Eric saw her change in demeanor when she apologized about bringing up his dad. It wasn't that he was upset that she mentioned him. Just that he wanted to keep the conversation light, fun away from the harmful topics of the past. While eric didn't exactly plan for the future, he also didnt like to dwell on the past. Doing so could make a person crazy. So he waved his beer as if to dismiss her apology and said. "No worries Helen. Maybe I'll tell ya Bout him another time." There would be a very long conversation if they ever talked about it. But he couldn't imagine that they would. She was married and obviously faithful and he had already been thinking about leaving this little town. With summer here he'd planned on heading back north where there was real money to be made. Though he neither planned to tell her than, nor had the opportunity as a man came up behind her, grabbed her hair and Kissed her. He wasn't sure if it was her husband or some forceful man that felt he was entitled to her lips. Regardless, as rough as he was, Eric had the urge to snatched the life out of the guy. But he didnt, for all he knew that was how Helen liked it. He had been with women like that, women who loved a harsh touch. But he doubted that was the case.<br/><br/>So he made no aggressive move as she introduced him. His jovial attitude didn't change. No he wasn't rattled. As far as he was concerned neither he nor she had any reason to. So instead he reached out, without standing and offered his hand to the man. Which her husband took. Eric's grip was a crushing one. There was none of the gentleness that he'd shown Helen while he shook her husband's hand. Just pure untempered strength. While he held the man's hand in a vice like grip he said. "Well husband that she'd been waiting for. I'm Eric. You got a good woman there." He finally released hi crushing grip on Rick's hand and stood while he took his shot of fireball then said. "I reckon I aught to stop bending her ear and let yall to it." He wasn't in retreat. He wasn't apologetic. Instead he simply wanted to respect the boundary that Helen had established. She was waiting for her man so now was time to leave. Though he picked up on some subtle changes in her demeanor despite her casual attitude toward him. Something told him that all was not well. Despite his intuition he looked down to Helen again and said. "Yall two have fun. I probably aught to get outta here and sleep. That lumpy bed at the extended stay is calling."