Chapter 106 Drunken Night
Chapter One Hundred and Six
Stefan’s POV~
The day at work had been rough, and I couldn’t shake the image of Valenticia smiling with Dimitri at the work event. His kiss on her cheek, her easy laugh, it all stuck with me, twisting my gut. I left the office early, telling Rachel I needed to clear my head. Instead of going home to Natasha, I ended up at a small bar downtown called Rusty’s, its neon sign flickering in the evening light. I didn’t plan to drink much, just needed a break from my thoughts, but one beer turned into three, then a whiskey, and soon I was sitting alone at the counter, my head foggy.
I stared at my glass, thinking about Valenticia. Her texts from Dimitri, the coffee he sent her, the way she looked happy with him, it all hit me hard. Natasha was waiting at home, planning our wedding, but I couldn’t stop wondering if I’d made the wrong choice. Our night together, when I froze and said Valenticia’s name, haunted me. I hadn’t gone through with it, and now Valenticia was moving on. I took another sip, the whiskey burning my throat, and checked my phone. There were no messages from Natasha, but I opened Valenticia’s contact, my thumb hovering over the call button.
It was late, past ten, but I hit call anyway, my words slurring when she answered. “Val, it’s me,” I said, my voice thick. “I need to talk. Can I come over?”
There was a pause, then she said, “Stefan, are you okay? You sound… off.”
“I’m fine,” I lied, leaning on the bar. “Just need to see you. Please?”
She sighed. “Okay, but it’s late. Be careful getting here.”
I paid my tab, stumbling out to my car. I shouldn’t have driven, but I was too drunk to think straight, and her apartment wasn’t far. The streets were quiet, and I made it to her place, parking crookedly. I knocked on her door, my head spinning. Valenticia opened it, wearing pajamas, her hair tied back. “Stefan, you’re drunk,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
“Yeah,” I admitted, stepping inside. “Sorry. I just… I had a bad day.”
She led me to the couch, her living room lit by a small lamp. “Sit,” she said, grabbing a glass of water from the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
I took the water, sipping it. “I saw you with Dimitri,” I said, my words spilling out. “At the event. You looked happy. I miss what we had, Val. The safehouse days, when it was just us.”
She sat across from me, her face unreadable. “That was a long time ago,” she said. “We’re different now.”
“I know,” I said, setting the glass down. “But I keep thinking about you. Natasha’s great, but… I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”
She stayed quiet, but her eyes were on me. I rambled on, the alcohol loosening my tongue. “I messed up, Val. At dinner, at Bella’s, I shouldn’t have brought up old stories. I saw how it made Dimitri feel. And Natasha was mad. I’m screwing everything up.”
“Stefan,” she said, her voice was gentle. “You’re drunk. You need to sleep this off.”
I leaned forward, with my head in my hands. “I just miss you. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.” My voice cracked, and I felt tears prick my eyes. I hadn’t meant to say all that, but it all poured out.
Nana peeked in from the hallway, her wheelchair creaking. “Everything okay?” she asked, looking at Valenticia.
“Yeah, Nana,” Valenticia said. “Go back to bed. I’ve got this.”
Nana nodded, rolling away. I looked at Valenticia, her face was soft but guarded. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“It’s okay,” she said, handing me a blanket. “Sleep here. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I nodded, feeling too tired to argue. I lay on the couch, the room was spinning in my eyes, and I passed out, with the blanket over me. My dreams that night were a blur filled with Valenticia’s laugh, Natasha’s ring, and Dimitri’s dirty hand on her back. I woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming through the window and my head pounding. Valenticia was in the kitchen, making coffee, the smell filling the air. I sat up, groaning, my mouth dry.
“Morning,” she said, handing me a mug. “You look rough.”
“Yeah,” I said, taking the coffee. “Sorry about last night. I was a mess.”
She sat across from me, sipping her own coffee. “You were. What’s going on, Stefan? That wasn’t just a bad day.”
I stared at the mug, my head throbbing. “I saw you with Dimitri,” I said. “It’s messing with me. I’m engaged to Natasha, but I keep thinking about you. I don’t know what I want.”
She sighed, setting her cup down. “You need to figure that out,” she said. “I’m trying to move on. You should too.”
Her words stung, but she was right. I’d made a choice, but I wasn’t acting like it. “I’m sorry,” I said again. “I shouldn’t have come here like this.”
“It’s fine,” she said, standing. “Just… get yourself together. For Natasha’s sake.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of my actions. That morning was awkward for me, the fact that her voice sounded so polite but distant. I finished my coffee, my headache pulsing. “I should go,” I said, standing. “Thanks for letting me crash.”
“Take care, Stefan,” she said, walking me to the door. I stepped outside, the cool air hitting my face. Driving home, I felt more confused than ever. Natasha would be waiting, probably worried since I hadn’t come home last night. I’d have to explain, but what could I say? That I got drunk and ran to my ex? That I couldn’t stop thinking about her?
At home, Natasha was in the kitchen, her face tight. “Where were you?” she asked, stirring a pot of oatmeal.
“Bar,” I said, setting my keys down. “Drank too much. Crashed at a friend’s.”
She nodded, but her eyes narrowed. “Which friend?”
I hesitated, my head still foggy. “Just someone from work,” I lied. “Sorry I didn’t call.”
She didn’t push, but the atmosphere felt very uneasy. We ate in silence, and I knew I’d messed up. My mind kept going back to Valenticia’s couch, her quiet voice, the way she listened even when I was a wreck. I’d rambled about missing her, about our past, and she hadn’t pushed me away. But she’d told me to move on, and that hurt worse than I expected.
All day that afternoon, I couldn’t focus. I checked emails, but my thoughts were on Valenticia. Her life with Dimitri was moving forward, the coffee deliveries, dates, and kisses. I saw them in my head, happy, while I was stuck questioning my engagement. Natasha deserved better, but I didn’t know how to fix it. I thought about calling Valenticia again, but stopped myself. She’d been clear about the fact that she was building something new. I had to let her go, but every time I tried, I felt like I was losing something I couldn’t replace.
By evening, I sat in my office, staring at a photo of Natasha and me on my desk. She was smiling, with her ring shining. I’d chosen her, planned a life with her. But last night, while I was drunk and spilling my heart to Valenticia, it showed me that I wasn’t all in. I closed my laptop, my head still aching, wondering how I’d face Natasha, Valenticia, and the choices I’d made.