“I’m sorry. Do you want me to go back inside so you can open the door?” He grins and shakes his head, closing my car door and getting in the driver’s seat.
“So where are we going?” I ask as he navigates the streets outside of Monroeville.
“There’s a new place in Frisco I’ve been wanting to take you to, so I figured we’d start there. It’s supposed to have some of the best barbecue in the area.” I do love me some good barbecue. We make small talk on the drive over, him asking about the bar, me asking about his caseload. The drive to Frisco doesn’t take long, maybe twenty minutes. Once we find parking, we make the trek from the parking lot to the restaurant. The hostess shows us to our table and leaves with the promise that our waitress will be by soon.
“This place is adorable,” I comment, taking in the decor. It’s a super quirky barbecue joint. There are checkered table covers on all the tables, pig decor hanging on the walls, and a cowbell hanging beside the register.
“I should have taken you somewhere fancier, huh?” Derrick asks, gripping his neck and looking anxious. I reach out and touch his hand.
“When have you ever known me to be fancy? This is perfect, honey. Thank you.”
He laughs a little, because we both know I’m not fancy at all, and we make small talk until the waitress takes our orders. It’s strained and awkward, which is really the way things have been since Dean showed up in town. I’m trying to make this work because Derrick is an incredible man and any woman would be lucky to have him, but my heart is only saying one thing.
Dean. Dean. Dean.
Over and over again, our relationship has played out in my head since he blew back into town. We were so young, was our love really that big and beautiful? Would we have made it through the last twelve years and still be together? I doubt it, honestly. But I know my feelings were real. Heck, they’re still real. There’s an ache in my chest when I think about all the years he’s been gone and there are butterflies in my belly when I think about him being back home.
“You okay?” Derrick asks and it pulls me back into the moment, the sounds of the restaurant humming in the background, his brow furrowed as he looks at me.
“I’m fine, just tired. It’s been a long week tryin’ to get Dean up to speed on the bar plus still workin’ my shifts.”
“Ah.” He says and nothing more. I arch an eyebrow at him. “How is that going?”
“I’d rather be doin’ anything else.” He laughs a little at that comment. The rest of dinner is tense and strained and I start to get this pit in the bottom of my stomach that something is just off about everything.
Once the bill is paid, Derrick suggests we walk to the pier, which is fine by me. I love living in Alabama and being this close to the ocean. There is just something about the salty air that makes me feel warm and safe. We stroll hand in hand, taking in all the boardwalk performers and the nightlife. The pier isn’t very crowded, and we settle ourselves against the railing, overlooking the ocean, the sound of the waves crashing against the pier. Derrick lets out a heavy sigh.
“So, I think we should talk,” he begins, and I just know this is it.
“Okaaaay...” I drag out.
“Whitley Jean, you know I’m crazy about you. But the truth is, I’m not it for you.” Tears prick my eyes at his words. “You and I both know you gave your heart away a long time ago.”
I stay facing the water, the tears that were pricking my eyes now streaming down my face. I’m most upset at the fact that he’s right. I did give my heart away a long time ago, to a lanky boy underneath those football bleachers. That same boy took my heart with him when he left, and I’ve been waiting a long time to get it back. Derrick turns me towards him and pulls me into a hug, resting his chin on my head as I quietly cry.
“So, this is it, huh?” I ask quietly and he coughs out a laugh.
“Knew you’d break my heart the minute Dean crossed that county line.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.
“Nothin’ to be sorry for, sweetheart. The heart wants what the heart wants.” I choke out a laugh. He tips my chin up with his fingers, placing a sweet kiss on my lips. “You call me if things go south, ya hear?” Smiling sadly, I nod my head and wrap my arms tight around him. We hang out on the pier for a while longer before he drives me home.
Dean
Easing my truck up to the curb, I put in park and hop out. Perfect timing, because Whitley is just stepping out of her car, too. Ford invited me to this backyard shindig, and I jumped at the invitation knowing Whitley would likely be here.
She’s bending over into the back seat and grabbing something, and I have to adjust myself in my jeans because her ass in those pants should be a fucking crime.
Standing with a six pack in her hands, she sees me and throws her head back to look up at the sky.
“Why me, God? Can’t you torture someone else?” She looks gorgeous in a fitted black t-shirt, the stark color of her purple hair even brighter against it. Ripped and tattered jeans cover her legs and she’s wearing wedge sandals that show off her red toes.
I chuckle a little and shut the car door for her, falling in step beside her.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” I ask because I’m genuinely curious. I haven’t seen them together at all in the last two weeks and he hasn’t been at the bar.
“Bite me, Anderson,” she says, walking faster to get away from me. I throw my head back and laugh, grabbing her by the elbow and stopping her movement and she turns on me.