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He took off. A minute later, he came back and handed me a folded blanket. I laid it on my lap. He looked around, then crossed the room and sat on the couch.
After a few moments of silence, he said, “Why don’t you come over here? More comfortable than that chair. Warmer, too, closer to the radiator. ”
“I’m fine. ”
“Hard to talk to you over there, across the room. ”
He moved down to the end of the couch, though there’d already been plenty of room. He put his arm along the back. He tried for a smile and didn’t really manage it, but my heart still did a little flip.
He’s sorry, Chloe. He really is a sweet guy. Don’t be a bitch about this. And don’t screw it up. Just go over there. Give him a chance and, in no time, you’ll forget everything else
.
And that’s exactly why I stayed in my chair. I didn’t want to forget everything else or the next thing I knew, he’d be back on that roof, putting his life in danger.
“You don’t get to do this,” I said finally.
“Do what?” He asked the question innocently enough, but his gaze dipped slightly. “I’m sorry. That’s what I’m trying to say, Chloe. That I’m sorry. ”
“For what?”
He looked up, confused. “Making you mad. ”
I didn’t answer, just got up to leave. I made it as far as the door. Then he was there, behind me, hand on my elbow. I didn’t look back at him. I didn’t dare. But I stopped and I listened.
“When I got mad about you leaving,” he said, “it wasn’t because I thought it was stupid or I didn’t think you’d be careful. ”
“You were just worried about me. ”
An exhale, relieved that I understood. “Yeah. ”
I turned. “Because you think I’m worth it. ”
He put his fingers under my chin. “I absolutely think you’re worth it. ”
“But you don’t think you are. ”
His mouth opened. Shut.
“That’s what this is about, Derek. You won’t let us worry about you because you don’t think you’re worth it. But I do. I absolutely do. ”
I lifted onto my toes, put my hands around his neck, and pulled him down. When our lips met, that first jolt…It was everything I hadn’t felt with Simon, everything I’d wanted to feel.
His hands went around my waist, pulling me closer-
Simon’s footsteps thudded through the hall. We jumped apart.
“And he says I have lousy timing,” Derek grumbled. Then he called, “What’s up?”
“Andrew says he needs to go to the bathroom,” Simon said, walking in. “I’m all for saying too bad, but…”
“Fine. I’ll handle it,” Derek said. “Chloe? Wanna come-”
“I need to talk to Simon. ”
He gave me a weird look at that, but only for a second, like he wasn’t jealous, just maybe a little hurt that I wasn’t jumping to come with him.
“It’s important,” I said. “Grab Tori, though. She can help with Andrew. ”
He nodded and left.
Thirty-seven
“SO,” SIMON SAID. “LOOKS like you and Derek are getting along again. What happened? Did he give you the look?”
“Look?”
“You know. The one that makes him look like a whipped puppy, and makes you feel like a jerk for doing the whipping. ”
“Ah, that one. So it works on you, too?”
He snorted. “It even works on Dad. We give in, we tell him it’s okay, and the next thing you know, he’s chewing up slippers again. ”
I laughed.
Simon slumped into a chair. “The problem is, you know he’s trying to do the right thing. So what if he doesn’t think about himself enough? Would we rather he was a self-centered “jerk?” He shook his head, then said, “You wanted to talk?”
“There’s something I need to suggest, but…Derek’s not going to like it. ”
“Spill. ”
I told him what I had in mind. When I finished, he swore.
“Bad idea?” I said.
“No, good idea. But you’re right-he’ll never go for it. If you even suggest it, he’ll think it’s a test and either get mad or do it to humor you, which won’t help, because if he’s just humoring us, he won’t stay there. ”
“Stay where?” a voice asked.
We looked over as Tori walked in.
“I thought I heard Derek calling me,” she said. “What’s up?”
I told her my idea.
“We should have done that the minute we knew they were gunning for him,” she said. “Why would he complain? It’s not like you’re telling him to get lost-just hide out for a few hours, make them think he’s gone. ” She sat on the sofa. “You’ve got my vote, not that it counts for anything. ”
“It does,” I said. “You’re part of this. We need to start acting like you are. ”
I looked at Simon.
He shrugged. “I guess so. ”
“Gosh, I’ve never felt so wanted,” Tori said.
“I trust you not to stab me in the back for fun,” he said. “But if it’s in your best interests? I’m not turning around. Just in case. ”
“So I’ve gone from evil incarnate to ordinary bitch. I can live with that. ” She stretched out her legs. “So who’s telling Derek?”
“No one,” I said. “That’s the problem. He won’t do it and even by suggesting-”
“You want me to lie low?” The deep rumble from the doorway had us all look up. Derek stepped in. “Pretend I took off?” He turned to Simon. “Is that what you want?”
“It is,” Simon said.
“Chloe?”
“It’s not about what we want,” I said. “Who was the one Andrew knocked out last night? Who’s the one they’re all watching? They want you gone, Derek, and I honestly don’t think they’ll make a move until you are. ”
He met my gaze, searching it, like he was looking for something there. He must have seen it, because he nodded. “Okay. You’re right. We need them to relax, and they won’t do that with me around. ”
Not exactly the rationale I hoped for, but I took it.
We decided the best place for Derek was the attic. There were windows that Derek could jump out of easily, so it was safer than the basement. Dirtier, but safer.
