Drunk In Love (Crushing Hard Series Book 3)

Dear Diary:Same Day, Evening

Later in the evening

When I got home, the familiar sound of gunfire and explosions echoed through the living room. Kevin was already planted in front of the TV, absorbed in his Xbox, while dinner remained a mere figment of my imagination. Of course, he expected me—the maid in this household—to conjure up a meal out of thin air. I glanced at my phone and noted that he’d been home since at least 2 PM, a fact he confirmed with a casual text.

The house was in disarray, a chaotic battlefield of scattered clothes and neglected dishes. It drove me absolutely wild. I stormed into the kitchen, clattering pots together and slamming cupboard doors, creating a cacophony that would wake the dead. Just as I reached a fever pitch, Kevin wandered in, his expression shifting from focus to concern.

“Babe, are you okay? You seem stressed,” he said, reaching out to touch my arm, but I instinctively moved out of his grasp, my frustration palpable.

“Seriously, Kevin? I come home to find this place a total disaster! It didn’t occur to you to clean up or even start dinner?” I snapped, my knife hitting the cutting board with a force that made my anger sizzle like the onions I was chopping. I was so furious that I contemplated spitting in his food.

“Sorry, babe. But I was pretty tired. You know I worked late yesterday—” he started, but I cut him off.

“Oh, boo-freaking-hoo! Cry me a river! I’m tired too! I have a job now, too! I didn’t have to do this before when you were the one hauling ass. But guess what? You need to pull your weight, too!”

His face flushed crimson. “You’re being unreasonable. It’s just one time, and you’re acting like I drop the ball all the time. Just relax, and we can talk when you’ve calmed down,” he spat, irritation seeping from his words.

I laughed, a manic sound that filled the kitchen. I tugged at my hair in exasperation. What was it with people telling me to calm down today? Did everyone have a death wish?

“Kevin, I’m telling you nicely. You need to get out of my sight before I throw a pot of boiling water at you. And don’t doubt that I won’t, because I definitely will. You need to go.” He must have sensed the wild look in my eyes because, for once, he didn’t argue; he simply turned and slammed our bedroom door behind him.

An hour later, reality set in. I realized I had completely overreacted and definitely shouldn’t have threatened to burn him with boiling water. Dragging my feet upstairs, I knew an apology was inevitable, but the thought of it made me cringe. I opened the door tentatively, and there he was, sprawled on the bed, his attention glued to his phone, sullen and unyielding.

“Hi,” I ventured, my voice barely above a whisper. Silence enveloped us like a thick fog.

“Dinner is gonna be ready soon,” I added, and the silence deepened.

“What are you doing on your phone?” I asked, the dead air heavy between us.

“You know I wasn’t gonna burn you with water, right? That’s crazy,” I pressed, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes, you were,” he replied, his eyes still glued to the screen.

I laughed, guilt creeping into my chest. “But I didn’t! Gosh, how many times must I say sorry, Kevin?” I sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface.

“You didn’t,” he shot back, his tone dismissive.

“But you know that I am, so there,” I retorted, my patience fraying.

“Do you think I’m gonna accept that half-assed crap of an apology?” he snorted, still focused on his phone, his indifference cutting deeper than I wanted to admit.

I looked at him, feeling like I’d thrown myself at his mercy only to be met with a wall. A flash of brilliance struck me, and I pulled my top over my head, unclipping my bra in one swift motion. That certainly got his attention.

“Are you gonna accept this—” I started, but I didn’t even finish my sentence before he pounced on me, and suddenly we were tangled together in a whirlwind of limbs on the bed. In that moment, he made me forget everything—the world outside, the chaos of the day, even Scott. It was a relief to know that he could still make me feel like this, a warmth in my chest I thought I’d lost.

When we were finished, he kissed me passionately, a smile breaking across his face. “Now that’s an apology I definitely accept.” We both laughed, the tension dissipating like steam from a kettle.

The rest of the night unfolded beautifully. I told him about work, carefully skipping over any details about a certain someone. Honestly, that distant memory of Scott faded as I focused on the future I was building with Kevin.

Tomorrow is bound to be a long day, but for now, it's time to sleep.

Night night.

Sweet dreams.