Dawn didn't know what to do when she saw Anthony. The look on his face was one of sadness. She suddenly forgot why it was that she left. Part of her wanted to run away as fast as she could, but part of her wanted to embrace him because, at that moment, she saw the man she fell in love with.
She thought it best if she didn't say anything to him, though. She didn't want any kind of scene and she wasn't sure if he had been drinking or what was going through his mind. So she attempted to walk past him to go to the ladies' room.
"What, you can't even say hi to me?" He asked her as she tried to make her way past him.
"Please Anthony,” she whispered. "I don't want a scene".
"I'm not gonna make a scene", he replied. "I just want to talk to you. Please come here,” he said as he grabbed her by the arm to pull her closer to him.
"I miss you and I want you to come home,” he said softly after finding a place a little more quiet, outside the restroom doors.
"It's over between us, Anthony,” she said to him as she looked down at the ground.
"Please don't say that,” he begged as tears started to well up in his eyes.
"I'm sorry,” Dawn said to him as she felt tears start to form in the corners of her own eyes. "I just can't do it anymore".
"I'm sorry,” Anthony said, "I don't mean to hurt you. I promise, I'll never do it again".
"You've made me that promise before,” she started. "Along with the one about you not drinking anymore".
"What if I got help for my drinking?" He asked, "Then will you come back home?"
"I don't know,” Dawn's voice trailed off. "You would have to take some sort of anger management class, too,” she added.
Anthony's eyes lit up. "Then you'll come back?" He asked enthusiastically.
"I don't know,” she thought about it for a moment, "I'll have to think about it".
Just then Dawn looked over Anthony's shoulder and saw Kevin walking towards them. He stopped right behind Anthony and cleared his throat.
"I was just on my way to the restroom, is everything alright?" He asked, looking at Dawn.
Anthony turned around to see who it was behind him.
"Everything is fine,” he said coldly.
"I was asking Dawn,” Kevin responded sternly.
"Yes, everything is fine,” Dawn answered, hoping neither of them would make a scene.
"Are you sure?" Kevin asked with emphasis.
"I'm sure,” she replied.
"Okay, but I won't be far away if you need anything,” he added and started to walk away.
"For Christ’s sake, what do you think I'm gonna do to her?" Anthony asked, turning in Kevin's direction.
Something in Kevin snapped. He turned around and walked back over to where the two of them were standing. His face was just inches away from Anthony's.
"Listen you spineless little punk," he began, pointing his finger at Anthony. "I've seen what you do to her and if she comes back to the table with so much as one hair on her head harmed, not only will you have to deal with AJ, you're gonna have to answer to me. You got that?" He said in a low voice, his eyes still locked with Anthony's.
"Please don't start,” Dawn stepped in between them, putting her hand on Kevin's chest.
She expected this from AJ, but she couldn't be more shocked that it was coming from Kevin.
"I'll be back to the table in a minute Kevin, okay?"
"Okay,” he responded glaring at Anthony. Then he turned and slowly walked away.
"Those are the kind of people you're hanging out with now?" Anthony asked sarsastically, turning his attention back to Dawn.
"Listen," she started, ignoring his comment. "Let me go back to my dinner and we'll talk about this another time".
"When?" He pressed.
"After you show me you're serious about getting yourself some help,” she answered.
"I will, I promise,” he said in a low voice as he bent down to kiss her.
Dawn turned her face, letting the kiss fall on her cheek, then turned and walked into the bathroom. Once there she bent over the sink and turned the water on.
As she was splashing water on her face, thousands of things were running through her head. She was so confused.
“What the hell has gotten into everyone,” she said to herself aloud.
She looked in the mirror and fixed her makeup. As she opened the bathroom door, she saw AJ standing there with his arms folded. He came over to her and put his arm around her.
"Kevin told me...are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied numbly.
"Where is the son of a bitch,” he demanded.
"I don't know, probably sitting down somewhere, please don't start anything with him,” she pleaded.
AJ sighed. "I'm not going to start anything,” he began, "I'm gonna finish it".
"Can we just leave...please?" She asked on the verge of tears.
"Sure, let's go say goodbye to everyone, then we'll go home".
When they got back to the table Kevin and Brian both stood up.
"We're gonna get going guys,” he said as he shook their hands.
Kevin walked over to Dawn. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, I'm just a little overwhelmed and tired,” she answered.
He bent down and gave her a hug.
"You take care of yourself,” he said in her ear. "And if you need anything, feel free to give me a call,” he finished.
"Thank you,” Dawn replied as she pulled away from him. "For everything".
She went over and hugged Jessica and Leighanne, then her and AJ headed for the car.


Chapter 17
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