had a ring in her nose and flowers tattooed down her left arm. She had the same cluster of freckles across the bridge of her nose. But more freckles now, on the tops of her shoulders.