“I don’t have a home,” I snapped as a stomped past him, flicking off the light and leaving him standing alone in a dark, empty, lifeless bedroom.
As soon as I found myself in the kitchen, I grabbed the bottle of bourbon from the cupboard and poured a healthy swig into the closest thing I could find. I was holding my shit together. Barely. It took everything I had to pour it into the nearest coffee mug rather than drink straight from the bottle. Tossing my head back, I swallowed it down, feeling the burn all the way down my throat. It was exactly what I needed. What I craved. The burn pulled my focus away from the stabbing feeling that was piercing my broken heart.
“Tomorrow night. Dinner at our place. Be there at seven.”
“But…”
“No, Nate. No buts about it. Be there or else I’ll send Mia over to kick your sorry ass.”
“She wouldn’t. She couldn’t…”
“Don’t underestimate my girl. She’s a firecracker and she’d have no issues at all pulling your head out of your ass.”
I unscrewed the cap on the bourbon and refilled my cup. I needed sleep. Tomorrow was going to be hard as hell, harder than any day I’d ever endured. I knew the only way I was getting any rest at all would be to pass out. Again.
“We’ll see.”
I couldn’t bring myself to promise him I’d be there. I knew there was a better than certain chance I wouldn’t show. The stubborn look on Derek’s face though, told me everything I needed to know. He wasn’t going to listen. Not now.
He took a final swig from his beer before pouring the rest down the sink. He tossed the bottle in the bin with a clatter before he headed for the door. As he pulled it open, a gust of frigid air blasted through the doors. A shiver caressed my skin.
“Tomorrow.” He nodded as he heaved the door shut behind him.
Tossing my bourbon back, I closed my eyes and let the exhaustion flood my body. One shot, then another, and I switched the light off before stumbling down the hallway towards my bedroom. My bed was calling.
