Derek doesn’t take a step back, using his slightly larger frame to assert his dominance. “Emery and I have a relationship outside of school.”
My mouth pops open at the audacity of this fucking man.
Did he just claim a non-student-teacher relationship with me in front of a student, when that’s all I wanted for the past three weeks? To be acknowledged?
Forcing my throat to find words, I try to interject. “No, we do not.” Not anymore, anyway.
“Yes, we do. And I’d like to have a word with you. In private.” Derek cuts me a look that would have previously had me backing down, but fuck that shit.
He doesn’t own me. He fucking ignored me and trampled all over the one fucking boundary I had for all four of them, and now he wants to swoop in here and do whatever shit this is?
Turning his attention back to Will, who has taken that forced step backward, Derek offers him a tight smile. “Just a couple of minutes, then you can take her home.”
Will glances between the two of us, clearly wanting to go to battle for me. He takes a deep breath and crouches back down, one hand cupping my knee and the other reaching forward to tuck some hair behind my ear. “I’ll be over by the door with Vinnie. Unless you don’t want to talk to him?”
I swallow and flick a look at Derek. His jaw is tight, and he’s wearing an expression that should be flaying Will alive. I’m so fucking confused right now, and I don’t think I can even blame the concussion. “I…yes, that’s fine. I, just give us a couple of minutes?”
With a squeeze of my knee, he stands. “No worries. Like I said, I’ll be over there.” Shooting one more look at Derek, he goes over to Vinnie, who has a confused look on his face.
“Thanks, Marie. Could you give us a minute?”
I whip my attention back to Derek. Of course he knows Marie. They are both Obsession members.
“Yes, sir,” she replies, the happy, bubbly nurse disappearing as she responds with a quiet and soft voice.
A subby voice.
What the hell is going on?
My heart is fucking racing and my limbs feel all tingly.
Is this another goddamn game?
Derek pulls out a yellow envelope and crouches down the same way Will had. The hardness of his features softens as his gaze roams over me, taking in everything, all the way down to my braced wrist.
“You gave us quite the scare, do you know that?” Derek asks, brushing the knuckles of his free hand over the back of my non-braced hand, a sad smile on his face.
The sensation is like touching fire, and I pull my hand back, not bothering to respond. Well, really, I can’t respond, not with the way my throat has swollen up.
He sighs, his smile slipping away, and offers me the envelope. “This is for you.”
I don’t reach for it. My heart is absolutely racing, and I feel a little sick. I don’t want any more envelopes from them. Ever.
Derek lowers the envelope onto my bag. “You don’t have to open it right now. Actually, I advise you not open it until you’re ready. Some privacy might also be beneficial. I won’t tell you what’s in the envelope, but I will tell you this. I know I messed up this thing between us. You will never know how utterly sorry I am for that. You have every right to be angry that I cut you out of the decision-making process. This is your life, after all. I’m not going to make excuses or try to explain my side of things. Not letting you know what the plan entailed was our mistake, so this time, I’m going to make it abundantly clear.
“What I am going to do is let you know that we aren’t going anywhere. All four of us are still here, and we are going to wait for as long as you need us to. We aren’t ready to let you go. Yes, we are going to give you space, but we are going to be here for you in whatever capacity you allow.”
My cheeks burn with frustration as I frown at him, my entire body burning with irritation and a little fear. “But I saidred, it’s over.”
He nods, pensive energy radiating from him. “You did. But what we never discussed is what comes after using your safe word.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“Discussion. A conversation about what was happening, what went wrong, what would need to change for future situations. Make a plan. I know you aren’t ready to have that conversation with us right now, that’s what the letter is for. In the envelope is a plan the four of us have devised and will be actioning over the coming weeks and months if necessary. This is us providing you with all the information. Please consider reading it.” Derek holds a hand up before I can voice my protest. “When you are ready, of course. If you choose to never open it, that is your decision to make. You have all the power here.”
Chest heavy, I stare at him before slowly placing my hand on top of the envelope.
A quick twist of a smile appears on his handsome face, then he reaches for the sunglasses tucked into his shirt and slides them onto my face, before he stands and takes a step back. He glances back over his shoulder and gestures to Will. “You can take her home now.” He turns back to me. “I’m having your things delivered back to your dorm.”
