Page 118 of All I Ask
“I bet you’re more of a dog person,” I say conspiratorially.
“Oh! Yes, a dog.” Chastity beams.
Teagan turns and glares at me. “I know what you’re doing and I’m not getting an animal. I live in this tiny-ass apartment where I can barely fit the human crap, no way are we getting a dog.”
“Don’t let her fool you, Dr. Har—errr-Derek, she has a million excuses and none of them involve space.”
“I love animals, thank you very much,” Teagan defends. “Outside.”
“It’s fine, Chastity and I will make you an animal lover,” I inform her.
Chastity lifts her hand in a fist bump. I, of course, return the bump and Teagan is fighting a smile while trying to appear pissed.
“You.” She points at me. “Out. My daughter and I need to talk about alliances and whatnot.”
“Sounds good.” I walk over to her, not sure if I kiss her or do we hug?
So, I wait…praying she takes mercy on me and leads. Teagan looks at me with a grin and then finally she wraps her arms around me and kisses my cheek. “I’ll call you later.”
“Still gross,” Chastity says.
I walk over to her and give her the fist bump sign. “See you later to help with the horses?”
She lifts her fist, tapping mine, and nods. “Definitely.”
As I walk out of the apartment I can’t help but smile. Moving back to Chincoteague has been the best thing to happen in a long time.
***
My phone rings from a number I don’t know. “Hello?”
“Hi, Dr. Derek, it’s Chastity. Listen, I’m not going to be able to make it today. I have to work on my project before it’s due. So, Everly and I are swamped and are going to be a while.”
I dropped Everly off at Teagan’s earlier today and I guess they got tied up. “Okay, I totally understand, school comes first.”
“Thanks.”
I hang up and text Teagan.
Me:Things okay over at your house?
Teagan:Girls have been doing their social media thing, no screaming so I take that as a good sign. They said they need to work on it and then take other photos for this account thing.
I knew that’s what they were doing. This was an excuse to talk to her today.
Me:I want to see you.
This is really the point. It’s been twenty-four hours and I fucking miss her. My entire body yearns for her.
Teagan:You just saw me when you dropped off Everly.
Me:Not the same. I couldn’t even kiss you, touch you, be near you other than the few seconds we had.
Everly was not having it. She stood at Teagan’s door, waiting until I left to go inside. It’s hard because Chastity isn’t the issue, it’s my kid. She’s still upset about her mother and then she’s got these delusions about Teagan. I worry how she’d react if I did get Teagan to agree to move into that house with us.
It won’t go over well, but I’m also not willing to wait until Everly is ready, considering I don’t think she ever will be.
Teagan:I miss you too. I’m going to drive Everly home and maybe you can sneak out for a kiss?
