Thirty-One         

        Work was a madhouse when I walked in. It didn’t matter than it was still early. This place was always teeming with people. I tried not to think of it as a bad omen, just enviable. This place was known for the loose waitresses.

        I shook my head in disgust and headed for the bar where Conor stood taking orders and making them as fast as he could. He smiled when I rounded the bar.

        “Hot damn. I might actually get some help around here.” His texas accent was thick and all the girls swooned.

        “Been that kind of night, huh?” I chuckled.

        “Sugar, it’s always that kind of night.” He gave me a wink, and I went to work.

        It everyone's surprised I picked up bartending pretty quickly and when Conor and I were working together we ran like a well-oiled machine. Bartending was the only good things about this place. The waitresses sucked, and the patrons were mouthy.

        “Whiskey neat,” someone shouted. The English accent caressed the words and had my head snapping up. Heated eyes bore into me and knocked the breath out of me. “Hello, luv.”

        “What are you doing here?” I breathed.

        “I came for a drink.” His face was all innocence, and I narrowed my eyes.

        “Conor will have to get you. I’m busy.” I wasn’t but I didn’t want him at my end of the bar.

        “I can wait.” Oh, I’d make him wait all right.

        I continued to take orders from the surrounding people, ignoring him. When a seat because available, he took it and waited patiently for when I could get to him. My nerves were on end as he watched me work. It made me cautious.

        “Who’s the stalker?” Conor whispered in my ear as he passed.

        “My ex,” I grumbled shooting a look to Jensen.

        “Problem?” Conor asked, arching an eyebrow.

        All I had to do was say the word and Conor would have him tossed out. Though I knew Jensen wouldn’t be so easily removed. I wasn’t too keen on making a scene so I shook my head.

        “No. He’s fine.” I went to move around Conor, but he pulled me closer his hand resting above my ass. It was my turn to arch an eyebrow at my friend.

        “Just giving him something to think about,” he breathed in my ear. A giggled escaped me and I leaned into him more.

        This was why I liked Conor. He always had our backs no matter the situation. I slapped his ass and winked at him before turning back to my station. I sneaked a peek at Jensen and couldn’t suppress the grin when I noticed him glaring at Conor. I sighed and made his drink just as the last call bell rang.

        “It’s on the house,” I said, sliding it in front of him. When I made to move away he reached out and grabbed my wrist. “Excuse you!” I tugged on my hand but he didn’t release me.

        “We need to talk,” he demanded and I rolled my eyes.

        “No, we really don’t.” His hold wasn’t tight, and he rubbed a gentle thumb over my throbbing pulse. The movement caused goosebumps to break out across my skin.

        “Please, luv.” God, why did he have to sound so sad? It was hard enough dealing with my own sadness. I couldn’t cross that bridge.

        “Jensen,” I sighed. “I’m at work. I have to go. Maybe I’ll see you around.” I hoped I wouldn’t. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. The old wounds were gaping now and I was sure I would bleed out.

        “Freya…” My name was a curse on his lips.

        With all the willpower I had left, I pulled out of his grasp and got back to work. I surprised myself with the level of calm I felt but I couldn’t help but think of the calm before the storm. I had a feeling later would be awful.

        Conor walked me to my car after work and he seemed to be in an unusually good mood. I couldn’t help but wonder why.

        “You’re awfully chipper tonight,” I noted as we came to a stop beside my car.

        “Got myself a hot date,” he informed me.

        “That’s awesome! I hope you have a great time.” I grinned at him, but his face fell a little. “What?”

        “Just wonderin’ when you’re gonna give me the time of day? I know you just got out of somethin’. June told me, but whenever you’re ready to get back in it, come find me.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise.  

        “That’s really sweet, Conor, but I’m afraid that will be a long wait,” I said, once I recovered.

He didn’t seem bothered by my rejection.

        “Friendzoned,” he chuckled. “For now.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and gave me a light squeeze. “I’ll see you later, sugar.”

        “Later.” I watched as he headed to his car and took the time to appreciate him. He really was a good guy and maybe if my heart was ever mended I might give him a shot.

        Just as I was about to step into the shower, there was a banging on my door. My shoulders hung and I stared longingly at the warm, inviting spray, contemplating on just ignoring whoever was out there. The banging sounded again and sounded louder. I cursed whoever was on the other side.

        “Who is it?” I called, coming to a stop in front of the door.

        “It’s Derek, let me in,” he grunted.

        I pulled the lock and opened the door to find Derek supporting a very drunk Jensen on the other side.

        “Um, what are you doing?”

        Jensen’s head rolled to the side and he mumbled something that sounded like “bloody talk to you”. My eyes widened on Derek and he rolled his eyes. He pushed past me and into my apartment, hauling Jensen with him. When he was inside I shut the door and turned to face them.

        Derek looked to me in confusion. “Where’s your couch?”

        “I don’t have one.”

        “Then where can I put him?” He shifted uncomfortably.

        “Back in your car,” I deadpanned. “He’s not staying.”

        “Look Freya, he insisted on coming here. He didn’t care how either. By the time I caught up with him he was walking down the highway. In the wrong direction. I had to call Saw to get your address. Please don’t make me cart him back down them stairs. Just let him sleep it off here and I’ll come back in the morning to collect him.”

        “I don’t know, Derek. That doesn't sound like a good idea,” I said, unsure. His eyes pleased with me and I groaned. “Fine! Put him in my bed.”

        He hauled Jensen across the room to my bed. I moved ahead of him and pulled back the covers, dragging the comforter and a pillow off, holding them in my arms. They were essential for the pallet I would make later.

        Derek grunted as he placed Jensen onto my bed. Lucky for him it was low to the ground. Derek lost his grip and dropped him and Jensen’s head bounced off the mattress. He didn't even wake up. He just rolled to his side and hugged a pillow to his chest.

        I turned to frown at Derek. “I should make you stay and take care of him while I go to your house and get a good night's sleep. It would serve you right for bringing him here.”

        He gave me a sheepish smile. “Come on, Freya. You know I had to help a brother out.” His smile turned serious and he walked over to me and wrapped me in a hug. “How’ve you been?”

        “Like shit. If you can’t tell.”

        “I can tell,” he said pulling back. “But I figured it would be rude to say so.”

        “Jerk,” I chuckled, but hugged him tighter.

        “I worry about you two. He’s not doing much better, babe.” My eyes flickered to Jensen, then back up to Derek.

        “He did this to us.” I frowned.

        “Did he though? We’ve all talked to him. He is adamant he was never at a bar or with other women. He would have at least told one of us the truth. But my man was never one for games. I believe him, Freya. We all do.”

        I leaned into him for support. I was just so tired. Tired of feeling so miserable and trying to defend my reasons for doing all of this. It sucked being the only who had seen those pictures. I was starting to second guess everything. Maybe I was to rash in my decisions.

        With a sigh, I pulled away, running a hand through my hair, trying to ignore the tightening in my chest. I turned on my heel and headed for the living room area to make my pallet.

        “You know, Freya. One day he will get tired of waiting for you to believe him. Are you sure whatever you think he did will be worth it?”

        That was a fantastic question.

        “I don’t know,” I whispered. I dropped my comforter and pillow to the floor but didn't move to make a pallet. Instead, I turned back to face Derek. “I have a class at eight. Be here to get him by seven-thirty.”

        “Sure thing, Frey.” He reached out and pulled me back into his hulking body. “It’ll work out, girl. I’ve never met two better who belonged together.”

Tears clouded my vision, and I gave a watery chuckle. “You’re one hell of a wing man.”

He shrugged. “He would do the same for me.”

        My head was a mess and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do anymore. Derek gave me so much think about and I wanted more than anything to just forgive and forget. But I wasn’t sure if it would be that easy.

        What if I was wrong? What if Jensen was telling the truth and somehow those pictures were a misunderstanding? Could I get past this and move on? Would he forgive me for accusing him of something so awful? There were some many questions that needed answers and they terrified me.

        I frowned down at the pile on the floor and cursed the drunken idiot on my bed. I dreaded the coming morning, and I had a feeling Jensen would be a pain to get rid of. It’s a good thing I was used to lack of sleep because there wasn’t any hope of getting any tonight.

        My shower was quick and once I was dried off and dressed, I tiptoed into my room to check on Jensen. He had kicked off his shoes and was now curled into a ball in the middle of my bed. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and snuggle with him. God, how I longed for his warm embrace.

        I backed away, afraid that I might give in and crawl into bed with him. Hurrying to the living room I made my pallet and crawled in. This was going to be a long, sleepless night.

        “Jensen. Jensen! Wake up! Derek is here to take you home.” I shook him roughly until his eyes fluttered open.

        “Freya?” He groaned, blinking up at me.

        “Get up. You’re making me late for class.” I turned on my heel and went to the living room to where Derek waited. “He’s up.”

        As I slung my bag over my shoulder, sleeping beauty stumbled over to us. His red streaked eyes searching until he found me, but before he could speak I held out a cup of water and tylenol.

        “I don’t have time right now. I’m late for class as it is.” Pulling open the door, I shot Derek a meaningful look.

        He walked over and slung an arm around me. “I’ll catch you later. We should do lunch and catch up.”

        “I’d love too.” I smiled up at him, then watched as he left.

        “Freya, I have to talk to you,” Jensen croaked.

        “Then you shouldn’t have came over drunk, hm.” I motioned for him to leave. My heart was pounding, and it felt like it might break out of my chest.

        Jensen gave me a sad look, then walked out the door. My breath caught when he turned back and looked at me. My heart couldn’t keep going at this rate. I couldn’t survive it and from the looks of things Jensen wouldn’t either.