Chasity looks away, shaking her head. “I won’t ask you what I planned to.”
“You wanted me to end things?”
She nods.
“I’m glad you won’t because I don’t ever want to disappoint you. But walking away from him might have just killed me.”
As much as I would like to believe for her I could, I don’t know that I’d have been strong enough to do it. Derek is the man that I want. He’s who I’ve been waiting for. We both have spent so much time apart, and if he had never returned, I would have survived just fine. Now though, I know what it’s like to be in his arms, kiss him, and have him here again.
I know what comfort he brings when I’m having a bad day and I can call him. I know what silly lunch dates and text messages are. I’ve gotten the opportunity to experience what we were too stupid to look for before.
“Just don’t ask me to be nice to her if this works out.”
I smile, wrap my arm around her shoulder, and pull her close. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
* * *
Tonight is going to be another real date for us. Only this time, we’re staying in. Chastity is sleeping over at a friend’s house and Derek is on his way here.
I’m nervous.
We won’t be in public and I have no one to rush home for. I would be anxious about him seeing my home, but I saw the house of dolls and he can’t say a damn thing now. I plan to use that any chance I get.
I hear the car door shut and I rush to greet him.
When I open it my heart begins to race. He looks so good when he’s not even trying. He’s wearing a pair of jeans that fit him in all the right places, his polo shirt is tight enough for me to see the muscles in his arms. God, he’s freaking hot.
“Hi,” I say with a smile.
“Well, this is nice.”
“What?”
He takes a step forward, and kisses me. “You meeting me at the door.”
“I like that you like me meeting you. Come in.”
We head up the stairs to the tiny apartment that I both love and hate. It’s small, which I hate, but I’ve busted my ass to make this place look the best possible. We may be poor, but we fake being rich very well.
“This place is so you, Tea. Seriously, it’s exactly like I pictured it.”
I look around at the cool gray-colored slate floor and the rich-looking ivory curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor to make it appear bigger. Everything in this place is secondhand, but Chas and I spent time repurposing the furniture. The kitchen table was an old barn door that I sanded down and then added legs to. It cost me ten dollars total. The chairs, dressers, end tables, are all thrift store that I painted or upholstered where I could.
I’m proud of this place.
“I’m going to take that as a good thing.”
He wraps his arms around my waist. “It is.”
“Good.” My fingers play with the collar of his shirt. “I missed you.”
“I saw you yesterday.”
“Yes, but that was just to pick up Everly.”
Which was very interesting to say the least. The girls had to work on their project, since it’s due next week and apparently, they have to do it here. They’re doing something with the power of social media and using the antique store as the subject. It makes no sense to me, but according to Chastity, people of my age group don’t get it.
I guess they’re taking photos of something and posting it on three sites to see which has the greater impact.
They seemed to be getting along, and I stayed out of the way as much as I could.
“I know you said she behaved, but did she really?”
It’s clear Everly doesn’t particularly like me, which is her choice. I can’t imagine I would like anyone my father dated if my mother died.
“She was fine. I stay out of her way when I can, since I know she hates me.”
He sighs and releases me. “I don’t know what to do with her.” Derek’s back is to me, but I can hear the confliction in his voice. It’s so hard sometimes with kids. When they’re little, it’s almost as though you can convince them you’ve got it all figured out. Now, not so much.
“She’ll get over it—or not—but it’ll be what it is.”
I know Chastity wants me to be happy and will accept what our relationship will become. We have a bond and even though the idea of having Everly in her life is her equivalent of hell, she’ll do it for me.
“I don’t want it to be what it is, baby.” My heart races at the term of endearment. It’s the first time he’s called me anything other than Teagan or Tea. “I want it to be better. I want her to accept you.”
“She doesn’t know me, Derek. She can’t like me if she doesn’t see that I’m not all the things she has made up in her mind.”
He runs his hand down his face. “I don’t know how to fix this.”
I smile and walk up to him. He looks so upset by all of this and it warms my heart. I love that he cares so much and wants this to work. I know I want the same. Everly getting to know me isn’t on him—it’s on me. “When she comes over tomorrow, I won’t hide. I’ll talk to her in a way that won’t seem like I’m trying. Let me fix whatever is broken between the two of us.”
Derek nods and then lifts his hand to my face. “I don’t know what I did in this life to deserve you. It’s only been a few weeks and I can’t fathom how I lived without you.”
My eyes well up with tears because I feel the same. “I’ve missed you too.”
He brings his mouth to mine,
