Come Back for You

“In the kitchen, babe!” Derrick hollers from further in the house and I kick my shoes off before going in search of him. He is at the stove stirring something that smells incredible. He smiles huge when he sees me, pulling me to him for a kiss and I happily oblige.

Derrick Jensen and I have been seeing each other for about five months. He was a year older than me in school, though we didn’t really run in the same circles, so we were never close. He’s on the Monroeville P.D. so his shifts are all over the places, but he used to come into the bar a lot after he got off. Talking led to flirting and flirting led to a first date, which led to us hanging out casually. Hanging out casually eventually turned into more and we’ve fallen into an easy pattern of being together. He’s handsome and so sweet, plus he treats me really well.

“That smells good,” I lean over and peek at the sauce on the stove. I should be at the bar finishing the beer order, but I couldn’t be in the same space as Dean a minute longer. He can figure it out.

I heave out a sigh and Derrick looks at me, his blue eyes searching mine.“What’s wrong?”

“Fred’s sellin’ the bar,” I say, trailing off.

“Okay. And…. What? Are you out of a job?”

“Not exactly.” I grab two beers out of the fridge, handing one to Derrick before popping the top on mine and taking a drink. “It’s Dean. He bought the bar.” Surprise passes over his face. Derrick knows about Dean and me from back in the day, just like most everyone else in town. The tragic love story of the girl who got knocked up and the boy who fled town.

“So, what happens now?” He asks, plating our food before handing me mine and we make our way to the table. Derrick’s brick townhouse was built in the 1920’s. It has a parlor room that he uses as a dining room, with a large six-person farmhouse table. I choose the seat next to him and move my food around my plate, not actually eating any of it.

“Well, Dean had it written into the terms of the contract that I have to stay on for a year or the deal’s no good. If I don’t stay, he won’t buy.” Derrick sighs, chewing on the information as we eat silently for a few minutes.

“Do you think you can handle working for him?” He asks and I’m wondering the same thing. Can I? I’m not even sure at this point.

“It’s not really negotiable.”

“It is Whitley. You could say no. Leave the bar, find something different.”

I shake my head. “I couldn’t do that to Fred. He’s been so good to me; I owe it to him.”

“You know I’ll support you in whatever you do,” he says, and I give him a small smile.

“I know, and I appreciate it.” We finish our dinner, rinsing our plates and heading into the living room to watch T.V.

Derrick and I have yet to have sex. It’s not that I haven’t been with anyone since Dean, because I have. Mostly out of towners, guys I meet at the bar. Nothing that lasts more than a few nights. Derrick and I have fooled around. A lot. But it hasn’t evolved into more than that.

Tonight is much of the same. We make out for a while, him using his fingers to get me off and me using my mouth. We move to his bed, where we fall asleep holding each other. Only, it takes me a lot longer to fall asleep, my mind filled with thoughts of a certain ex-boyfriend.

Dean

Man, this bar is a pit. I had no idea when I bought it that it would be in so much debt. Tossing my pen on my desk I snag my glass of whiskey and take a sip, looking around the office. There are little touches here and there of Whitley. A purple pen, her favorite color, lays on the desk next to a small pocket calendar. A photo on the wall of her and Fred at a Christmas party. A purple scarf hanging on the coat rack. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I recline in the chair.

I knew I would be walking into the firing squad, coming back. Buying the bar. Trying to get my girl back. I just didn’t know the bar would be hemorrhaging money and the girl wouldn’t even be able to be in the same fuckin’ room as me. There’s a knock on the office door and it opens before I can say anything.

“Crawford James,” I call out and stand, moving across the room and pulling him into a man hug. It’s been about seven months since I saw him last, crashed at his place the last time I was in town for the night.

“Good to see you.” He says, helping himself to a glass of whiskey and looking around the office. “Did you already run her off?” He asks, raising his eyebrows at me. He knows why I’m back in town. We’ve always kept in touch, even after all these years. I come back to Monroeville every year on Everly’s birthday and he always gives me a couch to crash on for the night or two I’m in town.

“She stormed out before I could even talk to her,” I say, and he nods his head.

“Sounds about right. Saw her car at Derricks,” he says with a cheeky grin,

just adding salt to the wound. Derrick Jensen. I didn’t expect Whitley to not have boyfriends, just didn’t bank on that boyfriend being Derrick. He’s a good guy. We were never close but got along well enough if we ever hung out. From what I’ve gathered they haven’t been together long, so I won’t feel too bad when I break ‘em up. Ford drains his whiskey glass and sits it on the desk.

“Just stopped in to say hey and let you know that Lex can’t wait to meet you.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting the woman that has you all tied up in knots,” he grins and heads towards the door.

“Good luck,” he throws over his shoulder on the way out. I’ll need all the luck I can get.

Whitley

The aroma of coffee pulls me from my slumber. Stretching my limbs, I roll to my back, letting myself wake up slowly. Derrick is already gone for the day; he usually has to be at the station by seven. Most days I have only been asleep for a few hours when he’s waking up. I may have gotten more sleep than usual, but I don't feel rested at all. I tossed and turned all night, my mind never shutting off. Memories of me and Dean keeping me up. Memories of us as teens, young and in love. Memories of us, planning and prepping for our baby. A sigh escapes me as I drag myself out of bed and do what I need to in the bathroom. I have a hair appointment at eleven at the salon here in town, so I need to get my butt in gear.