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“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what his problem is.” I look at Steve sincerely as he just gives me a curt nod.
“I think you may need to take care of this,” he says. But it’s more of a demand than a suggestion.
“I can cover your shift tonight, babe. I don’t have plans for the first time ever. I’m good to stay if you want to…take out the trash,” she says that last part in a sarcastic whisper and I can’t help but join her in a silent giggle.
“You sure?” I look over at Asher, almost feeling as though I’ve got a small child who needs to be put into timeout, seeing him sway from side to side. But I know most children behave better than this; I’m so embarrassed that this is the representation of me that some of my fellow employees are witnessing.
“I’ve got you, girl. You did me a solid a few weeks ago. Call this even. Just please, don’t letittouch you.” She shakes her hands off to get rid of the invisible germs. “Cooties and all.” Barbie glides over to the other side of the bar to fill a man’s drink back up.
So she’s a tad immature for her age, or maybe she just likes to feign immaturity for the sake of humor, she’s still a decent person for helping me out.
“Thank you,” I holler at her before she gets too far.
I feel awful knowing that this is something I have to do, giving up a shift because my loser ex decided to piss all over my parade.
“Come on.” I pick Asher up out of his seat; he reeks of alcohol. I wrap his arms around my shoulder, shuddering at the contact but I need to get him out of here. How is that all of sudden, he’s become my problem again?
We walk out of the bar and toward my car.
“I’ve missed you so much, Dakota,” he says as we reach my Jeep. I open up the backseat door, I don’t want him in the front seat in case he pukes. But I need to take him to a hotel or something.
“Where are you staying?” I ask, avoiding anything else he’s saying.
“With you, boo.” He leans against the frame of the Jeep and smiles a drunken smile at me.
“No. You arenotstaying with me,” I say stiffly.
“I got nowhere else to go.” He slumps down a little more, and my anxiety kicks up. I hate him. Why did he think this was okay?
I instantly wonder about how all of this might look to Nolan. I haven’t seen him since yesterday and I would hate to have to figure out a way to explain this, knowing that I can’t.
The air is getting colder as the darkness falls deeper into a shade of almost black.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” The annoyance rolls off my tongue like word vomit, as I slide my palm down my face.
I know this isn’t going to go the way I want it to, and it’s better if I wait till he’s sobered to demand any answers from him. He starts to slide down the car to the floor but I sturdy him up and instruct him into the back seat. I reach in the back for a bottle of water and practically shove it down his throat before making my way to the driver’s side.
I jump in and before I can even get my car started, I hear his light snores. I look back at this mess of a man. My ex-fiancé.
I buckle my seatbelt and start the car. I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I have to take him back to my place.
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?
Asher was able to walk his way up the stairs to my apartment himself. He might have tripped once or twice…okay, I assisted with that last one but he deserved it.
It’s nearing nine pm and I’m exhausted. I unlock my front door and motion him to the couch.
We haven’t said anything since he woke up in the car. And I really don’t know what there is to say.
“Why are you here, Asher?” I decide to start, trying to get it over with as I drop my thing at the entry table.
“Can I have more water?” he asks, lowering himself to the couch.
I make my way to my kitchen and fill up a cup of water. I hate that this is my life right now. This is pathetic.
He sucks down the water like he’s dying of hydration, and he probably is considering how long he’s been drinking. I roll my eyes at him and take the cup from his hands when he’s done. He doesn’t even look at me. He just sits there; his pitiful self, wallowing in his drunken phase.
Suddenly, I get a text message. I go for my phone and see that it’s Barbie.
