Why Did It Have To Be You?

“I repeat myself. What are you doing here then? You obviously liked it” She motions toward my smiling face.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I was so mad at the time, but you sure can make him sound like prince charming.” We laugh.

“I just needed some time apart to think. Even if his whole wife situation worked out, I don’t know if we could be together. It’s all too complicated.”

Ally’s face turns serious, and she reaches out and grabs my hand. “Screw complicated. If you like him, and he likes you, then nothing else matters. You should be together.”

I pull her into a hug, and out of nowhere the tears just start flowing. “I do. I do want to be with him.”

Ally is crying now too. “Why are we even crying?” We both laugh. “I don’t even know, but I’m glad you’re my best friend.” Ally hugs me tighter. “I’m glad you’re my best friend too.” Then we both cry harder for a minute. After, we both laugh at how dumb we just were, but seriously I love this girl.

I still have to figure out the whole wife situation with Dean, but I already know tomorrow I’m going to go talk with him. I want to figure things out because I really do want to be with him.

Just then, the doorbell rings and Jessica walks in with more junk food and wine. Now that I have my mind made up I can just laugh and relax with the girls tonight. It’s exactly what I needed to clear my head.

Chapter 13

Dean

How did this go from one of the best days of my life to one of the worst? After Caroline left, I took off to Charlie’s bar. I figured Brian needed time to cool off, and I needed a drink. At least Brian stayed up in his room and didn’t storm out. If he was still just as mad, he probably would have left to crash at one of his friends’ places tonight.

I order a drink from the bartender and ask if Derek is going to be around tonight. I’ve seen her around here a couple times, but I can’t remember her name. She must recognize me enough to know I’m Derek’s friend though because she says. “Yeah, he should be here anytime now. He’s closing up tonight.” I nod and take a sip of my drink.

The burn of the alcohol feels good going down. Man, tonight was a disaster. First my wife, who’s not really my wife, ruined the perfect day with Caroline, and then I yelled at my son after I’m the one who crossed a line I shouldn’t have. God, I need to apologize to Brian. What kind of dad am I?

I couldn’t help myself though. It was like all I could see was Caroline. I needed her to understand the whole picture. I needed to protect her. God, the look on her face when Jenny introduced herself. It was like she lost all the trust she had placed in my hands. Like I completely betrayed her while she was still trying to get over what Brian did to her. I need to make this right. I never want to see that look on her face again.

I glance down at my phone for the millionth time tonight like somehow she will magically get my number and call to talk. I want to check on her, but I don’t have her number either. I don’t know where Ally lives, so it’s not like I can just stroll up and knock on the door. That probably wouldn’t be a good idea even if I did.

I’ve been half tempted to ask Brian for her number, but she knows how to reach me if she wants to talk and she hasn’t. I'm trying to give her space, but I don’t know how much longer I’m going to last before I break down and do something stupid.

As if he knew to come save me from my own thoughts, Derek strolls in the bar. “Well look what the cat dragged in?”

I laugh. “You know just because you own a bar, doesn’t mean you have to use all those bar cliches.”

He shrugs. “I like to be predictable. That way, when I am unpredictable, it’s even more dramatic.”

I laugh. "Is that why everyone calls you a drama queen?”

Derek rolls his eyes. “You have one breakdown in college and suddenly you’re labeled a drama queen for life.” We both laugh.

Derek has been my best friend since freshman year of college when we shared a dorm room. We both had absent fathers, and so we pretty much could get away with anything. We partied pretty hard the first couple of years, but junior year Derek got serious with his girlfriend. When she decided she wasn’t ready to settle down and wanted to date other people, Derek was a wreck for a week straight. We all gave him shit, but really I felt bad for the guy.

“I didn’t know Brian was coming in tonight. Why didn’t you say so?”

I look up at Derek. “What?”

He just nods over to the door. I look that way and sure enough Brian is walking in.

He sits on the stool next to me. “Hey.”

“Hey.” I say back. I’m not exactly sure how he feels about me right now, so I just say. “Let me buy you a drink.”

“Fuck yeah, you’re going to buy me a drink.” He gives the bartender his order.

Derek can see there is something going on, so he tells the bartender she can go home now and he’ll take over. “This looks like a situation that needs more alcohol.” He sets down 3 shots of whiskey in front of us, and we all down them.

Brian slams his shot glass back on the counter. “Yeah did you hear how my dad fucked my girlfriend?”