Chapter 21 What Happened Between Lunchtime and Now?
April
It is nine at night, and I am surprised that Corran hasn’t stopped by. He said he would come by after work to get some soup. He said about six, but nothing, and I am a little worried. I have been fighting with my head, trying to decide if I should go check on him. He may be working late or made plans with a friend or something. I don’t want to stop by and make him think I am some crazy stalker who can’t go a day without seeing him.
“Corbin?” I call out.
He was here earlier, but then disappeared.
“I am here.” His voice echoes through the room, and he appears next to me on the sofa.
“There you are. Can you do me a favour, please?”
“You want me to go and make sure Corran is okay?” he asks.
I nod. “If you don’t mind. I am a little worried.”
“Of course I don’t mind. I sensed you were a little worried about your future boyfriend.” He chuckles.
I glare at him, ready to lecture him, but before I can, he disappears, only leaving the sound of his laugh behind. I roll my eyes. He needs to drop it. How many times do I need to tell him it isn’t like that between Corran and me? Corbin shouldn’t be encouraging it. I shake my head and rest back against the sofa, sighing and waiting for him to reply. At least if Corbin goes to check, Corran will have no idea I am checking up on him. He may not even be at home.
A couple of minutes later, Corbin reappears with a concerned look on his face.
“What is wrong?”
“You should go and check on him. He is passed out on the sofa, an empty bottle of vodka in his hand, puke on his tee.”
What the hell? What happened between when I saw him at lunchtime and now? He was in a good mood when I left. Then again, the grief can hit at any time, no matter how your mood is.
“Thank you.”
Corbin nods. “I will see you down there. I will make sure he is okay until you arrive.”
Corbin goes back to Corran’s place. I really hope his front door is unlocked. I need to get in and make sure he is okay. If he is wasted and sick, he could easily choke on his own vomit if he is sitting up. I jump to my feet and rush out, heading straight to his place. I silently hope and pray the front door is unlocked. I put my hand on the handle, and thankfully, it opens.
Corbin is standing over Corran on the sofa. “Is Edin here?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, I haven’t seen her.”
Hopefully, she won’t show up. It will only upset her seeing him in such a state. I know that from experience. I hit the drink for a while after I lost Corbin, and he hated it. I only got sober because Corbin helped me. He threatened to disappear for good if I didn’t stop. It may seem cruel, but it wasn’t at all. It was tough love. Corbin didn’t want me to end up like my parents or his.
Corran is still crashed out, the empty bottle in his hand. Surely he hasn’t drunk that entire bottle tonight? I try to take it from his hand, but he groans and grips it tightly.
“Corran, it is April, give me the bottle.”
I don’t want him to drop and smash it. He is so drunk that if he stands up, he won’t even realise the ground beneath his feet is covered in glass. He will hurt himself.
“April?” he slurrs, letting go of the bottle for me to take.
“Yes, it’s me. What happened, Corran? You were okay when I left your office.”
There is probably no point in asking; he won’t be able to give me an answer.
He opens his eyes to look at me and smiles. “April, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay. You were supposed to come by after work. You didn’t. I got a little worried.”
Corran stares at me. “You are so pretty.” He says and places his hand on my cheek.
I hear Corbin chuckle from behind me. I turn and glare at him. “What? He is only telling the truth.”
I shake my head and focus back on Corran. “You need to get cleaned up. You are covered in vomit.”
“Nah, I am fine. You don’t need to worry about me, beautiful.”
I blush with all his compliments, and Corbin is enjoying watching me blush.
“No, you aren’t. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, get some water in you and into bed.”
“Nope, let’s go for a drink.” Corran tries to get to his feet, but stumbles.
“You don’t need anymore drink.”
It takes all my strength, but I manage to get Corran to his feet. I wrap my arm tightly around him and take him to his bedroom, trying to steady both of us. He is in no fit state to shower. He can barely even stand. I sit him on the edge of the bed, hoping he won’t fall off and help him out of the clothes he is wearing. I boak at the vomit on him, but hold my breath and toss the tee aside, grabbing a clean one and slipping it over his head. He has boxers on, so I don’t need to bother with his lower half.
“April, I like it when you kissed me.” He says softly.
“You are only saying that because you are drunk.” I chuckle.
“A drunken mind speaks a sober heart.” I hear Corbin from behind me.
“You aren’t making this any easier. Please go back to my place and wait.” I state firmly, shooing him off.
“Yes, boss.” Corbin laughs and vanishes.
“Who are you talking to? Why are you always talking to yourself? Can you see someone I can’t?” Corran asks.
“I wasn’t talking to anyone but you.” I lie.
I help him into bed, positioning the pillows to lean him against them so he is sitting up and not lying down. When he is safe, I disappear to the bathroom to get something to wash his hands and face with. I am not leaving him alone tonight. When I return, Corran is staring into space, lost in his thoughts. My climbing onto the bed and kneeling between his legs draws his attention back to me.
“I am going to clean your hands and face, okay?”
He nods, and I clean him up the bed he can. “I am sorry I got so drunk.”
“It is okay, Corran. There must have been a reason behind it. Some water and sleep, then you will be feeling brand new tomorrow.”
Maybe when he is sober, he can tell me what is going on, only if he wants to, but tonight, I am not going anywhrre and I won’t ask any questions because he is in no fit state to answer them tonight.