Page 78 of All I Ask
Derek’s smile grows. “On whether you hit it or not.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Teagan
Present
My father has always griped about shopping with my mother and I never understood why. She’s never in a hurry, she likes to window-shop a lot, and overall, she’s just relaxed. Dad isn’t that way. He likes to get the task done so he can move onto what he really wants to do—like fishing or football.
House shopping with Derek has given me a whole new understanding for my father’s pain.
First, the agent that is driving us around is an idiot. She’s gotten lost twice, and this town is not that big. Then, Derek’s being the most ridiculous person ever. Each freaking house he finds something else, something that doesn’t even matter, as a reason to move on to seeing the next listing.
“What was wrong with that one?” I ask as we leave the fifth showing.
“Too…beachy.”
The agent clears her throat. “I can find something less beachy if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” He grins as though he’s won a prize.
“We live on an island! The whole damn thing is a beach.”
“Yeah.” He sighs. “But it was old beachy.”
I didn’t know there was such a thing. “So you want more of a new beach feel?”
“I want it to feel like home.”
“It won’t be a home if you never pick it.”
He chuckles once but covers it with a cough.
“We have four more homes lined up that we can look at,” the agent informs us.
“Great. Teagan and I are ready for more.”
Yeah, so ready…
I groan. “I should’ve cut my hair off when I was under that table.”
“But then we wouldn’t have this fun day together.” The first house we’d looked at was perfect. It was a few blocks off the beach but had amazing views. There were some upgrades he could do that would’ve been simple enough. I couldn’t believe how spacious it felt considering the square footage. I would’ve bought it, but he walked out after three minutes.
“Oh.” I laugh without humor. “This is fun?”
“I’m enjoying myself.”
“I’m glad one of us is,” I mutter to myself.
Each house we visit, I try to picture Derek and Everly, and then, somewhere about five minutes into the vision, I show up with groceries or a painting in my hands. Then, Chastity comes out of the front door, smiling with that humongous pregnant cat of hers, and we’re all happy. As though I’m not looking for a house for him, but for us—which I’m not.
It’s a dumb fantasy that keeps coming back.
“I’m begging you to just let me walk home.”
“Here, look at this one.” He ignores the comment and takes the listing paperwork the agent handed him from the front seat. Of course, I’m stuck back here with him because her office is literally her passenger seat.
Derek shakes his head. “Let’s see this one next. Teagan is getting hungry and it’s close to the store. We’ll get you a Snickers since you’re clearly in a mood.”
