“What are you going to tell her about him being here?”
Teagan shrugs while her head falls back. “That he’s here and she should avoid him. I feel like as many times as I imagined how this would go, this went way off course. What if she goes to see him? What if she completely ignores my wishes and then he treats her like shit?”
I’m completely out of my element right now. I don’t know what to tell her because I can’t comprehend what she may feel like. “Chastity trusts you.”
“I don’t know. I really don’t. She’s messaging him for fuck’s sake! Why? The man has never once tried to be a part of her life.”
“Maybe because it can’t be easy knowing he’s out there and not talking to her?”
I’m just winging it here. I know that it would bug me.
“She and I have the relationship we do because of his absence. We’ve been friends to some extent, relying on each other, and I swear to God, Derek, if him being here takes that away from us…”
I see the worry in her eyes. It brings me to my knees because I would give anything to take it from her. “I really fucking hate him for this. I hate that you’re worried and he’s anywhere near you and Chastity.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“What time is Chastity due home?” I’m not sure what the rules are of me being around when she gets here.
“She knows you were sleeping over.” Teagan smiles.
“So she knows you and I…”
“She knows that you’re the first man to ever be here overnight, so, yeah, I’m sure she’s assuming we had sex.”
I groan. “I have to work with her today.”
“Were you planning to talk to her about what we do?”
“What the…?”
Teagan grins. “I’m kidding. It’ll be fine, she’ll be home soon, you can have that awkward, I just slept with your mother moment and then you two can go back to your weird animal stories.”
I roll my eyes. “They’re not weird.”
“Yeah, the fact that you two talk about changes in poop of the stupid cat, who I still hate, is weird.”
For the first time since her mother’s call interrupted us, I see my Teagan. The girl who smiles, makes fun of me, who can radiate the world by being around because she’s who she is. Her laugh is infectious and I hate that he stole any of that from her.
“It’s important when it comes to the health of an animal.”
She shudders. “It’s strange.”
I lean over the table. “I think you like strange.”
Her smile grows as she inches closer to me. “Do you?”
“I do.”
“And what if it’s not strange I like?”
“Hmm…” Our lips are a breath apart. “What do you like?”
She closes the distance. “You.”
“Good answer because I like you.”
I make the final push and press my lips to hers. I’ve wanted to kiss her since we got here last night. But minutes after we got into bed she was asleep on my chest, her hair over my arm, looking so peaceful as I held her. I did kiss her forehead, but that was because I couldn’t stop myself. I want her like that every night. I want to wake up with her next to me. I want to come home from work and see her in that house, making dinner or painting. Any way that I can have her, I will take.
“Gross.” Chastity’s voice cuts through and I quickly move back in my seat. “Can you guys not make out when I’m home.”
Teagan shrugs. “When you pay the rent, you can determine the rules.”
“No, Mom, I work with him and…gross.”
“I happen to think kissing is a very natural thing. Derek, kiss me.”
“Hi, Chastity,” I say, hoping to stop their conversation and get out of this.
“Hi, Dr. Hartz.”
“Derek, please call me Derek,” I tell her again.
She’s pretty much refused to, and I don’t know why.
“Fine, Derek. Good morning.”
“Good morning.” I smile. I can’t remember the last time that Everly said that to me. Maybe if the two of them could get along, she could convince my daughter I don’t suck.
Teagan gets up, grabbing the plate of eggs and bacon she didn’t eat, and I grab it. “I’ll eat that.”
She laughs. “You’re still the same, always hungry and willing to eat anything.”
“And you still eat like a bird.”
Chastity sits at the table. “See, Mom, we should get a bird.”
I grin. “You should.”
“Why? So the stupid cat can eat it or worse, I’d end up with a pregnant bird.”
“I bet you’re more of a dog person,” I say conspiratorially.
“Oh! Yes, a dog.” Chastity beams.
Teagan turns and glares at me. “I know what you’re doing and I’m not getting an animal. I live in this tiny-ass apartment where I can barely fit the human crap, no way are we getting a dog.”
“Don’t let her fool you, Dr. Har—errr-Derek, she has a million excuses and none of them involve space.”
“I love animals, thank you very much,” Teagan defends. “Outside.”
“It’s fine, Chastity and I will make you an animal lover,” I inform her.
Chastity lifts her hand in a fist bump. I, of course, return the bump and Teagan is fighting a smile while trying to appear pissed.
“You.” She points at me. “Out. My daughter and I need to talk about alliances and whatnot.”
“Sounds good.” I walk over to her, not sure if I kiss her or do we hug?
So, I wait…praying she takes mercy on me and leads. Teagan looks at me with a grin and then finally she wraps her arms around me and kisses my cheek. “I’ll call you later.”
“Still gross,” Chastity says.
I walk over to her and give her the fist bump sign. “See you later to help with the horses?”
She lifts her fist, tapping mine, and nods. “Definitely.”
As I walk out of the apartment I can’t help but smile. Moving back to Chincoteague has been the best thing to happen in a long time.
* * *
My phone rings from a number I don’t know. “Hello?”
“Hi, Dr. Derek, it’s
