Wanting Mr. Barkley (Book 2)

Chapter Six . . . Drinking to My Death

Chapter Six . . . Drinking to My Death

Derek's POV

I took a swig of my beer and looked around the bar. It was empty due to the constant chugging I had done. I sighed and put it with the rest of the empty bottles.

"Bar-(hiccup)tender, another." I asked while totally forgetting the poor dudes name.

"I think you've had enough." He said calmly probably knowing who my brother was.

"One more." I ordered. Which even shitfaced I knew that I sounded mean. "Please." I added after a moment.

I watched as he stared at me before nodding and grabbing me a beer.

"This is it Barkley." He said rudely. Well, there went his tip.

I put the bottle to my lips and tried to drown the pain, but so far it hadn't been working. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and was turned around in my seat only to come face to face with my lovely brothers. Note the sarcasm.

"Hey guys!" I yelled making both of them cringe. "Take a seat." I offered and each of them sat on both sides of me.

"What are you doing Derek?" Dylan was the first to ask me and I scoffed before picking up my beer and wiggiling it in his face.

"What does it look like?"

"Drinking yourself to death?" Dean added and I gasped acting surprised.

"It speaks!" Dean rolled his eyes and looked at Dylan.

"Derek, man, you got to sober up." Dylan pretty much begged.

"For what? A woman who has a panick attack whenever I tell her that I love her and want to take care of her and her family?" I took another swig out of my bottle.

"Well I'd have a panick attack if you told me that too." Dean joked but I wasn't laughing.

"Wrong time, bro." Dylan warned before turning back to me. "Derek, Karen is different. You've known that since she came to our house. She's scared of something and you pushed her too far and she freaked." I looked at my brother studying him.

"What do you know that I don't?" Dylan bit his lip.

"Everything you do except I know that she likes you too." I rubbed my hands on my face frustrated with everything including life itself.

"What would you  do if you were in my situation with  Riley?" I asked him and he thought about it for a moment before answering.

"We would probably be in reverese role and you would take my drunk ass down to a strip club." I laughed at that one knowing he was probably right. "But I'm not  you and you're not me. So this is what we are going to do. We are going to clean you up and take you down to talk to Karen."

"You have to make this right." Dean added quietly as he took my beer away.

I nodded agreeing with him. "Thanks boys." I stood up from my seat. "Let's head out!" I took a step only to realize it was a huge mistake as the world began to spin and my head almost hit the floor of the sticky bar. Luckily my brothers were there to save my ass.

"Okay, why don't we sober you up a little, huh?" Dean asked and I nodded before throwing my arms around each of their shoulders.

"You boys are awesome!" I slurred and they only rolled there eyes as we headed out of the bar.

Karen, here I come.
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Karen's POV

I felt the tension in my body and directly in my back as I continued to wash each dish in the sink. Honestly, I don't think they were dirty. Cleaning was my way out of the real world and it took me away to a world where my life didn't exist and the world  was a better place. Just some fucked up thoughts over washing dishes. Only this time it wasn't helping and instead I was only stressing my mind and body to so much extreme that it was causing physical pain. I watched my hands shake before they let a dish fall through my fingers.

"Shit." I whispered to myself as I heard the dish break in the dish water.

I braced my hands against the sink and leaned forward and put my head down. "Come on Karen. Relax." I let in a breath and let it out. I repeated that three times before I decided to give up on it. I ran a hand through my hair and debated with myself on what to do. Should I call Derek? Leave him alone? What? I tapped my fingers against the sink feeling fraustrated with everything including my own life.
Did he feel this way too? I felt my heart break at my own question. Why would I even ask when I knew the answer? I wish he could understand my point of view, my story, my life! But he never would because I couldn't tell him about me, about my past because when he did he would run for the hills and I would be more heartbroken and alone. Suddenly, the doorbell rang making me jump in my spot. I shook my head, trying to clear it.

"I'm coming!" I yelled while drying my hands off on a dish rag before scurrying to the door, but once I got there I paused.

Was it Derek?

A sudden feeling of excitement hit my belly and I quickly turned the knob to come face to face with my visitor.

"Hello Karen."