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It isn’t fair. He has this idea of me as a naïve little girl, or worse, an actively vengeful rejected mate. I guess I’d just keep calling him Mr. Ledderman forever.
* * *
Derek drivesthe kids to their grandmother’s house a couple of hours away, and tells me he might not be home that night. It’s a Friday, and I have absolutely nothing better to do, so I make myself some cocktails using Derek’s expensive vodka and take it out to the pool on Friday evening. It’s nearing dusk and a little cold out, but the pool is heated and when I slip down into the water, I sigh in relief.
I’ve been feeling oddly achy over the last few days, dizzy on and off, but I think I’m finally getting better. I have good days and bad days, and I guess the stress of this whole situation just got the best of me.
It’s nice to relax, especially with no one in the house. I haven’t ever lived alone, and I guess this is what it would be like...if I was a billionaire, anyway.
I tilt my head back, looking up at the stars and sipping my drink. It seems to be going to my head quicker than normal, but I guess it doesn’t matter. The kids aren't here and Derek won’t be home tonight.
I go for a couple of laps and then tread water in the middle of the pool, feeling a little tipsy but none the worse for wear.
I don’t hear Derek’s car when it pulls up. I see him walk around the corner of the house, though, and I squeak as he walks out to the pool after going into the house.
“You decided to take over my pool, I see,” he says, and I don’t know if he’s angry or not, so I just keep treading water, looking up at him.
“Sorry,” I chirp, not sounding very sorry. “In my defense, I thought you’d be away all night.”
Derek stiffens. “You didn’t invite anyone over, did you?”
I scoff. “I wouldn’t do that, Mr. Ledderman.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call me that,” he mumbles, taking off his tie and tossing it on one of the lawn chairs that’s set up near the pool.
He sits down on the edge of the lawn chair and I frown, thinking maybe he really is upset.
“I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to use the pool,” I say in a calm voice, and Derek runs a hand through his hair, leaning down to take off his shoes.
“Who says you weren’t?”
His voice sounds a little hoarse.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
Derek offers me a slight smile. “Fine. Just had a couple of drinks at Mom’s.”
Oh. He’s maybe a little tipsy. I’ve never seen him that way before, and I have to admit that I’m intrigued. Derek is so buttoned-up all of the time and seems to never let loose and have fun.
“I made an extra cocktail if you want it,” I say, gesturing to the full glass next to my near empty one. “I planned on having two, but it’s probably for the best I don’t.”
Derek has taken off his shoes and socks and suit jacket, and he stands up in just his slacks and shirt, which he’s pulling out of his waistband. He takes the cocktail I’d made and drinks all of it, standing there by the pool.
I blink up at him, still treading water, surprised.
“It’s relaxation weekend, right?” he says with a raised eyebrow when I keep looking at him.
I feel my cheeks heat up and I look away.
“You’re right. You deserve to relax, Mr. Ledderman.”
Derek sighs, rolling his shoulders around as he unbuttons his shirt.
“Stop calling me that,” he orders, his voice demanding, and I swallow hard, my heart beating too fast.
“Why?”
“Call me Derek,” he commands, without any other explanation, as he takes off his shirt and then his slacks.
