Saving You (Love in June Springs Book 1)

Saving You -21-

           

Chapter 21

It took longer than Declan liked to figure out where he was when he woke up the next morning.

While getting drunk hadn't been the end goal, it seemed he'd gotten at least half way there. Which was why his head was pounding and his stomach felt unsettled.

A little unsteady, once he'd woken up enough to remember he was on Mark's couch, he shuffled around in a morning routine. The hot shower helped ease a little of the pain, and he was grateful his clothes from last night didn't smell horrible. The minty toothpaste helped his mouth taste a little less disgusting. After he'd scrounged around and found some eggs and bacon to make up, along with a pot of coffee, he felt semi-human again.

"I've never been so relieved to have breakfast made for me," Mark groaned, performing his own slow walk to sit next to Declan.

"You're assuming there is any for you."

Mark glared, pulling out a plate and loading it up with the remaining food that had, in fact, been made for him. "This is mine, I'm eating it. Get over it."

They finished the breakfast in silence, until Mark groaned again. "How much did we end up drinking?"

Declan took the empty plates and loaded them in the sink, taking a second to glance in the recycling bin. "Looks like we finished off a couple of cases and a bottle of whiskey."

"We'd have died if we finished the whole bottle. Is it a weird brand you can't pronounce?"

Declan picked it up. "Sh-sch-yes. Why?"

"I've had that for years, old Mr. Retner who used to own the farm gave it to me when I turned twenty-one." He eyed the bottle. "Might have to keep that. Anyway, there was maybe only a quarter left in there last I checked."

Declan put the bottle on the counter, examining the label. "I'd forgotten about that. Did he make this himself? I wish I'd been sober enough to enjoy it."

Mark scoffed, looking more and more alert every second. "No, you don't. It was his first and only attempt into the whiskey business, and it was a disaster. Tasted more like bleach than it did whiskey if I remember right."

"Well, I hope we toasted the last of his drink to him." Declan drank the rest of his coffee, wondering if he should fill up another cup before he headed over to Katelyn's.

Speaking of...

He pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket, checking the notifications. There were a few, all from Katelyn. The first just saying she was going to sleep, the second telling him the baby had woken up, and the third, sent only an hour ago, let him know she was back home and she hoped he'd had a good night.

"Since you look way too happy right now, I'm jumping in the shower and saying I'll see you later," Mark sighed. "Say hi to Katelyn for me."

"It was fun, we'll set up a time to do it again," Declan said. "I can't just be around her all the time, I know that. So, we'll schedule times where she'll go do whatever she wants, and I'll come over here and we'll bitch about life. It's what we used to do."

Mark stood, studying him with a slightly shocked expression. "Jesus, Dec. You sound so domesticated. What the hell happened?"

Declan let out a surprised laugh. "It's weird. But it doesn't matter, I'm all in." He double checked he had his wallet and keys. "Told you, she's it. Later, Mark." He made his way out the door with a wave.

Just so she was aware, he sent a quick text to let Katelyn know he was on his way to hers, and less than ten minutes later he was unlocking the front door.