Page 89 of With Wine Comes War

Finally, a conversation to take my mind off of all the distractions this week. Let’s talk about the renovations. I had so many ideas already for this place. My mom took me to the best wineries all around the world. I could incorporate so many designs. I can’t wait to get back to my architectural team and tell them about this. This was going to be a fun project, no doubt.

Dinner was amazing and the wine was delicious. I had a bourbon with dessert also. I may have had a little bit too much and I still had to drive home. I’ll just have Alex talk to me the whole ride to keep mefocused.

When she got in the car I told her I needed to talk to her on the ride home, but I didn’t tell her why. I didn’t want her to worry about me. I just let her think it was me being overprotective.

She pulled in right after me and didn’t say a word until we got into the penthouse. She slammed her purse down and forcefully took off her shoes. She was all business.

“Honey, I really am sorry for this week.” I caught my breath. “I’m sorry for the ride home. That was my fault. I had too much to drink and I probably shouldn’t have been driving. I needed you to keep me focused so I could make it home.” She walked over and slapped me, hard, right in the face and ran down the hall.

Oh shit what the hell was that for? Well, if I wasn’t sober for the ride home I sure as hell am now.

I walked into the bedroom and found her sitting on the floor crying. As pissed as I was right now for getting slapped in the face, I was more concerned with why she was in this state and why she did that.

I sat on the floor next to her and put my hand gently under her chin. “Alex, look at me for a minute.” She was so mad right now. Her eyes were red, and she had tears pouring down her face.

She hissed out, “You should’ve left your car at their house.” Then she put her hands over her face and started sobbing loudly.

I said, “I know, you’re right.” Then she grabbed me and hugged me so tight I could barely breathe.

“I don’t want to lose you.”Lose me?

“You’re not going to lose me.”

She was trying to catch her breath. “That’s how I lost my mother, Roman.” I closed my eyes and held her to my chest as she cried louder.

Damn. What the fuck was I thinking? Right now, I’m thinking a slap to the face isn’t quite enough. I just held her close and told her how sorry I was and that it would never happen again.

I’m sure I had those drinks to forget the information I had bouncing around in my head making me nuts, but that’s still no excuse to ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle inebriated. I don’t know how to make this right, right now, so I think we should just go to sleep.

Chapter 24

ALEX

Of all the dumb things he could’ve said or done. That was by far the worst. I’ve already lost one person to drunk driving— I can’t lose another. That would be too much for me. We’ve only been together for a short, yet tumultuous, time and to have it taken away so soon by something that stupid would be too much for me to handleat this point.

I woke up right before the alarm went off and left him sleeping in the bed. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him, so I went to the gym alone. I can’t believe I slapped him like that. It was an uncontrolled response and maybe it was really something I wanted to do to my mother and no longer could. This would be a good conversation for Dr. King. I couldn’t just go around slapping people when they say or do things I disagree with.

I worked out hard this morning, swam some laps and lounged in the sauna, letting the sweat drip down my body taking all these negative emotions with me, hopefully. Roman quietly entered the sauna, sitting carefully on the lower bench as he slid his arms around my waist gently, before pressing his forehead to my chest. He looked like he came straight from bed, and I couldn’t help running my hands through his hair to try and alleviate his guilt in some way.

“I’m so sorry about last night.” He mumbled. “I was drunk. It won’t happen again.”

“I’m not going to excuse your behavior. I’m sorry for slapping you though. I can’t believe I did that.” He tightened his grip around my waist and groaned.

“You should’ve hit me harder.” I almost laughed but it still wasn’t sitting right with me. I was just glad nothing happened, and I still had him to hold.

***

This morning was the deposition, and I was already fraught with anxiety, so I really didn’t need all this extra drama. It was quiet in the house as we got ready with each of us thinking about the events of lastnight and what’s going to happen next Tuesday at the court hearing when things get real.

“Alex, this is just you going to tell your side of the story to the officers. No one else is going to be there. This is not at all like court.” I smiled and nodded, knowing he was trying to make me feel better, but I hated the thought of telling this story again and then reliving it on Tuesday.

He pulled me to him placing his hands on my shoulders holding me in place as he looked deeply into my eyes and smiled, bringing my attention back to the present.

“I know. You’re right. I just need to relax and get this over with.” My mind was telling me that was the right thing to do and say but my heart was not following suit.

Roman held my hand all the way to the police station as I stared out of the window contemplating telling my attorneys what I had planned since they were bound by attorney client privilege and wouldn’t be able to tell anyone else. If only to find out if they thought, it was a good idea or if they thought I was out of my mind. I didn’t notice we stopped until Roman gave my hand a gentle squeeze and said, “Alex, we’re here baby.”

I released his hand before we entered the police station and shoved them in my pockets to hide the shaking. I had no idea what to expect here and the anxiety had me glancing sharply from left to right trying to see if maybe Tanner was here giving his side of the story as well. I can’t imagine they would do such a thing, but you never know with all the crazy shit that’s happened in my life. The station was just as I pictured it in my mind, stale and monotone. The clicking of keyboards, the smell of bad coffee and no one taking a real interest in anything going on around them. I can hear a few people talking andlaughing probably at the expense of some poor soul who made a bad decision.

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