Page 46 of Derek

His stomach was a knot of frustration and dread. She hadn’t even given him a chance to explain. Sonja wasn’t just upset—she was shutting him out. And that scared him more than anything Angie could ever pull.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Sonja woke with a massive headache and needed a moment to remember what had happened. Her stomach dropped as she reviewed the events of the past evening. She covered her mouth as she bit back a sob. She was done crying and feeling sorry for herself. She wouldn’t give in to the urge to curl up in a ball. Resolved to move forward, she sat upright and received a disgruntled look from Snuggles.

With fake cheer in her voice, she crooned to him, “Want some breakfast, sweet boy?” Snuggles stretched, turned around, and flopped on the bed again.

Okay, I guess he’s not hungry, but I’m going to get up and have breakfast—strong coffee and a couple ibuprofen!

Sonja pulled on her fluffy robe and shoved her feet into her favorite pink slippers. Before she left the bedroom, she gave in to temptation and grabbed her favorite stuffed animal from the shelf. Sonja cuddled the light-gray elephant to her chest as she went down to the kitchen.

As she waited for the coffee to brew, she fought to keep her tears at bay.

Apparently, people forget pain because I can’t remember feeling this hurt before.The silence in her home pressed downon her, and she picked up her phone to put on music at the same time the device started to vibrate.

She almost dropped it but answered without glancing at the screen. “Yeah?”

“Babgirl.”

She sobbed at hearing Derek’s voice and answered, “Daddy?” before realizing what she was doing. She stiffened and pulled herself together. “Why are you calling, Derek?”

“Whatever you saw last night, it’s not what you think.”

Sonja scoffed. “You mean another woman wasn’t hugging you and calling you Daddy?”

“Please, can we talk?”

“Why?”

“I want to explain.” Derek sighed, and she imagined him running his hand over his face as he did when agitated. “But not over the phone. Can I come over?”

Sonja thought for a moment. She didn’t want him in her home right now, but she wanted his explanation. He was right. It was a conversation to have face to face.

“Meet me in half an hour at The Sweet and Savory Table.” Sonja had to go to work anyway. “Aside from Suzie, no one will be there yet, and she’ll be busy in the kitchen.”

“I’ll be there.”

Sonja poured herself a cup of coffee and set it on the counter to cool off then added a chocolate-filled croissant, Suzie’s specialty that was a favorite among the café’s regulars. After eating half, she downed two painkillers with a tall glass of water and went for a shower.

Derek paced up and down the pavement in front of the café for at least ten minutes before he spotted the familiar small red sports car. His knees almost buckled in relief. She was here, and she wanted to talk.

His beautiful babygirl got out of the car and greeted him with a nod and a terse, “Derek.”

He could live with that. As long as he didn’t have to live withouther.

“Good morning, Sonja.”

She opened the café and went inside in front of him. He followed her and almost had to laugh at how out of character their dynamic was, but when he saw her rigid shoulders, he sobered. She was hurting, and before he could remedy that, they had to talk.

“Coffee?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you.”

“All right, let’s go into the office.”

Sonja took the lead again, and he followed her into the room at the back of the café. “Take a seat.”

Derek did as she suggested. Sonja sat behind the desk, putting the formidable barrier between them.

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