Since The Day

Chapter 16

It's been a week since my nightmare. Luke has been super short about everything and he's not really will to talk to me at all. Last night we went out with his best friend Carter to the bar. I didn't want to argue with him so I let him go.

Now it's 9:00 in the morning and he still hasn't come home. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Usually he'd be home by now.

By 10:30 I was just finishing my second cup of coffee and was about to hop in the truck and drive around to forget my worries, like I normally would when Luke came stumbling through the door.

"Well hello," I said sarcastically as I put my hands on my hips and raised both my eyebrows.

Luke ignored with a huff and pushed past me, straight up the stairs.

"Are you still drunk," I asked turning around with my hands still on my hips. Luke ignore me and continued his way up the stairs. "Thomas Luther Bryan."

Luke came to a halt and turned around to look at me. His eyes were glassy and his scruff looked rough along with his hair. "What," he complained from about five steps up.

"Are you still drunk," I asked as I shot him a stern look. This is why I'm not a mom. I'd get so mad at my children when they'd act as childish as Luke is right now.

"No," he slurred and turned around to walk back up the stairs. I shook my head and let him go without a fight.

I sighed and grabbed the keys, walking out the door and straight to the extra truck. As soon as I hopped in I hit the gas and drove until most of my anger was gone. When I parked on the side of road I was in the middle of nowhere. I had no clue where I was but I didn't care. I jumped out of the car and moved the tailgate down, sitting there and enjoying the mountains off in the distance.

"Why does Luke have to do this? I didn't do anything wrong," I mumbled to myself and rubbed my face.

I sighed and decided to pull my phone out of my back pocket. I went straight to Luke's contact and started to text.

Me 1:39
I love you. Please know that.

I couldn't build the guts up to send it. I just sat there and fumbled with my phone before deleting all of the words and calling Jessie for advice. 

"Hey Carrie! I've missed you! How are you," she asked as she answered the phone.

I let out a distressed breath. "I don't know what to do about Luke," I complained and wiped a few tears from my eyes.

"What happened to you guys! I thought you were perfectly fine and deeply in love," Jessie instantly replied as she let out a huff on the other end of the line.

"I had a nightmare about Thomas last week... And we woke up together. He and I started to kiss... It got heated. We both started stripping... At the time Thomas was still on my mind and I asked him to stop. Which he did... But he's been so distant since then," I informed with sigh as I closed my eyes.

"Men! Oh my god! What's he been doing that he's so distant," she instantly replied.

"He went out with Carter last night... And didn't come home until like 10:30. He was still drunk. He pushed right past me this morning and nearly pushed me to the ground. Why is he so mad at me," I asked and let more tears fall down my face.

Jessie quickly replied, "It's not you. It's him. Are you still coming home for Christmas? If not I'll come there and kick his ass."

"I don't know. Jess. I'm at the point where I just want to stay here and have everything straightened out... Especially since Luke isn't going home and his parents aren't coming here," I informed with a long sigh.

"You'll figure it out. I'll come out for Christmas. We'll have a good time in Nashville. With or without Luke," she replied.

"Okay, thank you. I'll see you at Christmas," I thanked.

"It's no problem. I'll see you in 2 weeks," she replied and quickly hung up.

When I was done I jumped down from the tailgate and looked around one last time. What should I do? Should I confront Luke? Should I stop trying? Should I leave him? Shou- no!! Stop trying is the perfect thing to do. Give him some of his own medicine.

I smiled at myself before running back to the drivers side, quickly jumping in. This is what needs to happen. On my way home I called Bailee up and set up a plan. Despite today being a Sunday, I'm getting as drunk as possible and giving him some of his own medicine.

When I got home Luke was in his room snoring away which was perfect. He won't even know that I "haven't come back".

Once I was in my tightest skinny jeans and in a shirt that showed too much cleavage for my usual liking I did my make up. It takes a special occasion to make me do my make up, and pissing Luke off is one of them,

Before I knew it Bailee and I were at the bar together ready to have a good time. I had managed to email my boss and request the next day off. I'm free to do whatever I want. I started out light. Just a few beers. After about three or four I decided I needed to be drunker if that's even a word... SHOTS! One shot, two shots, three shots, four! I was completely drunk off my ass when Bailee put her hand on my shoulder and brought me out of the bar and to her car. Everything went black.

I woke up in Bailee and Tyler's guest room with a pounding in my head. Fire began making its way up my throat once I sat up. I quickly ran to the bathroom and let it all go into the toilet. It was pure alcohol. My stomach instantly felt better and I giggled. I should go home now.

Once I got home safely I slammed the truck door shut and walked up to the front door, unlocking it. I stumbled inside and instantly saw Luke sitting in the kitchen at the island. The look on his face was priceless when I walked in.

Luke's deep brown eyes went wide and he jumped up from the island with his jaw dropped. He quickly approached me as I walked up the stairs.

"Baby, where have you been? I've been worried sick about you. Why didn't you answer my calls," he asked as he stood at the bottom of the steps.

I turned around to look at him and shook my head then turned around and walked back up the stairs to my room. I quickly fell asleep.

When I woke up it was dark out and my hangover was gone. I smiled to myself before walking down stairs.

Luke was sitting on the couch and turned his head toward me when he heard me making my way down the steps. I ignored him and walked straight to the kitchen to grab a water. Luke hopped up from the couch and followed me into the kitchen.

"Baby," he said and I turned around acting like I didn't see him then made my way to the recliner in the living room. "Carrie," Luke went again as he sat adjacent to me, on the couch.

I ignored him and leaned forward to grab the remote and flip through the channels.

"Carrie! Will you listen to me," Luke practically shouted and he looked at me with hurt eyes.

"What," I shot back quickly as I gave him an evil look. "What could you possibly want!? You haven't wanted anything to do with me in the past week! What could you possibly want now?!"

Luke sighed and reached to grab my hand. I quickly pulled my hand from his, leaving his resting on the arm rest. "I know I was stupid. Okay!? I overreacted... But I just didn't know how to react to you pushing me away like that," Luke told me with a sigh as his brown eyes glazed over with tears.

I continued giving him a long hard look.

"I don't want my stupid mistake to be the reason why I'm losing you. I love you more than you think, Carrie," Luke took a deep breath. "I just... I didn't know how to treat you after I invaded your privacy..."

I sighed looking down at my lap and then placed my hand on top of Luke's large warm one. When I looked up at him he had tears rolling down his cheeks. Tears began falling from mine.

"I-I... It's okay Luke... I love you," I mumbled and gripped his hand.

*** hope y'all enjoyed! I think the next chapter is gonna have a jump in time! Just so y'all know!