ALAN’S POV;
I pulled over the car at the garage, a deep huff escaped from my lips with as I leaned back on my seat.
It had been a long day, one I didn’t expect.
I alighted from the car and headed to my apartment. Punching in the pin in the lock, I recalled how Saraya looked at me at the Central Precinct.
Though she did nothing to be sorry for, she must have been awfully embarrassed. I would be too if I was in her shoes.
“What was I thinking?”
Opening the door, I dragged my feet inside and sank on the couch in the living room.
“Bridget? Bridget!” I called out but there was response. I was tired, famished and was craving some good food for the night.
At least, something good for the day. I rolled my eyes after some second of waiting for a response but didn’t get any.
“Bridget?” I called again as I rose to my feet and headed to the kitchen. That was when I remembered it was her day off from work.
“What a good day!” I scoffed with my face slightly marred with a frown. “Could today just be any better?” I grunted and walked further into the kitchen.
I searched through the shelves, hoping to find something to eat. Perhaps some leftover, but there was none as there were only fresh vegetables and beers in the fridge.
My gaze landed on the loaves of bread on the table in one corner of the kitchen and my eyes glittered.
“I should fix myself some toast.” I said and got to work.
In a couple of minutes, the toast was ready and served. I sat at the table a few minutes later, eating the toast while Saraya’s face flashed before my eyes, my mind clouded with the thought of her, though I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular.
I just wanted to be with her, to let her know I will always be there for her and how much I love her.
After some minutes, I was done eating and after washing the dishes, I retired to my room.
I unbuttoned my shirt and let it slip off my shoulders before sinking into the bed with a grunt.
“Hmm,” I moaned as my face felt the familiar softness of the pillow. “It feels so good to be home.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and dozed off. Tired and struggling to sleep, I tossed around the bed several times. I had barely slept for twenty minutes when I heard the beeping sounds of the lock pad.
My eyes groggily opened, staring at the door for a second as I tried to make sense of what was happening.
Someone was punching in the password into the lock.
My eyes shifted to my phone, looking at the time. It was a few minutes past ten.
“Who could it be by this time?” I wondered as I flung the sheet over my body and got out of bed.
Walking into the living room, Matilda walked in with her face beaming with a smile, holding a bottle of wine with a decorative bow tied to its neck.
“Care for some?” She smiled with the wine lifted.
My eyes blinked, confused and still tired, I could feel my muscles screaming for more rest.
“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, my voice as confused as my face.
The smile on her face disappeared, but she let herself further into the house, walking to the couch. “Why would you ask me such a question?” Her head was slightly tilted as her back was now turned to me.
With a grunt, I sat next to her on the couch.
“It’s just a question, Matilda. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it.” I said and threw my head against the couch, leaning in. “You just ruined my first twenty minutes of sleep in forty eight hours.”
She stick her tongue out. “Well, you deserve it.” She replied. “You’ve been ignoring my calls and messages.”
“Matilda…”
“I know what you’re about to say and I agree with you but we don’t have to make things awkward between us.” She cut in. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable but I really can’t lose you as my friend.”
She flashed me a smile. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me for bagging the Cartier contract?” Her lips pouted playfully with a slight frown that made her look even more adorable.
“Oh!” I snapped my finger. “I’m so sorry about that, I really thought I already congratulated you.”
She stared at me for a moment. “How could you tell me you forgot?” Her face was marred with a serious look, hurt flashed before her eyes.
That was just me; procrastinating or talking to people in my mind. I had congratulated her in my mind and forgot to do it in reality.
How do I explain myself to her?
“I had a long day, Matilda. I seriously hope you can understand.”
“Sure, I can.” The smile returned to her face and she picked up the bottle of wine she had placed on the table. “Nothing a drink can’t solve.”
I shook my head, “I’m not interested in drinking, I just need to get some rest.” I uttered in a voice barely above a whisper.
A grunt escaped my lips as I rose to my feet, looking down at her, our eyes met.
“First, you forgot to congratulate me, and now you’re going to make me drink alone?” She paused, but I had nothing to say in my defence.
“I’m just tired. We could do this some other time.” I responded.
“I’ll only forgive you for forgetting if you drink with me.” She whined and frowned her face like a cutie bunny about to be abandoned by its owner.
“Oh, don’t give me that face, Matilda.” I threw my hand in the air and sat opposite her. “Anything you want, my lady.”
She smiled as I teased. “I’ll go get us the glasses.”
I nodded as a response and watched her disappear into the kitchen. She re-emerged a few minutes late with the glasses while I popped the wine.
I poured us a drink, we clinked glasses and I gulped down the wine at a go. She did the same.
“This feel good,” she nodded, approvingly and emptied her glass. “Pour me another glass.”
“The wine? Of course, it does.” I seconded as I poured her another glass.
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” She muttered in a low voice, and I glanced at her with a smile tucked at the corner of my lips.
I chugged the wine. “What are you talking about?”
“Drinking with you feel so good.” She said, not sparing me a glance. “Let’s drink more.” she cheered in a loud voice.
“Matilda…”
“Consider that your punishment and you should be able I’m letting go easily over a few glasses of drinks.”
“Thank you.” I mouthed and grabbed the bottle of wine, about to pour another one when Matilda softly grabbed my hand against the bottle.
“Let me pour this round,” a grin played in her lips.
I slipped my hand underneath her, my brow raised as a signal for her to go ahead.
She poured us a drink, we clinked the glasses but took it slowly this time.
My cheeks tainted with a soft glow of red while I felt my head spinning slightly. I was beginning to get tipsy. Perhaps Matilda too.