Like it or Not

Ric

Derek tipped back a large swig of whiskey as he flipped through the latest issue his team had put together. It looked great. His team had done another amazing job. Not that he was surprised. His team was always great, especially since hiring Stiles.

His phone rang, causing his heart to leap into his throat. He reached across the table where it had been abandoned in favor of making his drink.

A sigh of relief punched from his chest when he saw it wasn't Elijah or Stiles.

"Ric, hey," Derek answered.

"Derek, I'm sorry I'm just now calling you back. I had to finish grading these papers before the final tomorrow. I got your message, what did you do?" Alaric's tone balanced between accusing and concerned.

Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd poured the whiskey so he didn't have to think about what he had done, but he knew Alaric would have sound advice; he always did.

"I made a mistake."

"Yeah, I got that from your voicemail. What did you do?" Alaric repeated.

Derek sighed, "Elijah is working on our next project with us."

There was a long pause before Alaric's voice spoke again, "Please tell me you aren't back with him."

Derek scoffed, "Yeah, like he'd take me back."

"Derek-"

"I made Stiles pretend to be my date at this meeting with my boss cause Elijah showed up with someone and now he's working with us," Derek interjected before Alaric could pity him.

"I'm sorry, you what?" Alaric blanched.

"I panicked."

"Yeah, no, I got that."

"I just didn't want him to think I hadn't moved on from what he did to me," Derek groaned, reaching for his glass.

"You haven't," Alaric reminded him.

"Thank you for that," Derek snapped, tossing back another gulp.

"Okay, let's approach this rationally," Alaric's tone went into best friend mode.

"I think it's a little late for that," Derek snapped, taking another swig.

"How is Stiles handling this?" Alaric asked, ignoring Derek's attitude.

"Surprisingly well. It was...rocky at first but he's amendable."

"Oh."

Derek tossed back the last of his drink, "Yeah."

"Okay, well, here's the good news. He still hates you, right?"

Derek nodded despite Alaric being unable to see him, "Yeah, I think so."

"Okay, then..." There was a long pause.

"Just say what you're thinking, Ric," Derek groaned. He clasped his empty glass like it was a lifeline.

"I don't know how you're gonna keep your distance and date him at the same time. And it has to be believable cause Elijah knows you. Like really knows you."

Derek put his phone on speaker and tossed it on the table before standing. His chair screeched across the floor in protest. He grabbed the mostly empty bottle of whiskey.

"Derek, are you drinking?" Alaric asked, a tenderness to his tone that made Derek's jaw clench.

"It's not even five o'clock," Alaric continued when Derek didn't answer. "Don't let him get to you like this again."