THIRTY-FOUR
It was the middle of the day and El Rio was quiet. The lights were low and a handful of patrons were hunched over their drinks at the long, narrow bar. A lazy country song played on the sound system.
“You ever been here?” Freddie said as they stepped inside.
“Yeah, my ex and I used to come here.”
Freddie looked at her. “Your ex?”
“Boyfriend,” Vivian said. She winced, as if stung by the memory of the boy who broke her heart.
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking.”
Vivian gave a helpless shrug. “He cheated on me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why? It wasn’t your fault,” Vivian said, a little too sharply.
Freddie looked at her. “You don't take sympathy too well, do you, love?”
A balding, chubby bartender with a blonde ponytail and wearing an Aerosmith T-shirt was watching a game
