Page 36 of Mommy

Derek’s mouth drops open, his confusion morphing into pure shock.

“What?” His voice is gravel on a rocky road.

I’m stunned for a moment.

Did he actually not know this?

Maybe I should have worded that a little less aggressively to soften the blow, but I don’t even know how I could have done that.

All I can offer him now is an apologetic grimace.

“So the mom gets left behind?!”

“Uh, well… yes?” I stumble to answer his question. “Not all the time, but often people only want their puppies.”

“That’s awful.” Shock, anger and disgust morph into one on Derek’s face.

“It is.” I nod, suddenly feeling guilty for bringing up my heartbreak over Viv when it could’ve been so much worse. “But that won’t be Viv.”

She could’ve spent years with me at the shelter, staying in her sad little kennel while other dogs got adopted and went to loving homes. The fact that she won’t, shouldn’t leave me feeling sad, even if it means, I have to let her go.

“Are you working tomorrow?”

Mouth full, I shake my head in answer. Tomorrow is my day off. I thought about going on to see Viv, but… her family will pick her up for a day trip, and I’d just be pacing the hallway until they return her. It’d be unfair, and Shelly wouldn’t allow it anyway.

I don’t usually enjoy my time away from the shelter, because I never know what to do with myself, but the thought of getting to sleep in, and having a lazy morning at Derek’s house makes it feel a lot less devastating. That is, if I get to spend the night again…

“Good, I want to take you to the gym with me. Only, if you want to, of course.”

My eyes bulge.

Seeing Derek work out? Possibly in a skintight compression shirt or possibly even that loose stringer he wore the other day that shows off everything his upper body has to offer? I’d be stupid to say no to that. In fact, I’m not sure, I’d even be physically able to turn down that offer.

Chapter twenty one

Ivory

I make to climb onto the back of his bike. My stomach is a whirl of wild butterflies at the thought of being Derek’s backpack for real. It’s like the first couple times don’t really count because we only went a few blocks and I didn’t even have any gear on except the helmet. It was like a tiny test drive, this time everything feels more serious. I can’t decide if it’s nice or angry butterflies because before my hands even touch the metal I’m pulled back.

“What?” I ask into the inside of my helmet, hoping Derek can understand me. “I can do it.”

Derek gives me a sideways glance before he fully turns to glare at me. His helmet is still sitting on the asphalt next to his feet, where he placed it to fix my back protector.

He insisted on all the protective gear that exists, and on making sure I’m wearing it correctly.

“Alright, princess, here is how this is gonna go: I don’t believe in that bullshit. I don’t believe in fucking 50/50. If I wanna coddle you, I will— end of discussion.”

And with that, he simply picks me up from my feet and lifts me onto the bike before he gets on before me.

I don’t get to give a snarky reply, because the engine roars to life and I scramble to curve my hands around Derek’s waist.

Unlike me, he is wearing nothing but his helmet and gloves for protection. That is, unless his gym clothes count as protective gear, which I highly doubt because even through the gloves I can feel his abs beneath my fingers.

Threading my fingers as best I can, I glue myself against Derek’s large back. The motorcycle goes into motion, slowly rolling off the driveway and onto the street.

Derek eases me into it, driving down the road slowly, gaining just a little bit of speed before we lean into the long curve that’ll take us onto the highway. He explained to me that I needed to make my body fluid and go with his motions; that I needed to trust him.

Doing my best to not stiffen behind him, I lean my helmet against him, closing my eyes when he kicks into a different gear.