I'll Have Both

15 - Take Me to Bed

Tanya's POV

"You can't seem to stop bumping into me." He said looking at me with curiosity in his eyes. 

"Maybe because you're always in my personal space." I responded with a bit of cynicism in my voice.

"Is that a bad thing?" He leaned in and whispered in my ears make sure to brush his lips on my ear. 

"Omg I'm gonna pee myself." I shrieked. 

He chuckled, held me at the waist and led me to the bathroom door and stood outside. I stumbled out just as I had stumbled in. 

"Home?" He asked.

"Uh uh, I've got to finish the bottle." I commanded.

"No more." He was rigid and I obeyed. 

"If you touch a single hair on her body, I will kill you myself." Shirl wasn't having it.

"She hates me, doesn't she?" He asked as we proceeded towards the exit. 

"At least somebody loves me." I threw at him. 

My comment hit home because he squeezed me gently at the waist. 

"It's ok, Shirl. He's my problem." That Reminded her of our earlier conversation.  

I had been singing at the top of my lungs in the back seat of his car and before I knew it, we were at the hotel. I held onto him for dear life because there was no way I could have supported myself. To say I was wasted was an understatement. 

"Why didn't you answer my calls?" I poked him repeatedly in the chest with each word I mustered as we entered the elevator. 

"Not now." He spoke.

"I'm I not good enough for you? Why don't you love me?" It was clearly the alcohol talking. 

We stepped out of the elevator without getting a response to my questions.

"Blarghhhh." there was vomit everywhere in the hallway.

I knew it was coming but the ride up the elevator had caused the onset of my nausea much sooner than I had expected. We rushed inside and went directly to the bathroom. I sat on the floor next to the toilet with Derick at my side waiting for the next episode. Not only did I throw up a second time but a third and a fourth.   I felt no shame. Wait until the alcohol wears off.  I needed to shower so Derick waited for me in my room.  As soon as I came out, he got up to leave. 

"Stay with me. Please." I begged. 

"You don't want that. If you were sober, you'd probably kick me out." He stated.

"I do. And I'm not as drunk as you think."  I pouted my lips. 

I sat on the bed and tapped the spot next to me so he could come sit with me. He hesitated but eventually came. 

"I'm sorry." I whispered, resting my head on his shoulder. 

"I'm sorry too." He echoed, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"It's not you. It's me." I said, apologetically.

"It's definitely you."  He agreed before letting out a chuckle.

I raised my head sulking at him before resting it back. 

"I'm tired." I pulled the blanket over us, and we laid down in the spooning position and fell asleep. 

....

Meridith's POV

I was already worried about not getting through to Tanya after calling her one hundred times yesterday and then some woman answered her phone and said a man took her home last night.  Said some taxi driver dropped her phone off at the bar this morning. 

I'm praying she is alright. She would never leave with a complete stranger no matter how drunk she was. The whole story sounds off. I've already called the police. Hopefully they get there soon. 

I rushed to her bedroom and there she was, sound asleep. I was so relieved. I sat beside her, and she didn't even notice. 

"Hey are you ok?" I asked her, feeling her neck and face for a fever. 

"Meridith, I didn't hear you come in." She said turning around to face me. 

Just then a noise came from the bathroom. We both looked in the direction of the bathroom and looked at each other. We heard the sound again. 

"Show yourself, I have a gun" Tanya yelled, springing up on her feet and grabbing my hand. 

"No, you don't." Derick walked out. Glaring at us both in amusement. 

"Oh, it's you." Tanya said and sighed in relief.

"Who is he?" I asked.

That man from last night wasn't a stranger. I gathered that much from their interaction.

"Derick." She mumbled, covering her face, the thing she does when she knows she's in trouble.

"Did you sleep with him?" I whispered, because they're supposed to be broken up.

"No, I didn't. Well, I don't know." As she hung her head in shame. 

"I'm right here you know. And no, we didn't. Even if I wanted to, the lady from the bar threatened to kill me if I touched a single hair on her head." He said before heading to the living room. 

"Someone at the door,'' he informed us. 

"Oh, I called the police." I had completely forgotten.

"Meridith." She sang my name in annoyance. 

"What was I supposed to do? You weren't answering my calls. Then a lady from a bar answers and says some strange guy took you home." I spelled out because she clearly didn't understand the gravity of her situation.

"I'm sorry officers, it was a misunderstanding." I addressed two male police officers as I opened the door. 

"Are you sure mam? Have you located your friend?" He asked peeping further inside the room. 

"Mr. Charlston is everything alright in there?" He directed at Derick before I could even answer. 

"It's fine Mario. All a misunderstanding as she mentioned." He answered, slightly turning in his direction.  

"Ok, well have a good day."  And they both left. 

"I could see that you are more than fine so I'm heading to the office. Call me if you need me." I wanted to give her space to deal with her issues with Derick.

He seems cocky and I don't like him. What does she see in him? 

It was Monday and it was going to be a long day at work.