Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
The emotion slowly drained from her eyes as she drifted back to earth, as she became pragmatic once again.
“A couple months ago, my dad had a conversation with me that I didn’t want to have. He told me to stop running around with younger women and find a partner my age to have a meaningful relationship with, someone with a connection that goes beneath the skin. That’s what we have. That’s what they want.”
She regarded me for a long time, the distress finally gone from her gaze. “I’m surprised he said that to you. I mean, a lot of rich, hot guys never settle down. They run around with young women forever, even into their sixties.”
I stared at her for a long time, my breathing increasing because the pain of the past still haunted me, after all this time. I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to talk about the worst night of my life when I had looked like the biggest idiot on the fucking planet, when I’d lost my best friend since first grade…and the woman I trusted more than anyone else. “Because he knew my promiscuous lifestyle was a result of the last relationship I was in…and I never really recovered from it.”
Her eyes fell with pain, like she felt exactly what I did without even knowing what happened. “Derek, what—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I didn’t mention it to get into a discussion about it. I just needed to explain. “I just want you to understand that my parents are very happy about this relationship, and the last thing you need to worry about is their opinion of you—because their opinion of you is directly correlated to my happiness. I’m sure it’s obvious by now, but in case it’s not, I’m really fucking happy.”
She came to me, her hands pressing against my stomach, looking up at me with that beautiful face. “I’m really happy too, Derek.”
When I looked into those eyes, I got lost, got lost in this new reality she gave me. My life had more meaning in a way it hadn’t before. My entire identity was based on my profession, but she made it mean more.
“But…you can tell me anything. There’s nothing you could say to make me think less of you, make this relationship change. I don’t care who was in your heart before me, what happened, but I don’t want you to be afraid to share.”
“It’s not that I’m afraid… I just don’t want to talk about it.”
Her hands circled my waist, and she came closer to me until her face was next to mine. “Maybe in time, you’ll tell me, and I’m patient enough to wait and see.”
Nineteen
Emerson
Lizzie finished her dishes before she wiped down the counters. She used to slack off on her chores, but when they weren’t done well enough, I made her do them again, so she learned it was smart to do them right the first time. “I’m going to bed.” She came to me at the table and hugged me and her grandmother before she went to her room. “Night.”
“Night, sweetheart.” My mom watched her walk down the hallway as she drank from her tea. The second Lizzie’s bedroom door shut down the hallway, she turned on me. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on or what?”
I looked up from my laptop, ignoring the emails sitting in Derek’s inbox and giving her a puzzled expression. “Sorry?”
“Honey, how stupid do you think I am? You think I don’t notice the smeared makeup? You clean yourself up good, but you used to come home from work every day just as fresh as when you left, and now you walk in the door like you just went to the gym.”
Damn, my mom was good.
“I wasn’t going to say anything because I thought this was just one of your flings or whatever, but it’s been a few weeks now.”
I closed my laptop and crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s none of your business, Mom.”
“It is when I’m the one watching your daughter.”
“Like you don’t love watching her.”
“Not the point.” She shook her finger at me. “And I’m just nosy. I’m supposed to be. I’m your mother after all.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s Derek, isn’t it?”
“Mom.”
“I can see it all over your face.” She shot me a victorious look before she drank her tea again. “That is one gorgeous man, so good for you. But he’s also your boss…and that’s a big no-no. Come on, the entire family relies on this income, and you shouldn’t risk it because you can’t help yourself—”
“It’s not like that.”
“It’s not?” she asked, setting down her mug.
“The relationship is pretty new, but…it’s a relationship.”
“Really?” she asked.
I nodded. “I wouldn’t risk employment if it weren’t worth it…and he is worth it. He also told me if it really got bad, we could still work together and never see each other in person. Communicate via email and such.”