“News travels fast, I guess.” I wondered if Rose had told him, but it could have been Hank. Hank was a good guy but he was the town’s biggest gossip.
“Welcome back,” he said, taking a step back.
“Thanks,” I said.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” he said.
“Are you now?” I asked, lifting a brow. “Why is that?”
He took a step forward, gathering his courage and lifting his chin to appear bigger. “I believe you were given instructions to leave and never come back.”
I scoffed, shaking my head.
“Of course you were in on that,” I said. “I thought it was just Rose’s old man, but of course you were involved, too.”
“I didn’t say that.” He raised his hands in protest.
“What are you saying, then, Derek?” I spat his name, hating the feel of it on my tongue.
“I’m just saying maybe you shouldn’t be here. Not much has changed, not in that regard. Nothing has changed with Rose.”
“You think you’re the only one who hears gossip? I heard all about her kicking your ass to the curb.”
He blinked and huffed.
“I’m not afraid of you, or anyone, Derek. Not anymore,” I said, towering over him.
“Well, maybe you should be.”
“Do your worst, Chief,” I said, shaking my head.
“Stay away from Rose, Blade!” His words were almost childlike and I realized then that maybe life had knocked Derek down a few pegs after all. It was obvious he wasn’t as in control as he always expected to be.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“Fuck off, you little weasel,” I said, walking past him and leaving him watching after me. I didn’t turn back until I was sure he was gone, and then I went back after him, following far enough behind that he couldn’t see me.
I watched him go into Cherry’s now empty room and snuck up, peering into the edge of the window. I watched him pull a vial from his pocket and open the bag of her IV, then he turned around, blocking my view.
After a moment, he looked down at her and patted her hand, then turned to walk out. I turned and jogged down the hallway around the corner quickly, my head spinning.
I stopped to listen as he talked to a nurse in the hallway.
“Doctor, I’m concerned she isn’t waking up. I’m not sure what to tell the family and they keep asking for other doctors.”
“Some patients just don’t respond to treatment, you know that,” he barked at her.
“Yes, Doctor,” she said, putting her head down. “Your afternoon consultation is here. They’re waiting in your office.”
“Cancel it,” he said. “I need to leave.”
“Yes, Doctor,” she said, scurrying away in fear.
I’d seen that look on so many kid’s faces in high school. Derek had a way of talking down to people, and he seemed to choose the weakest of them to treat the worse. That’s how bullies operate, though.
He pulled his phone out and dialed someone.
“Fuck,” he said after a few seconds. “Rose, where the fuck are you? I’m on my way over, you stupid bitch.”
I turned and headed towards the exit.
If he was going to see Rose, I was going to get there first.
Chapter 34
ROSE
I ignored Derek’s call but I cringed when I heard his voicemail. The last thing I wanted was to see him and deal with his bullshit today.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Blade. I’d been too quick to anger, I saw that now. I wanted to call him and beg him to come back, but I realized I didn’t even have his phone number.
He’d come and gone so quickly, there’d been no time for anything but the whirlwind of emotions, the few words we exchanged…and that sex.
My god, what was that?
I’d remembered being with Blade had been incredibly exciting back when we were kids, even though we’d only actually gone all the way once. For years, we were both happy to kiss and go on long walks holding hands. It all seems so innocent when I look back on it now.
But what happened today was something else entirely.
It certainly wasn’t innocent.
It was raw and primordial and feral and wild.
And, unfortunately, it culminated in anger. Pure, unadulterated, misplaced anger.
I walked out the back door of the house and sat down by the pool, closing my eyes and trying to mentally prepare myself for Derek’s visit. I’d trained myself over the years to not respond to his outbursts. If he saw that he was upsetting me, it encouraged him. The only thing that made him stop was if he thought he wasn’t getting through. So, I faked it and became a stoic statue when he started ranting.
Since we’d separated, I’d found his ranting to be a little harder to take each time.
The roar of an engine broke the peaceful silence and my heart skipped a beat. I ran back through the house and flung open the front door, thrilled to find Blade standing there.
“You came back!”
“We need to talk, Rose. I’m sorry if I came across as being critical earlier, that wasn’t my intention.”
“I know,” I said, my heart melting.
“Can I come in?” he asked, just as I saw Derek’s Porsche turn into the driveway. I groaned and Blade turned to look.
“Yeah, I was gonna tell you he was on his way,” he said.
“How did you know?”
“I ran into him at the hospital. Pretty sure I pissed him off.”
“Oh.”
Derek parked his car and jumped out, running up to the house furiously once he saw Blade standing there.
“Of course you’re here,” Derek said, as he ran up the front porch steps. Blade stepped between us and I had to look around his side to even see Derek anymore.
“Move out of the fucking way,” Derek demanded.
Blade laughed and shook his head. “No fucking way, dude.”
“She’s my wife!” Derek insisted.
“Pretty sure only on paper these days,” Blade said. Derek fumed, his face turning red, his eyes darkening.
“Look, you’ve been gone a long time. Maybe you forgot how things work around here. But I’m happy to remind you.”
“Oh, please enlighten me,
