Midnight Rider

Chapter 3

I let out a big sigh of relief as I pulled up to the house. It wasn’t much but it was home. 

Dru met me at the door and grabbed me into a big hug. “Oh honey, I’m so sorry. Karma is gonna get his ass, trust me, but I’m so glad your home.” Dru is like the best big sister I never had. I couldn’t be happier for my brother when he found her. 

“I’m glad to be home.”

“I made up your old room, I’ll help you unpack if you want. Or would you rather have a stiff drink?” she winked.

“Both. I’ll have whiskey if you got any.”  Christian and I carried my stuff upstairs to my old room. Dru had put my old favorite aqua sheets and blankets on my bed. I still had pictures of Ciara, Dominique and I through the years on my walls.  I noticed some of Jason and I, so I tore them off the wall. One was of us after a winning football game, he was still in his gear and I was beaming up at him. Graduation day and senior pictures of us together wearing our letterman jackets. Another was senior prom, he had on a nice black tux and I had a light purple mermaid dress on. I remember having a great time that night. I also remember him trying to get into my pants for the first time, that’s when I told him no, I wanted to wait until marriage.  He seemed so cool with it, apparently deep down he wasn’t. I put all the pictures together and ripped them into little pieces.

“It’s his loss Angel. You did nothing wrong.” Dru was standing in my doorway. She handed me a glass and poured us both some whiskey shots.

I downed the shot. “I know, but it doesn’t make it suck any less.” She nodded in agreement.

“Wanna tell us what happened?” Christian came walking into the room holding a beer. 

“Well…..ok..” I told them everything; him sneaking around, me thinking it was a proposal, downloading the app on his phone, catching him red handed, and with who. Christian had heard some of mine and Jason’s argument, but I went ahead and told that also. 

“Wow, what an asshole.” Dru was shaking her head in disgust.

“ I knew there was a reason I didn’t like him. There was just something off.” Christian took a swig of his beer. Dru came and gave me another hug, “I’m so sorry. You are so much better off though. It might not seem like it now but soon enough it will. And you know we’re always here for you.”

 Christian came and grabbed us both in a hug. “I’m glad to have both my girls home. Maybe now Angel will let me find a good guy for her.” He winked.

I rolled my eyes, “ I think I’m gonna swear off men for awhile now, thanks.”

“Well you know what they say, to get over someone you just gotta get under someone else.” Dru started laughing and poured another shot, “Figurately of course…”

“ I’m out! That’s the last thing I wanna think about with my sister!” Christian said while walking out.  Dru and I giggled as we took more shots.

 I was starting to feel pretty good from the whiskey.  Luckily, we got all my things unpacked before we both felt like passing out. Thank God it was only Friday and I had a three day weekend to recover!

I fell asleep dreaming of my grandpa riding me around on his motorcycle. There was a rider in all black in front of us, but we never caught up to him. 

Oh my lord, my head is pounding! I’m not sure what time it is, or really even what day it is.  I’ve pretty much been staying cooped up in the house and drinking a lot.  After the whiskey was gone I started on the wine.  It’s been awhile since I drank this much. Christian and Dru told me they would allow it for the weekend, but if I ran out they weren’t running to buy me more.  I get it, they didn’t want me to feel sorry for myself but, I still had a knot in my stomach most of the time. 

I heard a knock on my door, “ Hello sunshine are you awake?” Dru popped her head into the door. I sat up really slowly and groaned. “I’ll take that as a yes! You need to shower and get dressed. I’ve got some breakfast downstairs if you feel like eating. There’s also Tylenol for your head. We leave for church in a hour!”  She smiled and closed the door.  I definitely wanted the Tylenol, and I probably need to eat.  Have I even showered since Friday? I crawled out of bed and made my way to the shower. I probably stood in the hot water for 30 minutes, it felt great. 

I knew today was a new day and the only way to go was up! I dressed for church in a nice dress and wedges and went down to eat.  My stomach was still a little on edge so I opted for toast. 

“You’re looking a lot better today.” Christian watched me walk into the kitchen over his cup of coffee.

“It’s a new day and I do feel better.” I smiled.

“I’m glad to hear it”

Dru came down the stairs wearing a maxi dress, wedges and big bangles on her wrist, “Are we ready to go?”  We all piled into Christian’s truck and headed to church. Even church felt great and refreshing. Everyone here is genuinely happy to see you and give you words of encouragement. Of course I wasn’t telling them about moving back home but I’m sure they’ll figure it out soon enough. 

I called Ciara and Dominique after I got home.

Dominique: “How are you doing? Were you able to get all your stuff?”

Ciara: “Did your brother kill Jason?”

I laughed and told them about the argument Jason and I had. “ So ya  I got all my stuff and Christian probably scared the s**t out of Jason.”

“Serves him right!” Dominique laughed.

Ciara giggled, “I’d like to of seen the look on his face!”

“I’ve blocked him from my phone, f*******:, Snapchat, everything. If I ever see him again it will be too soon.”

Dominique: “Ya we know”

Ciara: “He tried texting us….as if we would talk to him.”

Dominique: “ Wanted us to plead his case to you…..it would be a cold day in hell before we’d tell you to go back to him.”

Ciara: “So we blocked him too.”

“Wow…… he’s got some balls thinking that that would actually work!” I talked to the girls for a little while longer. Christian, Dru and I had a family movie night before I went to bed. We watched Jumanji, newer one with The Rock and Kevin Hart. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. I kept looking over at Christian and Dru.  They were snuggled up on the couch laughing at the movie, but Christian would sneak glances at Dru. He’d have a big smile on his face. I need to find someone who looks at me like that. They have been together as long as Jason and I. I’m sure she’s the one for him. I prayed that whatever I was going through was for a good reason. That I’d become a better person and find the right person for me.