Grey Sky Morning
((Post-series future fic; angst - Drake/Mindy, Mindy/OMC - Rating: T; Words: 448))
title and lyrics from the Vertical Horizon song "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)"
"But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had
You don't need me back
You're just the best I ever had"
.
"You look good."
"Thanks. So do you." Mindy looks down at her glass, trying desperately not to fidget; she doesn't want Drake or anyone else to know just how uncomfortable she is. "Are you still with Bridget?"
Drake snorts. "No, that was doomed from the start." He searches his memory for the name of the guy Josh said she was dating. "How are things with Ian?"
"Wonderful," she answers quickly
His smile falters for a split second. "So you're happy then?"
"I'm happier than I've been in a long time." Mindy's smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. She is happy (but she was happier with Drake).
He nods. "You should be happy. You should be with someone who makes you happy all the time. Someone who can put you first. I could never do that."
"You tried," Mindy offers.
"If I tried we wouldn't be here with other people," he states bluntly. He shrugs. "I fucked up, we've moved on."
Drake's moving on but he's not over her.
"Yeah."
The words 'I miss you' are right there on the tip of her tongue and he feels the apology forming in the back of his throat.
Mindy looks startled, almost as if she's guilty, for a split second when a blond-haired man sidles up next to her and slides his arm around her waist, and kisses her on the cheek. "Hey."
Drake feels his heart dropping into the pit of his stomach when Mindy focuses on the guy and familiar light shines in her eyes. The light fades when she looks back at Drake.
Mindy clears her throat. "Ian, this is Drake Parker. Drake, this is Ian Connelly."
Ian reaches out and shakes Drake's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Drake. I've heard a lot about you."
Drake forces a chuckle. "Let me guess, most of it was probably bad but more than likely it was all true?"
Ian laughs. "Not at all. Mindy speaks very highly of you. Don't know why the two of you ended things and I can't imagine just letting her go but I'm glad you did." Ian squeezes Mindy closer and her eyes meet Drake's.
He almost thinks he sees regret and longing but then she's looking at Ian again.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, Ian. Pleasure running into you, Mindy." Drake gives them a brief nod before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
With a heavy heart, she watches him walk away and out of her life.
"Mindy?"
She looks up at her boyfriend. "Yes, Ian?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
The words wouldn't feel so hollow to her if Mindy hadn't just realized that she's never stopped loving Drake.
.
"So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring
What was it you wanted
Could it be I'm haunted"
*** Finis ***