Desired Fate

Chapter Twenty-Two

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snapped, "and how did you even find me?" 

"Make that two whiskies, will you?" Dan plonked himself down on the stool beside me. 

I let out a puff of air, the drink was placed down in front of me. I was quick to pick it up and down it in one as Dan did the same. 

"Keep them coming," I heard Dan declare as he threw two fifty-pound notes down onto the bar, I looked up to see the bartender nod in acknowledgement. 

"You think buying me some drinks is going to make up for this?" I asked, my head remaining straight ahead as I watched the bartender whizz back and forth serving other people. 

"No," I heard Dan slam his empty glass down onto the wood and release a gasp, no doubt from the burning of the alcohol going down his throat. 

"You still haven't answered my question," I muttered. 

"I'm your best friend, I knew that you probably wouldn't want to be found and so you would come to the most unlikely place I'd expect you to be in." 

"Well done for being detective of the year," I snapped. 

"I had to search five dives before I found this one. Looking like this..." he pointed to his face, "it gave off the appearance I was looking for trouble." 

"Good," I turned my head to look at Dan's face, his nose was swollen and still bloody, his eye was black and he had a cut on his cheek. Realising I probably looked no better I caught my reflection in the mirror above the bar, I had a bruise on my cheek and a black eye. 

"So, you've found me. Now you can leave again." 

"No. You're my best fucking friend and I need you to listen to me," his voice was deep and desperate but he was right. We had been through too much together over the years to not speak to one another. 

"Fine, talk but I'm not nearly drunk enough for this yet." 

I heard Dan sigh, "I freaked out when I saw her. I know it's not an excuse but I'm trying to explain..." he rushed his words and I frowned at him, he knew he had to finish that sentence fast before I finished it for him. 

"The last time I saw Rowan she was a fourteen-year-old girl who depended on me, I still remember her begging me to stay as I packed my bags," I studied Dan's face as he said those words, his eyes were closed and his face was scrunched up as though he tortured himself with that memory inside his head. 

"Now," he continued, his eyes burst open and his blue orbs met mine and all I could think about was Rowan's face. "Rowan is this beautiful, independent woman who proved to herself that she doesn't need me. She has survived without me..."

"Survived because she had no other choice," I defended, "but don't for a second think that means she doesn't want the option of having you in her life again." 

I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes, almost like a dog begging for scraps from the table. I let out a long breath, "Rowan may be pissed at your actions right now but we've spent nights talking about you," I looked up to see a scowl on his face. "Fuck off with that protective brother shit! That's what got you into this mess," I exploded and crossed my arms angrily over my chest. I heard Dan let out a puff of air before downing his whisky and then getting the glass refilled. 

"Continue," he grumbled now gazing down into his glass as his finger aimlessly ran along the rim. 

Dan and I had been friends for almost nine years, we'd shared a lot of history but one thing I'd never seen before was this anger. Sure we had bickered, what kind of relationship hasn't? But the look on his face when he was punching me was like my best friend had been replaced with a stranger. I knew deep down Dan wasn't a violent man but I wondered what made this anger bubble to the surface?