AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wandered in and took the last stool at the end of the bar.
The briny smell of beer hit me first. Or maybe that was wishful thinking on my part.
Everything was fine. Until it wasn’t.
Sitting there, alone, raw from a week of emotional hell, I wanted to numb myself.
And all the reasons why I shouldn’t have a drink faded into the background like white noise around me.
I could order a double gin and tonic and let it burn away the ache that had lodged in my chest for days.
It’s one drink. It’ll help me relax.
I watched the bartender, a middle-aged guy, as he mixed drinks and poured pints. It was all so normal, so easy.
Another person sidled up to the bar, sat down, and ordered a beer.
There was no problem. I could do the same.
It’s just one drink.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, a smile on his weathered face. “All of our wines are half-price during happy hour.”
Happy sounded perfect right about now.
My mind was kinetic, haunted by the memories of this past week and unwelcome flashbacks of my mom’s funeral. The aftermath. The endless cycle of booze and hangovers, the headaches, the everything-ached.
“I’m not sure yet.”
He nodded. “Take your time.”
My hand was shaking as I reached in my pocket for my phone.
I tapped the first name in my contact list and waited.
“Hey baby, are you still at your dad’s or are you at the airport?” Tate answered.
“I’m at the airport,” I whispered. “My flight’s leaving on time for a change.”
“That’s good. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’m sitting at a bar,” I blurted out.
I heard Tate’s sharp inhale on the other end of the line.
“Have you been?—”
“I want to. I mean, it would be one drink. I could do that, right?”
Silence followed my words. Dead air hit my lungs. I couldn’t breathe.
This wasn’t my proudest moment and I hated myself for it.
“I can’t speak for you,” Tate finally responded. “You have to make that decision for yourself.”
“What the hell kind of an answer is that?” I snapped.
“I can’t control what you do, Ree. And it works both ways. Sobriety is a choice. One we make every fucking day.”
