A Quiet Kismet

Chapter Eleven

AGE 26

I looked away from Derek and stared at my bedroom door. It was getting late, and the fact that I had little to no sleep in the past three days was really getting to me. That's why I thought I felt something. It was my lack of sleep, I was just getting delirious. "I should get to bed and get out of your hair." I said getting up, grabbing Mr.Berry

Derek nodded, standing up too. "I feel kind of guilty for stealing your room." He laughed airily, tugging his ear.

I waved him off and tried not to think about how cute he still looked when he got uncomfortable. "Don't be. This was my Mom's doing, not yours." I said opening the door.

"For what it's worth," He said before I closed the door, "I think she really does care for you. Not in that obligatory way either."

I forced a smile and shrugged. "Goodnight shithead."

"Goodnight she-devil."

With the door closed, I quietly made my way towards the couch. Luckily Mom had already put out extra clothes, pillows, and a blanket out for me. I grabbed the clothes and changed quickly and realized I was wearing a pair of Jorge's old clothes.

I looked at the big tshirt and gym shorts that drowned me. It was not cute in the least, if anything I looked like a child who got into their fathers gym clothes. "Thanks Mom." I muttered sardonically. If I knew my mother, and I did, she chose the most unflattering clothes for me.

Oh well, I could be wearing daisy dukes and a shell bra and I'd still go to sleep comfortably in it. When I got out I noticed Ruby and Leo coming in. They were both tired and honestly, I think this day was draining for just about everyone.

"Millie, let's go out for drinks!" Ruby said, apparently not as sleepy as I thought.

"Yeah Ruby and I were gonna go out before closing time and just unwind. We're gonna go ask Derek, and since you're here we thought you'd want to go too?" Leo explained and though I was tired, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to interrogate my new brother in law.

I didn't know much about Leo and that scared me. My baby sister was promising her life away to a man that I didn't know from Adam. What was he like when he was happy, mad, sad? Did he know how to comfort Jules when she was sad? Did he know about Jules birthday tradition that no one was allowed to wish her a happy birthday until 8:17 a.m, because that was when she was born. Did he laugh at all her jokes, did she laugh at all of his? I didn't know a single thing about him and now this stranger was joining my family. He was going to join my family at thanksgiving dinners, open presents with us on Christmas, and be at our children's christening. He was going to be a father to my future nieces and nephews.

And I didn't know a damn thing about him.

So yes, I know I needed sleep or I was going to start hallucinating. But, when else would I have this opportunity before the wedding?

"Yeah, why the hell not?" I said forcing a smile through my tiresome muscles. "Let me go change again." I said,

"We're gonna go ask Derek, we'll see you in the car." Ruby said.

I begrudgingly got dressed again and slipped out of the bathroom. I heard the rumble of Leo's truck outside and quickly grabbed my purse and went out. When I clambered in the backseat, I noticed that Derek had joined us after all.

"I thought you were going to sleep?" He said teasingly from the front seat.

I shrugged. "After today, I need a drink."

"Here-here!" Leo cried out.

***

Alcohol had an opposite effect on Ruby than what weed did. While weed made him sluggish and chill. Liquor fired him up like the energizer bunny. It was actually both equal parts entertaining and terrifying.