The Wind Beneath Our Wings

Chapter 3

"Hey Princess"

The soft smile that made its way onto Joaquin's face when he realized that I was standing on the doorstep of his room made my heart sink in my chest.

For a couple of seconds, I was left speechless.

He was laying on the sofa that was placed against the wall. His back placed against the armchair, with both his feet spread before him.

My eyes wandered to the coffee table that was placed in front of the sofa. A shiver instantly ran through my spine the minute I noticed that a small hip flask was placed on it.

Alcohol was keeping him company.

Sitting up straight, Joaquin leaned towards it and took it into his hand. He quickly took a sip out of it before placing it back on the table.

He looked different.

He hadn't bothered to comb his hair. They were as messy as they had been during the scene he had previously shot with Reese, if not messier.

His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses.

"Come in", Joaquin gave me another small smile, as he patted a spot near him on the sofa.

"Hey Rockstar", I managed to smile back at him. "How are you feeling?"

"On top of the world ", he chuckled, flashing me a sad smile.

"That was a stupid question", I admitted, suddenly realizing that it indeed made no sense. "I'm sorry"

"Don't be...", he gave me another smile, tainted with the same sadness. "What are you having here?", he slightly raised his eyebrows.

"Some... Some rubbing alcohol", came my hesitant answer. "I thought you may need it for your hand"

"Right now, what I need is a different kind of alcohol"

A wave of sadness instantly ran through my body.

I instructed my eyes not to glance at the hip flask on the coffee table.

I could understand that Joaquin was an occasional drinker.

But I had no idea that the pain he felt would be so deep that it would lead him to be intoxicated on sets.

Come here, baby", he flashed me a disarming smile.

His voice sounded as steady as it usually was.
And yet, there was something wrong in the way he had spoken them

Had he been sober, he wouldn't have called me baby.

Again, he patted a spot on the sofa near him.

Despite the pang of sadness that I felt, I managed to give him a soft smile.

"You're intoxicated, Joaq"

"I'm not", he frowned at me.

I made my way towards him. I placed the bottle of rubbing alcohol and the cotton gauzes I was holding in my hand on the coffee table - again, struggling not to glance at the flask, before I sat down on the sofa, next to Joaquin.

"Actually, you're right, Princess", he suddenly started, taking me by surprise.

"You are intoxicating me"

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"All right, lover boy"

I had hoped to see a smile crack on his lips.

But his features had darkened.

I took Joaquin's injured hand into mine and took a close look at it.