Witch of Two Hearts

7. Truth about lies

I looked around, thankfully no one seemed to have heard me. Either that or they were pretending they didn’t.

I looked back to Alaric who looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

“So?” I asked feeling rather irritated that he hadn’t immediately started spilling his guts.

“How did you meet Keelan?” He asked like he couldn’t believe i met him.

“H-how? That’s what you have to say?” I tossed the rag i was holding down on the counter and started making another drink. Really, no one ordered a drink so I’m pretty sure i was making it for me at that point. I was just grabbing ingredients, wasn’t even paying attention to what i was grabbing. It was like my body was acting on memory.

“Okay Alaric. I’ll play along with your high school game but i better get some damn answers.” I said as i started shaking the mixer.

“He was at the party last night. He apparently heard that you proposed to me and congratulated me. I thought he was your cousin or something when he said his name. He didn’t seem surprised that i didn’t know who he was though.” I told him.

I know, absolute lie, more or less. He doesn’t need to know all the details right now. I dipped the rim of my glass in some sugar with lemon and lime zest, tapped it once on the side and set it up. Tossed a couple ice cubes in and poured my drink. Neatly placed a little sword toothpick with a little pineapple on it on the rim of the glass. Looks like i ended up making myself an amoretto sour.

I looked up at him and he’s just sitting there. The only thing he’s said is, “he’s back?” But not to anyone in particular.

I took a sip of my very strong drink that i clearly needed right now, took a deep breath and said, “I’m waiting Alaric.”

He looked back at me like he forgot i was here. He shifted in his seat and finally decided he could begin.

“I was engaged back when i was twenty to a woman named Brittney.” He started, catching me very off guard. That’s another minor detail he neglected to tell me.

He continued on in a ramble of sorts, “We were together for a few years. Keelan always liked her. It never seemed to be an issue though. Well, that was until we were one day away from the wedding and i walked in on them.”

I gasped as if i was hooked on a soap opera. I grabbed my drink and sat there intently listening.

“Why am i telling you all of this?” He said for a second before he kept going.

I found myself also wondering why he’s spilling much more than i expected with such little coaxing. Then i swore his drink started to glow. I looked at him and everyone around us, no one else seemed to be seeing this, and no other drinks were glowing. It must be in my head.

“Turns out she’d been second guessing if she made the right choice with me and he swooped in and started seeing her on the side, for months.” He downed the last of his drink.

On cue, i stood and started making another drink while he continued.

“I punched Keelan, he fought back and before i knew it the room was absolutely destroyed and Brittney was sitting on the bed as close to the headboard as she could while she screamed at us to stop.” He was hurting as he told me this story, i could see it in his eyes.

“I couldn’t stop fighting him and he wasn’t giving up. Our mom walked in, that’s the only reason we stopped because we most certainly would have kept going to the death.” He looked up at me as i placed his glass back in front of him. “That’s how upset i was, i loved that woman.”

I couldn’t help but feel the stab of a knife in me as i heard him say that.

“I ended the wedding and Keelan packed up and left town on the family house boat. Two weeks later she died in a car accident.” He finished.

I felt very conflicted. I was hoping all of this would answer some questions, which it did. However, it brought up an awful lot more.

“Are you still mad?” He asked.

“You still kept having a brother from me. Not to mention being engaged before to another woman you apparently loved.” I said, finishing my drink.

I stood up and shook my head, “I need to work Alaric, and i need to think. I wasn’t expecting anything quite like all of that. I’ll call you tomorrow after i sleep on it.” I said.

After saying goodbye he left. Thankfully, that meant i could just get back to work.

It’s only about 9pm and that drink did me some good. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling great.

Then, in walks Keelan. Does he know i work here? Why does he seem to be everywhere? I tried to ignore him. I tried so hard, i resisted the urge to look at him.

I tried, until he sat down right in front of me. And, I’m the only bartender in here. The second i looked at him, the dream came back to me.

“Every life” echoed in my mind.

“What’s good to drink around here?” His deep voice pierced through my thoughts.

“Depends.” I answered after a short pause. “Why are you here?”

He looked around with a cocky smirk on his face, “This is a bar isn’t it?”

I tossed the bar hand towel over my shoulder, “I mean why are you in Hollow Grove?” I reiterated as i placed my hands down on the counter in front of me.

His smirk disappeared briefly and was replaced with a look that appeared to be a mix of hurt and concern.

The cocky smirk reappeared though, followed by a hushed seductive voice, “I’ve found you in every life we’ve lived. I’ll find you in every life we will ever live.”

It was exactly like my dream.