Chapter 23
Derek
Work was shit! The same crap over and over and over again. The same tired women sat in the booth in the back, gossiping and bitching while they sipped their overpriced cocktails. Around them men in suits prowled around, eyeing everything in a short skirt or low cut top. Some days I hated my job. Catching Mick the bartender’s eye, I nod, and make my way towards the bar. By the time I navigate my way across the mostly deserted dance floor, he already has an ice water with lemon waiting for me.
“Thanks,” I acknowledge, taking a long swallow.
“It’s really slow tonight.”
“Yeah.”
“Everything okay, man? You look like you’d rather that water was a beer.”
I chuckled. Mick was right. I’d kill for a beer right about now. Somehow my day had gone to shit after what could possibly have been the best way to wake up. I doubted even a beer would turn it around.
“Yeah, just a long day, that’s all.”
Mick nodded knowingly. We weren’t close, but we’d worked together since I’d arrived, and Mick was one of the people I’d clicked with straight away. Maybe it was the fact that we were so much older than the others, or maybe we just couldn’t deal with the bullshit that went on around us.
“Why don’t you take a break? Go grab some dinner?”
I looked around. Nothing was going on. “Sounds good.”
Sliding off the stool, I headed out the door. The moment I stepped out into the fresh air I felt a little more alive. It was just after nine, not too late to text. Digging my phone from my pocket, I sent a text to Mia. I’m not sure what possessed me to, but I did it anyway.
Derek: Hey Tink.
I walked down the block and stepped into the local kebab place and ordered before slipping into a booth with red plastic seats. It was one of those sleazy late night kebab shops that you wouldn’t take a date to, but actually had really good food. Before I knew it my lamb kebab and chips were placed in front of me, and my phone buzzed.
Mia: Hey yourself.
I’d like to pretend I played it cool and her reply didn’t make me smile, but it would be bullshit. Her simple words did affect me. More than even I thought they would.
Derek: What’d you get up to today?
Mia: Nothing much. You?
Derek: Running around. Work.
Mia: Aren’t you at work now?
Derek: Yep.
Mia: Should you be texting me?
Derek: Nope.
Mia: But you are?
Derek: I am.
Mia: I’m glad.
Taking a huge bite of my kebab, I put the phone down and focused on my dinner. We hadn’t said anything…well, nothing of any substance, but it just made everything feel better. Today may have started in the best possible way but it had gone downhill quickly. I’d woken up with Tinkerbell curled around me like a vine. Sure, I was squashed on the edge of the bed, I had no room and I was way too hot, but I wasn’t complaining. Not one little bit.
Recalling the feeling almost made the rest of the day fade away. Almost. Coming home, I tossed my keys on the bench and caught the look Zoe was giving me. It was full of surprise and curiosity, but she remained stoically silent, instead sliding a mug of coffee towards me. I expected the conversation to be awkward, yet Zoe surprised me. Instead of asking where I’d been or who I was with, she just kept up the conversation as if I’d stumbled down the stairs rather than through the front door.
After she’d headed off to the gym, I trudged wearily towards the bathroom. I hated that I was washing away the scent of Mia that clung to my skin, and a huge part of me was already wondering when I’d be able to get it back. I didn’t have time to worry too much. I had bigger problems.
