Page 58 of Always Right

"Fear of what?"

Evie covered my hand with hers, squeezing gently. She wasn't pushing for answers...it wasn't curiosity, it was concern.

"Pain."

A quiet laugh left her lips, and she shook her head with sadness. "It's okay to be afraid, Hannah. There is no shame in that. I am terrified of meeting Dylan...but letting fear make the calls is the worst decision we can make...and Derek...he's just doing what he thinks you want."

"I know," I whispered.

But fear was safe. Fear would keep me from getting hurt...or at least it's what I told myself. We stood there in silence until snow flurries started to fall from the sky, a smile lingering on my lips as I walked to my assigned cabin.

The door creaked as it opened, and though I heard movement and Derek’s voice in another room, all my eyes could see was the piano that was set in the living room near the large window.

My chest constricted and my fingers tingled.

It seemed like an eternity since I'd played the piano.

So many things had happened that had made me a different person and yet, that need to play remained.

It was beautiful...more than any other piano I'd ever seen. The golden details against the white wood made it stand out. It was everything I'd ever wanted.

Drawn to it, I sat on the bench in front of it, my fingers touching the intricate details but not daring to press any key. My vision blurred and my heart begged for me to play, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not yet.

Not when every note would be heavy with the pain in my heart.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I tore my gaze from the piano, meeting Derek’s curious eyes as he looked at me from the staircase. He leaned against it so casually, as if he expected my reaction. Hell, he probably did. I bit down on my lip, unable to force any words from my mouth as I watched Derek put his beanie on.

“I saw it here and figured you’d be eager to play it. I’m surprised you haven’t yet.”

I pursed my lips, his words hurting more than I expected. He knew me too well. Too much.

“I suppose I was wrong about that, hm?”

I licked my lips, following his movements as he slipped on a jacket with ease. He was going out, and wasn’t even hiding it. And fuck...it hurt.

My chest felt hollow.

“I don’t play the piano anymore,” I managed to say.

Derek’s expression faltered, but he mustered a half smile, shaking his head. “There’s many things you don’t do anymore.”

Oh God.

It hurt. His words hurt more than I could admit. There was no malice in them...they were simply the truth, and he wasn’t hiding it. He was pushing me away the best way that he could—wearing his heartache on his sleeve. I’d shattered him and he was making sure I knew it. I slid off the bench, ignoring the ache in my stomach as I followed behind him to the kitchen, his shoulders tense.

“I’m going out to the town,” Derek stated, slipping his wallet into his pocket.

“Right now?” I asked the question without much thought, watching him raise a curious eyebrow. “I mean...it’s late...”

“It is,” he replied. “But I won’t be getting much sleep anyway. Unless you had plans?”

My mouth opened and closed, but in the end I said nothing.

“I already put the girls down in their playpen so they're sleeping, but if you need anything just call me or text and I’ll be here.”

I watched him as he walked to the door, not bothering to look back, not until I spoke.

---