"Hey, Bri. We're going to get a drink after work, wanna come?" My coworker, Haley, said as I sighed.
"I have to go home and take care of my siblings." I said and focused on the silverware I was rolling in front of me.
"Cmon! Let loose a little!" She said with a laugh. "I have to take care of them, they have nobody else." I said with a frown.
"What about your supposedly hot ass boyfriend?" She asked causing me to laugh. "I have to take care of him, too." I said as Austin walked over.
"What are you gorgeous ladies talking about?" He asked and slung his arm around our shoulders. "Bri's hot ass boyfriend." Haley said as Austin sighed.
"He really wasn't THAT hot." He said with a dramatic tone.
"Oh, please. Kate said if she hated Bri even a little bit she would do anything to steal her boyfriend." Haley explained as I pursed my lips.
"Ouch." I said as she shook her head. "She wouldn't do that because she loves you. We all do, which is why you should come get a drink with us." She said and nudged my shoulder.
"It's the least you can do for working a week before leaving us for a month." Austin said as I nodded.
"I had a seizure while driving and broke my hip. It wasn't on purpose" I said with a frown. "Damn, Billy didn't tell us that. He just said you needed to take a leave." Austin said as I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm just glad I was able to come back." I said then finished what I was doing. "Is there anything else we need to do?" I asked and looked around.
"Nah, the night crew has the rest covered." Haley said as I nodded and pulled out my phone to text Colby.
"Tell your boyfriend you're coming to get a drink with us." Haley said and pouted her lip. "Next time, I promise." I said and held out my pinky. "I'll hold you to that." I said as my phone vibrated.
Colby: Already outside, sweetheart.
I smiled at the text then looked up at my coworkers. "I'll see you guys tomorrow?" I asked then went to grab my stuff.
"I'll be here, Austin won't." Haley said as I nodded. "See you when I see you." I said then waved. "When we go get drinks!" Haley called out as I started to walk towards the back door.
"Sure." I said then left. It felt good that they wanted to include me in their after work plans, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to get out and party just yet.
Alcohol could very easily trigger my opioid addiction and being intoxicated in public was scary. Having my guard down at all was scary.
"Hey, babe." I said as I got in the car, noticing he was wearing a button up shirt with black dress pants.
"What's with the outfit?" I asked and narrowed my eyes as he reached into the backseat and grabbed a paper bag.
"Go back inside and get changed into this." Colby said and handed me the bad. "First of all, I'm not going back in there. Second of all, tell me what's going on." I said as he chuckled.
"I'm taking you on a date, Jules." He said simply then shooed his hand so I would go back inside.
"It's embarrassing." I whined as he chuckled. "Fine. We'll stop somewhere on the way so you can get changed." He said then set the bag in my lap and put his hands back on the steering wheel.
"Where are the kids?" I asked as he started driving. "At home." Colby said nonchalantly. "With...?" I asked as he chuckled and took my hand. "Themselves." He said as I shook my head.
