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cowered on the floor.
    “I’m just sorry. So sorry. It was a mistake. Please forgive me.”
    “Are you fucking kidding me? Forgive you? Why? Why would you do that to me? I take care of you. I put up with your shit and this is how you repay me? Get your fucking shit out of my house before I get back here or I swear to God, Maddie, I will throw your ass out on the street myself.”
    “Jake!” Danny yelled.
    He burst through the door as Jake threw another frame against the wall, directly over Maddie’s head. Danny pulled his brother away. Maddie leaned against the wall, holding her leg where some glass from the frame had imbedded itself.
    Danny shook Jake back to reality and when Jake saw what he’d done, tears streamed from his eyes.
    He crouched in front of her. “Oh my God! Maddie! Are you okay?”
    “Jake, leave her alone. I’ll handle it. Go cool off.” Danny tried to remain level-headed but all he wanted to do was beat them both silly. He’d lost count of the number of times he had to handle their fights.
    Jake pleaded for forgiveness as Danny shoved him outside. “Maddie, I am so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
    She’d stayed with Danny and Megan for the next week before she decided to come back home to Jake. Within that week, he’d taken all the blame for what happened, almost forgetting her betrayal. He’d felt so bad at how he reacted. He hadn’t even given her time to explain, to defend herself. He swore he’d never get angry enough to hurt her again.
    Instead, he just found reasons to fight with everyone else. He spiraled and no one could stop him.
    ***
    Lily interrupted Jake’s traipse down memory lane. “Here you go boys.”
    Grateful, he started on his dinner.
    “Thanks,” Danny said as he grabbed his plate from her, too.
    “Hey,” Billy said. “You’ve met my niece? Lily, this is Jake and his brother Danny.”
    “We’ve met, Uncle Billy. I didn’t tell you? Jake’s the one who helped change my tire this morning.”
    Billy’s eyes snapped to Jake. “Did he now? Well thanks, Jakey. You done a good thing helping Lily. Hey, sweetie, a new table just popped in. Could you go help them out?”
    “Sure thing. See ya, Jake. Nice meeting you, Danny.”
    As Lily walked away, Billy leaned in towards Jake, picked up a French fry and pointed it at him. “I love you, Jakey. You know I do, right?”
    Mouth full of crab cake, Jake responded, “Right, Billy.”
    “Then you won’t be surprised or offended when I tell you to stay away from Lily.”
    Danny stopped mid-gulp, looked at Jake and waited for his temper to flash.
    Carefully placing his fork on the table, Jake leaned back and lifted his beer. “What would make you think I’d want anything to do with her, Bill?”
    “Nothing. Just saying.”
    “Well, thanks for the advice, but I think I’ll be okay if I don’t fawn all over your niece.”
    “Good, then. We understand each other. Eat up boys. Enjoy your dinner.”
    Jake watched him walk away.
    “What the hell was that all about, Jake?”
    “How the hell should I know? I just changed her fucking tire.” Jake stood and dropped money on the table. “Whatever. Listen, I’m not hungry anymore. I’m gonna go.”
    “Aw, man! Don’t leave. I backed out of Meg’s meatloaf for this. Just stay. We’ll eat. Everything’s fine.”
    “Nah. I’m good. Take my food home to Meg. She’ll like it. Talk to you tomorrow.”
    Danny dropped his head onto the table as Jake walked out of the bar. Everything wasn’t fine.
    Lily watched Jake make a beeline for the door and moved to head him off. “Hey.”
    He stepped back when he realized he almost ran right into her. “Hey.”
    “Where’re you going?”
    “Home.”
    “But you didn’t finish your dinner.”
    “Not hungry anymore.”
    She looked over her shoulder at her uncle and squinted her eyes. “Did my uncle say anything to you?”
    “Who? Billy? What would make you say that?”
    “’Cause he told me to stay away from you. Said