Elisse wished she hadn't gone to see Sheila. Tears blurring her vision, she stepped on the accelerator and drove away. There was no particular destination in her mind until she came across the bright neon sign of the bar where she and her coworker at the restaurant used to hang out once a month.
She wasn't planning to get drunk, just wanted the noise to drown out her thoughts.
After parking her car, she walked inside. The bar was as crowded as ever, with loud music blasting from enormous speakers and sweaty bodies swaying to the rhythm on the dance floor. She skillfully weaved her way through the bustling crowd until she finally reached the bar counter, where she was fortunate enough to find an empty seat.
"Do you have any nonalcoholic drinks?" She asked the bartender.
The bartender, a young man, raised an eyebrow but wasn't surprised. He'd had more than a few customers request nonalcoholic drinks over the years. "Sure, we can do that. What's your poison?"
"Just give me anything," she replied. She wasn't even sure what she wanted.
"Would you prefer a virgin piña colada or a Shirley Temple?" The bartender asked, reaching for a glass and a sugar cube.
"Virgin piña colada sounds nice."
He grinned, clearly pleased. "Coming right up."
Elisse leaned back on the stool, her eyes scanning the crowd. The music pulsed loudly, the air thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and perfume. Nearby, a group of young adults were laughing and shouting, their voices rising above the noise.
The bartender set the Virgin Piña Colada in front of her, garnished with a slice of pineapple and a cherry perched on top. "The man over there already paid for your drink," he said with a wink.
She followed where he was pointing, her gaze settled on the corner of the bar where a group of men in tailored suits sat. One of them waved, likely the one who had paid for her drink. Something about him felt vaguely familiar, though she couldn't quite place it.
Elisse nodded politely in thanks, then turned back to her drink. She didn't want to talk to anyone, especially a stranger.
At the corner of her eyes, she saw him excused himself from his group and to her growing sense of dismay, he began walking toward her. When he reached her, the dim light of the bar illuminated his face, and she let out a disgruntled sigh.
It was Mark Kingsley, Sheila's half-brother. The man she had tried so hard to avoid.
They had crossed paths several times and exchanged brief conversations, but that didn't mean she felt at ease talking to him. While he had a harmless demeanor, he was also a notorious playboy. His escapades frequently made headlines. The last thing she wanted was to become entangled with him; her life was already complicated enough without adding more drama.
She considered fleeing, but before her feet could respond to the warning her brain sent, Mark appeared in front of her, his smile as bright as ever. 'Elisse, it's been ages. How have you been?"
Damn, too late, she thought, forcing a polite smile.
"I'm doing great." Elisse replied, dawning half of her Virgin piña colada in one gulp. Hell, she never wanted to finish a drink as quickly as she did now.
"Is Colin with you?" He asked and she nearly choked on her drink. Thankfully she was able to pull herself together.
"I'm alone…. " She put down her empty glass and got up. "I have to go…. My brother is waiting for me at home."
"What a shame. I really want to keep you company." Mark heaved out a sigh. "I guess I will accompany you to your car."
"That's not necessary. I can manage on my own." Elisse wished he would just leave her alone, but it seemed like that wasn't going to happen.
"I insist."
She could only shrug in response. "Suit yourself."
Elisse walked ahead, and Mark followed her. She breathed a relieved sigh once she was out in the open and able to breathe fresh air.
Her car was parked in front of a Love Motel next to the bar. With no other parking spots available, she had no choice but to leave it there.
When she finally reached her car, she turned to him and said, "Thank you for accompanying me to my car."
"You're welcome, Elisse." Mark handed her his contact number. "Call me the next time you visit the bar. I'd love to be your drinking buddy."
"I will," she lied, placing the card in her pocket to be forgotten. There was no way in hell she would do that. Elisse climbed into her car and pressed the accelerator, leaving Mark watching her fade into the distance.
Elisse arrived home. She checked on her brother and found him sound asleep. She felt a pang of sadness, as they rarely talked. Her brother seemed to be avoiding her—he was always asleep or away from the house whenever she's home.
She turned off the bedroom lights, leaving only the lampshade's soft glow before retreating to her room to freshen up. Upon emerging from the bathroom, she changed into her favorite pajamas, and climbed into bed. Exhausted and mentally drained, she fell asleep almost immediately, sprawled across the mattress.
—
The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the birds. Suddenly, a sharp "ding-dong" echoed through the house, breaking the silence.
Elisse's eyes fluttered open, and she groaned, the sound muffled by her pillow. The noise came again, more insistent this time: "ding-dong, ding-dong."
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Who could that be?" she muttered to herself.
Reluctantly, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She padded sluggishly to the door. The "ding-dong" sounded once more, and she reached for the door then turned the knob, opening the door.
Standing on her porch was her husband with a grim expression on his handsome face.
"Colin?"