Page 99 of Always Right

Hannah

Mark: We’ve got the right person. I’ll get you the info ASAP.

I stared at the screen of my phone, angrily wiping away the tears that ran down my cheeks. I hated this. I was angry at the world, at life for forcing me to go through this pain again. I’d done some fucked up things before, but I didn’t deserve this.

I knew for a fact I didn’t.

Evie’s voice carried from my kitchen, where she’d made herself at home trying to cook breakfast for all of us but all I craved was silence. Nathan chuckled after she said something, and then when Lily did the same, I couldn’t handle it anymore. All of it was making me physically sick.

Running to the restroom, I lifted the toilet seat and threw up, emptying the little food I had in my stomach. I heard the door open behind me, and then a gentle hand on my back as I sat there, heaving and with my heart racing. Everything hurt, physically and emotionally. I was in so much pain all I could do was sit there with my eyes closed.

My mother would have been ashamed.

There I was, sitting next to a toilet because I couldn't keep my emotions in check. Because I'd grown close to others and opened my heart.

These are the consequences of your actions.

I heard her voice, clear as day...even though she was long gone.

“I wish you’d talk to me.”

Derek sat next to me, running his hand up and down my back. His brows pulled together as he looked at me, but I didn’t speak, unable to get any words out. He’d had the same look on his face since I’d visited my father. So concerned, so heartbroken, like he could mirror my expression. He didn’t pry, though I was sure it was tearing him apart not knowing what I knew. He loved me so much it didn’t matter to him that my sanity was quickly unraveling in front of him. Derek was determined to put the pieces back together.

“You haven’t kept any food down since yesterday, love. You need to eat.” He brushed my hair back and I shifted, resting my head on his shoulder. "I'm worried about you."

I didn't have to ask for his comfort, he simply gave it to me without question. It was all I needed. The problems remained but if he was with me, they became bearable.

The sound of a quiet knock and the door opening invaded the small room. I opened my eyes only to catch Nathan looking at us with a solemn expression. He knew how badly this had pulled me under.

"We chopped up some fruit for you and the girls." My stomach churned and I closed my eyes again, taking a deep breath to control it. I refused to throw up again. "It would do you well to eat something and then come down to the gallery with me, I think."

"I think he's right." Derek pressed a kiss on my temple, his soothing touch caressing my arm.

"Can we take it to go? And can it be a family trip?" I managed to ask, finally meeting Nathan's eyes.

He smiled, giving me a single nod before he walked away.

After a few more minutes, Derek helped me to my feet. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, all with him standing there and waiting. I didn't bother with makeup; nothing would hide how shitty I felt, but I braided my hair and headed to our bedroom to change into jeans and a t-shirt.

When I was done, he still stood there, eyes set on me but with an expression I couldn't quite read. His shoulders were tense and I couldn't help but notice the way his jaw ticked.

"Is everything okay?"

It was a stupid question. I knew it wasn’t. There was a battle he was fighting but he wasn’t telling me either. How had it all gotten so fucked up?

He ran his thumbs over my cheeks, his beautiful emerald eyes studying me before he leaned in and kissed me, breathing me in as if I may disappear. It sent my heart racing, the way he held me, his grip tight around my body and his mouth moving against mine in perfect synchrony.

God, it was like he was trying to make the moment last forever.

I could feel myself heating, getting lost in the moment and forgetting we had our family waiting for us, but I couldn't bring myself to care, not with the way he kissed me.

It wasn't often he lost control...not often that he couldn't keep himself reigned in, but this? This Derek was desperate. I could feel it seeping into my bones. He walked me back against the wall, trapping me between it and his hard body. He broke the kiss when we remembered to breathe, but I didn't miss the rapid beats of his heart or the darkness in his eyes.

"What is going on?" I asked him.

"I need to be inside you." The words were a shaky exhale on his part and there was so much hidden beneath them. It wasn't just lust, it wasn't just love.

"They're waiting for us," I whispered, even though I knew it was a pointless fight. I wouldn't deny it, not when I could see that familiar feeling in his eyes.

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