Page 52 of Decker

Chapter Twenty-Three

Decker lookedup into the mirror behind the bar where he was nursing an untouched glass of bourbon. It had been two weeks since he’d packed his bags and flown home to the States, except it didn’t feel like home anymore. He’d visited his parents briefly, which had been a disaster as they lamented him for not visiting more. He understood it, they missed him but the way they were was part of the reason he’d stayed away.

After Susie and Milo had died, they’d been heartbroken. When Susie’s family had lashed out at him for taking her away from them and moving her to New York, blaming him for their deaths, they’d taken their side. He understood it was said in grief and had never held it against them, but it was why he’d stayed away.

“Drinking alone is for losers.”

Decker lifted his head and smiled in surprise seeing the face of his friend Scott Silverman. They’d been in the FBI together and now Scott was on an FBI serial killer task force in Texas.

He shook his friend’s hand and gave him a hearty backslap. “Scott, what brings you out here?”

“Oh, ya know, a little birdy told me my friend was here and hadn’t bothered to reach out, so I thought I’d come and kick his ass.”

“Drink?”

“Sure, whatever you’re drinking.”

“Well, I was nursing a bourbon but haven’t got the stomach for it, so how about a beer?”

“Sounds good.” Scott slid onto the stool next to him as Decker motioned to the bartender for two beers.

Taking the beer, he took a sip and sighed as it hit the spot. “I guess Jack sent you?”

“They became a little concerned when they didn’t hear from you.”

“I sent them a text to let them know I was okay.”

“Maybe but you know how a team as tight as yours is, they care. I know if I did the same, Condor and Hawk would be banging my door down.”

Decker sighed and looked at the man he hardly recognised in the mirror. He’d stopped wearing his suits since arriving, trying to shed the armour he’d thought had kept him safe and untouchable. “I know. I should’ve called.”

“What’s going on, Deck?”

He hadn’t stopped thinking about Savannah these last weeks, but Susie was on his mind a lot now too. What would she think about him moving on? Did she blame him? And why were his feelings Savannah so much more real? “I met a woman.”

“That’s great. About damn time.”

“I fucked it all up.”

“Ah, I see.” Scott took a drink and placed his glass on the bar. “Want to talk about it?”

“No point, I can’t fix it.”

“Have you tried?”

Decker swung towards his friend, his hand swiping through his hair in frustration. “Why? I have nothing to offer her.”

“Tell me about her.”

Scott was always so calm, so focused. It was no wonder he was such a good agent and had bagged himself a wonderful wife.

“She’s a neurosurgeon, top in her field and beautiful too. She has these big hazel eyes and dimples in her cheeks when she smiles, and she’s always smiling. God, it lights up the room with its brilliance. And she’s kind and so damn funny. She can’t cook for shit but makes a mean sandwich and buys these little cupcakes that she can decorate herself.”

“She sounds amazing. What’s the issue?”

“She loves me.”

Scott snorted into his beer. “Sorry, what? She loves you? I take it you don’t feel the same. Although this day drinking in a shithole bar suggests otherwise.”