Page 117 of All I Ask
Teagan grins. “I’m kidding. It’ll be fine, she’ll be home soon, you can have that awkward,I just slept with your mothermoment and then you two can go back to your weird animal stories.”
I roll my eyes. “They’re not weird.”
“Yeah, the fact that you two talk about changes in poop of the stupid cat, who I still hate, is weird.”
For the first time since her mother’s call interrupted us, I see my Teagan. The girl who smiles, makes fun of me, who can radiate the world by being around because she’s who she is. Her laugh is infectious and I hate that he stole any of that from her.
“It’s important when it comes to the health of an animal.”
She shudders. “It’s strange.”
I lean over the table. “I think you like strange.”
Her smile grows as she inches closer to me. “Do you?”
“I do.”
“And what if it’s not strange I like?”
“Hmm…”Our lips are a breath apart. “What do you like?”
She closes the distance. “You.”
“Good answer because I like you.”
I make the final push and press my lips to hers. I’ve wanted to kiss her since we got here last night. But minutes after we got into bed she was asleep on my chest, her hair over my arm, looking so peaceful as I held her. I did kiss her forehead, but that was because I couldn’t stop myself. I want her like that every night. I want to wake up with her next to me. I want to come home from work and see her in that house, making dinner or painting. Any way that I can have her, I will take.
“Gross.” Chastity’s voice cuts through and I quickly move back in my seat. “Can you guys not make out when I’m home.”
Teagan shrugs. “When you pay the rent, you can determine the rules.”
“No, Mom, I work with him and…gross.”
“I happen to think kissing is a very natural thing. Derek, kiss me.”
“Hi, Chastity,” I say, hoping to stop their conversation and get out of this.
“Hi, Dr. Hartz.”
“Derek, please call me Derek,” I tell her again.
She’s pretty much refused to, and I don’t know why.
“Fine, Derek. Good morning.”
“Good morning.” I smile. I can’t remember the last time that Everly said that to me. Maybe if the two of them could get along, she could convince my daughter I don’t suck.
Teagan gets up, grabbing the plate of eggs and bacon she didn’t eat, and I grab it. “I’ll eat that.”
She laughs. “You’re still the same, always hungry and willing to eat anything.”
“And you still eat like a bird.”
Chastity sits at the table. “See, Mom, we should get a bird.”
I grin. “You should.”
“Why? So the stupid cat can eat it or worse, I’d end up with a pregnant bird.”
