A moment later, he was working the room. The transformation was eerie. He had become the popular boy I had known in high school—the guy with male friends who had emulated and admired him, the guy that girls had been in love with. I hadn’t been an exception, sitting on the sidelines, watching Chris and his posse hold center stage, his girlfriend on his lap, stroking his face and probably stroking other things that I couldn’t see. Back then, he had kept me his secret. We never mixed in public. He didn’t even acknowledge me with more than a nod. We weren’t sleeping together yet, but he was drawing me in the nude and, at sixteen, that constituted an intimate relationship to me.

Then his high school girlfriend wound up dead. Chris was arrested and sent to prison for the crime until Detective Decker proved otherwise and got him out of jail. But by then I had discovered things about him, and I broke off our relationship, until a child and poverty had me crawling back.

“More coffee, ma’am?”

I looked up. “Yes, I’d love some, thank you.”

She poured me another hot cup. “Beautiful ring.”

“Thank you.” I looked at her face. She was smiling, but she seemed sad. All the women here had that same reaction to me. A distant melancholy that I seemed to bring out. An awkward silence. I said, “Do you have half-and-half instead of milk?”

“Of course. I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I just like half-and-ha—”

She had left in a flash. I was alone. I smiled at the bodyguard and then realized I probably shouldn’t be smiling at random men. She was back with my half-and-half and my oatmeal with all the trimmings. I thanked her again. I said, “How long have you worked here?”

“About five years.”

“Long time.”

“Mr. Donatti is a great boss. I heard you were high school sweethearts.” She turned red. “Or is that too personal?”

“We’ve known each other since high school.”

“Wow. You don’t look old enough.” A pause. “I mean your age. I should stop talking.”

“It’s a compliment. Thank you.”

“More coffee?”

“I’m fine for right now, thank you.”

“I’ll let you eat in peace. I’ll bring the eggs when Mr. Donatti sits back down. I want them to be fresh.”