Page 107 of Cheater

“His sister,” a female voice calls out. “I want to meet his new girlfriend properly.”

The blonde ducks under Derek’s arm sideways and breezes into the apartment, looking surprised at the sight of two of us, and looking over me with concern, I guess. Derek shuts the door and seems to take stock of me himself before rushing to the kitchen to tend to the food.

Grace Steele’s eyes bounce between me and Alannah. She’s a gorgeous curly-haired blonde with striking gray eyes, dressed in black pencil pants and a white with black pinstripe blouse. Cute little red flats. Full face of makeup. Tasteful, expensive jewelry.

Alannah is dressed in one of her business suits. She dressed to come here and take matters into her hands and resolve matters like she’d do if this was mediation she was the arbitrator for.

I’m sitting here in the pink robe with an oversized tee and shorts, barefoot, and bed-headed. No doubt my face is still puffy from all the crying last night.

“I’m Alannah. Chloe’s best friend,” Alannah greets.

“I’m Grace. Derek’s youngest sibling.” She extends her hand and Alannah rises and takes it.

Grace then reaches for my hand. I stand up.

“Good to meet you, Chloe. You look like you’d rather be anywhere but here,” Grace very observantly states.

“That’s because I don’t want to be here.” I reply.

I look at Derek and he’s watching us but not doing anything about this little exchange. He’s not shooting me warning looks. He’s not smiling, but he also doesn’t look angry. He’s moving pancakes to a platter.

“Why not?” Grace asks me.

“I’ve derailed her life and forced her to be here,” Derek answers. Now he’s moving bacon from the pan to a plate covered in paper towel.

“Why?” Grace asks him.

“Because I want her,” he says simply, then swipes paper towel across the griddle before re-buttering it.

Grace’s eyes bounce back to me with concern before she asks, “Got enough for one more for breakfast, Derek?”

Derek grumbles something under his breath, then instructs, “Set the table.”

“He always made me pancakes when I was sad as a little girl. I’m a little jealous right now that he’s making them for you. Have you ever made anyone pancakes besides me, Derek?”

“Nope,” Derek replies. “They always cheered you up, so I was hoping they’d do the same for Chloe.”

“In that case, I guess I don’t mind. But why does she need cheering up?” She puts her hands on her waist. “What did you do?”

“Derailed her life. Made her move in with me. I’m making her marry me on Monday.”

Alannah and I watch this exchange with fascination as Grace takes plates down from a kitchen cupboard.

“Why aren’t you wooing her the regular way?”

“Do I do anything the regular way?” he fires back.

She snorts. “Fair point. Paint me a picture, Derek.”

“She was engaged. The guy didn’t deserve her. Things she said had me pay attention. It lit a match in me. I intervened.”

“And where is the guy now?” she asks, eyeballing us for a second as she sets the four plates on the dining table.

“He’s at his home, counting all the opportunities I’ve put in front of him. I didn’t off him, Grace. He’s just no longer engaged to Chloe.”

“Do you have a habit of offing people?” Alannah calls over, alarmed.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to,” Derek advises, deadpan.

---