Whiskey & Vows

F O U R T E E N

 C H A P T E R 

F O U R T E E N ||  WE ARE UNDERNEATH THE SUN IN THE SAME LOVE

 ♕♡♕

          Derek looked lived as he strolled his way through the bar. His jaw clenched in irritation as he weaved his way through people looking for me. His eyes hardened as we made eye contact and shook his head. My chest tightened at the sight of him, and despite my issue earlier, I wanted nothing more than to feel his touch. I needed to snap out of it. Whatever I was starting to feel for Derek needed to end soon. I sat at the counter, finishing my fourth shot and grimacing at the man walking toward me.

          “What the hell are you doing here?” He snapped, snatching the glass away from me. He grimaced as he looked at my smiling face. I wasn’t drunk-tipsy, maybe, but usually it took a large amount of alcohol to get me trashed. I didn’t know how he found out I was here, but it didn’t take much to figure out when he started talking to the bartender.

          “You stalked me?” Derek ran his hand through his hair and took the glass of water from the bartender. Amusement filled his face as he looked down at his intoxicated wife.

          “I would hardly consider that, you told Charlie you needed a drink.” He shrugged.

          “You asked Charlie?” I gasped.

          “Anna, what are you doing here?” He repeated. I bit my tongue and looked at the glass of water. I didn’t want to tell him anything-he didn’t do anything, but he looked at me with so much concern it had elephants running through my stomach. I wanted to tell him about Johnny, how Charlie and I ran into him today and it turned into a mess, but I was embarrassed. How do you tell someone that his friend made your life a nightmare?

          You don’t.

          I don’t know what Derek has been through, and I don’t know his relationship life, but I couldn’t imagine he ever got treated the way Johnny treated me. I didn’t like Johnny in that way, but I just panicked. What if Derek saw all those things Johnny made fun of? Once Charlie left, I did the one thing I was good at-drank away my problems.

          Unfortunately, my husband kept me from getting trashed.

          “Why does it matter?” I groaned.

          “It matters because you’re sitting in a bar on a weekday by yourself.” His questions killed me and I wanted to tell him to just drop it, but I knew he wouldn’t.

          “I don’t want to talk about it.” I mumbled. Derek opened his mouth to speak, but closed it quickly. He rubbed his neck and looked over at the door.