Page 12 of His Christmas Gift

AUTUMN

Icouldn’t catch a break.

Of course, Dean and Ethan would somehow be here at the bar I decided to step into. After getting off the phone with my mother and taking a walk to clear my head, I figured that the best way to get the impending doom of the upcoming holiday off my mind was to have a drink. Or a few. This was supposed to be my escape from Dean too, but it looked like that wasn't happening.

Part of me wanted to turn around and rush out of the bar, but I had already been spotted by Ethan and Dean. I didn’t want them to think I was running from them, even if I wanted to. I just couldn’t deal with them right now. I was actually loathing Christmas, which was sad. It was supposed to be a happy time of year, but it wasn’t anymore.

I sat on the other end of the bar away from them, nodding to the bartender as he came up to me. I wanted something strong, but I didn’t want to get too carried away tonight. I just needed something to take the edge off so that I could fall asleep and not listen to my thoughts all night.

“Vodka cranberry,” I told him before drawing my fingers through my hair, trying everything in my power not to look to the left toward Dean. I shouldn’t want to glance his way, but there was a magnetic pull in his direction that was so hard to ignore.

Unable to stop myself, I turned my head to sneak a quick look down the bar, catching his eyes as he glanced over at me. Our eyes clashed for a moment. A moment too long. I quickly looked away, feeling my face warm up. I didn’t want to be caught doing that, but he was looking at me too. Why did we keep finding ourselves in these tense moments?

When my drink was placed in front of me, I sipped on it generously, enjoying the bold bite of the vodka. A few of these would definitely calm me down and make me forget about today. I only managed to get halfway through my drink when I felt someone loom behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, prompting me to glance over my shoulder as Dean sat on the barstool next to me.

“What a coincidence,” he said with a coy smile.

Like usual, he had my heart hammering heavily in my chest. That smile of his annoyed me and excited me at the same time. Part of me wanted to say something smart to him, but I found myself locking up. I was so emotionally and mentally drained after today. He caught me in a vulnerable moment, and I knew that ignoring him was for the best. I was stabler earlier and still almost kissed him.

I shifted my eyes away from him and sipped on my drink instead. His gaze was heavy on me, and my composure threatened to crack under his eyes. I had to get out from under them. I grabbed my drink and slid off the barstool, moving to sit at a small table in the corner of the bar away from him.

I watched him walk back to his seat near Ethan, who glanced over in my direction briefly. I lowered my eyes and tried to relax in my own space, but it was hard when I had a full view of Dean. As I went through my first and second drinks, I watched Dean and Ethan joke around and talk.

They had always been close friends, an inseparable pair. I found myself enjoying Dean’s deep laugh and how it seemed to fill the entire bar. He looked good with his tie loosened and a few buttons undone on his shirt. The sight made me swallow hard. Why did he have to look so good?

The alcohol started to take effect, making me feel warm and tingly all over. Maybe tonight wasn’t as bad as it could be. I slipped into the feeling, my eyes lazily trailing over Dean every so often. Then, my peace shattered when I watched two women, a blonde and a brunette, saunter up to Dean and Ethan.

The blonde perched her manicured hand on Dean’s shoulder as the brunette leaned close to Ethan. She said something to Dean that made him chuckle and lean closer to her.

I gritted my teeth as I watched her feel all up on him. Dean laughing at whatever she said didn’t make me feel any happier. I couldn’t help but wonder what was so funny. I silently fumed in the corner as the women shamelessly flirted with Dean and Ethan. I didn’t care about the brunette flirting with Ethan, but I did care about how touchy the blonde was with Dean.

It shouldn’t bother me. I knew it shouldn’t, but it did for some reason. They literally sauntered up to Dean and Ethan, looking ready to drag them home. It seemed like Dean was interested too since he kept smiling and chuckling. This felt like a nightmare.

The women lingered around for a good thirty minutes before finally leaving. After another fifteen minutes, Ethan left too, and it almost felt like it was just me and Dean left in the bar. A lot of the other patrons had already left.

I rubbed my face with a light groan, feeling my head spin slightly. I drank way too much, and telling from the way Dean was swaying slightly on his barstool, he drank too much too. I should’ve just left when I saw that Dean was here. Instead, I subjected myself to torture. I was tired of finding myself in situations that I didn’t want to be in.

“I think it’s about time for you to go home.”

I pulled my hand away from my eyes to see Dean standing in front of my table. He looked like he was in a rough state as he dragged his hand through his hair.

“You go home,” I muttered. I placed my hand on the edge of the table, pushing down to start to stand, but it felt like the world tilted beneath me. I stumbled, feeling Dean reach out to grab my arm and keep me steady.

Dean helped me out of my seat and around my table, keeping his hand on my arm.

“I have a guy that drives me around sometimes. I’ll call him so we can get home safe,” he told me as he fished his phone out of his pocket with his free hand.

I shook my head, not wanting him to see me like this. I couldn’t believe I let myself get so out of control and drink so much. I could hardly navigate my way around the bar. I figured I could just flag down a cab and try not to pass out in the backseat of it.

“I can get home myself,” I mumbled.

“Stop being so stubborn. My driver will take you home,” Dean told me, giving me a pointed look.

I guessed it was a free ride. It was hard to say no when he was offering to do me a favor. I was certainly in no state to be walking through the city to get back to my place.

“Fine,” I said, feeling his fingers slip off my arm. My skin felt warm where his hand was. “Of course, you have a driver.”

“I don’t always want to drive,” Dean replied as he stood a foot away from me.

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