Chapter 39 I need a drink
After seeing the Therapist’s call pop up on Arthur’s skin, Aurora couldn’t help but think, and she didn’t mind letting her curiosity take the best of her.
But she couldn’t and didn’t want to talk to Arthur about it. They just had an argument about Anita, she didn’t want to entertain another.
‘I’ll ask Derick instead.’ She thought, reaching for her phone so she could put a call across to him.
“Hi, Derick. Are you home?” She asked as they got talking over the phone.
“Hi, Aurora. Yes, I am. Are you two back?” He asked.
“Yes, we are. I needed to see. I’ll be coming to your house in an hour.” She responded, getting out of bed.
“Of course. Are you alright though? You’re sounding the way you sound anytime you’re bothered about something.” He uttered, and she let out a sigh.
“You’re right but don’t worry about it, okay? We’ll talk about it. Is Carter home with you?”
“Yes, he is. He’s sleeping as we speak.”
“Okay. Except me soon.” She added and hung up afterwards. Without wasting more time, she began to freshen up.
Arthur walked into her room and met her standing in front of her mirror, all dressed up.
“You’re heading out?” He asked, moving closer to her.
She forced on a smile and nodded, looking at him through the mirror. She noticed he was all dressed up too.
“Yes.” She answered, refusing to give any further details.
“When will you be back?” He inquired, embracing her from behind.
“I won’t stay long. You’re heading out too?” She asked, and he bobbed.
“Yes. I want to check out some things at the office.” He told her, and she nodded.
“Great. It’s been a while since you went.” She answered.
“I will be back soon, okay? Take care.” He planted a kiss on her neck and turned to leave.
Watching him through the mirror, Aurora couldn’t help but doubt that he was going to the office. Everything in her kept telling her he was probably going to visit that therapist.
‘How can I even trust him now?’
“Baby!” Derick called playfully, lying on top of Carter as he slept on the bed.
“Go away!” Carter groaned, pushing him off his body.
“Are you still mad at me, baby? I’m sorry, okay?”
“Stop talking! You’re disturbing my sleep!” Carter grunted, pulling the pillow from under his head and covering his ears with it.
“Guess who’s coming to say hi.” Derick uttered. He had no plans of letting Carter be.
Carter opened his eyes and shot him a deadly look, hoping this should shut him up. He closed his eyes to finally continue his nap, but then Derick spoke again.
“Aurora is coming.”
“Aurora?” Carter’s eyes opened, causing Derick to chuckle.
“Sometimes I feel you like Aurora more than you like me. Imagine just her name, waking you up with such ease.”
“She’s back from their trip?” He further asked, ignoring Derick’s sulking.
“Yes. I guess it wasn’t a long one after all. She sounded worried though. I hope Arthur didn’t do anything stupid again.” Derick muttered, letting out a deep sigh.
Talking about Aurora made Carter’s eyes open wide. His slumber disappeared as he began to think about what could be bothering Aurora this time.
“Arthur wouldn’t just stop hurting her, would he? God knows she was way better off with Jimmy.” He mumbled, yanking the duvet off his body.
“C’mon, Carter, we don’t even know what happened yet. Let’s not make assumptions. She’ll be here soon to tell us what happened.”
“Fine. Whatever it may be. I just believe Aurora deserves better.”
Carter made his way to the bathroom, but Derick pulled him back, letting him fall into his arms.
“Derick!” He called out loud, causing Derick to chuckle.
With a frown on Carter’s face, Derick went ahead to kiss his lips. Covering his lips with his, he realized Carter’s lips were pretty dry.
He took in his lower lip, nibbling on it so he could soften it up. The muscles in Carter’s forehead relaxed as he proceeded to kiss Derick back.
Derick broke the kiss and looked into Carter’s eyes.
“I promise you never to play video games after 8 p.m again.” Derick uttered, causing Carter to roll his eyes.
“I don’t even know why you still play video games? You’re not a young man.”
“I know, and I’m sorry I ignored you last night, okay? It’ll never happen again.” He assured him, and Carter sighed and nodded.
“I need to freshen up before Aurora gets here.” He responded, standing up from Derick’s legs.
“Are you still mad at me?” Derick asked, giving him the puppy eyes.
“If I was, I wouldn’t have let you kiss me.” He answered, making his way to the bathroom again.
Biting his lower lip, Derick stretched out and smacked his butt as he walked away.
After a while, the doorbell rang and Derick rushed to get it.
‘She’s here.’ Carter followed behind him so he could give Aurora a hug right from the door.
Opening the door, they saw Aurora, smiling widely at them.
“Derick. Carter.” She called, as she made her way into the house.
Carter opened his arms and embraced her tightly, trying to be her emotional support even though she didn’t ask.
“How are you, darling?” He asked, still hugging her tightly.
“I think I’m good.” She answered, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Derick teased, carefully separating both of them. Carter rolled his eyes, while Aurora chuckled as they all settled down on the couch.
“Talk to us, Aurora.” Derick uttered.
She bobbed and began to talk; “Do you know if Arthur is seeing a therapist?”
Derick and Carter exchanged looks, and Carter gave him a slight nod before they both looked at her again.
“Therapist? That was a long time ago.” Derick answered.
“How long?”
“About a year after Anita left him. It took a troll on his mental health so he had to see one. He saw a therapist alongside his program in rehab.”
“Is this therapist Mr. Richard?” She further inquired, and Derick nodded in surprise.
“He stopped seeing him years ago, Aurora.”
She scoffed and shook her head. “I guess I’m not the only one he’s keeping things from. He got a call from Mr Richard yesterday when we got back from our mini-trip.”
“Yesterday? Did anything happen during the trip?” Carter asked, and she let out a loud sigh.
“We saw Anita.” She answered.
“Oh sht. Where was the trip? Wasn’t it here in Louisiana?” Derick further asked, and she nodded.
“It was here. Why?”
“The last time I checked, Anita left Louisiana with the man she left Arthur for. What the fk is she doing here again?”
Aurora shook her head in frustration. “I don’t know. Arthur immediately changed after we saw her. He even left me behind in the mall where we met her. Though we’ve talked this out, I need to know if it’s because he saw her that’s why he's now talking to a therapist.”
“Honestly, Aurora. I have no idea.” Derick answered, feeling bad for Aurora.
“I don’t know why it’s so hard for him to get over her once and for all. I mean, I’m here! You just asked me to be your girlfriend, you took me on a romantic date, we had the best night together, only for it to wash down the drain the very minute that bch appeared.”
“Honestly, I think Arthur needs to work on himself. We all have shitty pasts and we try to move on. Why is he so stuck on this one? It’s not fair to you.” Carter uttered.
“I’m sorry, but Arthur was terribly hurt. You wouldn’t understand because you were not there. I was the one there. She broke-shamed him and called him names after he proposed to her in one of the most popular malls in Louisiana.”
“That is horrible and an unforgivable act, we understand this and we hate that it happened to him. But it’s been ten years, if not more. He’s now a successful adult, well-respected. She shouldn’t have so much effect on him like she did back then. That bch will think she won.” Carter answered, while Aurora just listened to them.
“I need a break from all these.” She mumbled, breathing out deeply.
“I understand you, Aurora. But I don’t think this is the time you let go of him. He needs you.” Derick uttered.
“I just want him to open up to me. That’s all I’m asking. He knows almost everything about me, but I don’t know many things about him. I need to know why he’s going to see a therapist again. We are together. We should communicate effectively.”
After she finished speaking, an awkward silence set in afterwards. They all got busy with their thoughts, unsure of what to say.
“Oh God, I hate intense conversations like this. I think I need a drink.” Carter mumbled, running his fingers through his hair.
“I think I need one too.” Aurora mumbled, looking at Carter.
“You drink?” They chorused in awe.
“Of course. I drink occasionally. I just haven’t had one in a while.” She explained.
“Oh yes, this is perfect! We are going clubbing tonight, and Derick isn’t coming with us.” Carter uttered with a smirk.
“What? Baby!”
“What? You are supposed to be talking some sense into your friend. We are the ones that need to drink, not you.” Carter answered firmly, causing Aurora to laugh.
“I so much covet your relationship. You two are so sweet.” She muttered.
“Oh please! Don’t be deceived. Derick is a pain in the as.” Carter answered, trying to push back the laughter that itched his throat.
“Fine. Go and have fun! Leave me at home.” Derick muttered.
“That is exactly what we’re going to do. Aurora, are you ready to have fun with me? The only friend you have?” Carter asked, standing up.
“Yes!” Aurora responded, chuckling very hard as she anticipated a fun-filled day with Carter.
‘At least, I wouldn’t have to think about Arthur the whole day.’