Page 30 of Derek
“I’m well aware, thanks, dad.”
“Brat, I swear to god,” he groans. “Call me dad one more time, and I’ll–”
“You’ll what?” I challenge him. “You going to spank me?” I watch his face pale, and his eyes go wide. “That’s what I thought. Though, then you would be back inDad-dymode.” I give him a wink before he shoots me the middle finger.
“You’re an awful big pain in the ass for how tiny you are.” I give him a shrug.
“Not my first time hearing that. Though most find me to be a real delight. Rainbows and sunshine, and all that is good.”
“Uh huh, and it’s endearing, don’t get me wrong, you’re fucking adorable with your happy shit and dimples,”He thinks my dimples are adorable?“But you have this pissed-off fiery side that you try your damndest to hide.” My smile wavers slightly as I stare at him, my heart rate picking up. “You shouldn’t hide it. Eventually, that anger will take over that adorable side until all that’s left is your rage. You don’t deserve that kind of life, Darlin’.”
“And what kind of life is that?” I ask softly as I get up and head to the closet where my bag is. I always keep a small first aid kit on me, though I’m not sure how Derek is going to feel about the bandage selection.
“A lonely one.” He mutters more so to himself. “One where you have no one because you shoved them all away. One where you see no reason to get close to anyone because they’re just gonna end up hurting you.” I walk over to where he is seated and slowly lower myself onto my knees.
“Indy, what are you–” he admonishes me, but I cut him off before he can continue.
“Stop mothering me. I’m an adult, I know what I can and can’t handle.” I snap, but it’s gentle. We stare each other down for a heartbeat before I grab his bloodied hand and begin cleaning it. Blood that he shed for me
“Is that how you live?” I ask while softly blowing on his knuckles when he hisses.
“Pretty much,” he grits out before relaxing again. “People are shit. They lie, cheat, and steal. I got burned once, a long time ago, and I… I didn’t handle it well.” I can hear the guilt and shame in his voice, and it tugs at me.
“You’re not the big bad wolf you make everyone think you are,” I state while poking his wolf’s head tattoo on his hand. “I can see past your mask.”
He lets out a soft chuckle while shaking his head as I put a penguin bandaid over his cut. “Baby girl, that’s because you’re wearing the same mask.”
The truth of it feels very big in this very small room. Neither of us speak while I finish cleaning and penguin-bandaging Derek’s hands.
Chapter13
Derek
“For the love of god! Stop trying to fuck the nurses!” I yell into my phone before nearly chucking it across the fucking shop. The only thing stopping me is Janie sitting at Ash’s table, talking to him. Carter, my brother, laughs on the other end of the phone.
“D, come on now, I didn’t try to fuck her. I simply explained that I knew an amazing remedy if she was having a rough day.” I pinch the bridge of my nose as I walk into the break room.
“Listen, you dumb ass fuck,” I growl into the phone. “I am running out of home nurses to fucking come and stay there. I had to fuckingpleadwith the agency to get that one! Goddamn it!”
“Derek, I’m sorry, I swear the next one… I’ll only fuck her if she asks me first.” I’m going to kill him. I am going to break my rule, fly back to Virginia, and break my little brother’s stupid fucking neck. I hang up my phone and curl my fist before driving it into the punching bag we have set up in here. I hit it twice before noticing a red smear where my knuckles broke open from a few days ago.
My mind flashes to Indy. I haven’t seen her since the day she was assaulted, and I beat the ever-loving fuck out of that dickweed. I loved every second of it, too. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a fistfight. I used to box, but stopped because my hands were getting too fucked up. But god, that fucker and his cries were music to my ears. I hadn’t seen what he did to Indy, but hearing Janie say he attacked her was all I needed. I found him and broke every part of him I could get my hands on. When I saw her bruises and her sweet, plush lips bleeding, I knew it wasn’t enough. I should’ve killed him.
“You okay?” Speak of the devil. I turn to see Indy standing in the doorway with a large bag in her hand. Fuck, she’s stunning. Raven curls loose, and she has thick black-rimmed glasses framing her ice-blue eyes. I didn’t know she needed glasses. They added this sharpness to her otherwise soft face.
“Yeah,” I manage, while grabbing a paper towel and wiping my hand. “I’m just, never mind. Did you need in here?”
Indy sets the bag down on the couch, and I realize it’s one of her gowns. “Oh,” I laugh lightly. “Princess time?” Indy gives me a smile that’s missing her dimples. It’s how I’ve come to differentiate between her real and fake ones.
“Yeah,” she says softly, looking at the gown. “It’s ummm…” She takes a deep, shaky breath. “It’s one of those days that playing a princess is hard.” I furrow my brows.
“You feeling bad or something? Can’t another person go to the party?” I don’t understand why she’s so insistent on doing these kids’ parties on her off days.
“I uh–” She looks up at me, and her eyes are glassy. “It’s not a party thing. I run a non-profit called the Crown Project. It’s where myself and other volunteers that I beg to help me get dressed up and go to children’s hospitals and hang out with the patients.”Oh my god. She’s an actual fucking angel.“So there’s this girl there, Reegan, and I know… I know I’m not supposed to get attached to the kids. We are taught that in nursing school because it can affect your ability to treat properly.”She’s a fucking nurse too?“But I’ve always had a hard time with that rule. Reegan is an amazing girl. She is so sweet and funny. She has cancer and is having surgery today. I promised her I would be there to see her off and for when she wakes up.”
“Wow,” I breathe out, feeling so fucking heavy all of a sudden. “That’s… that’s really amazing, Indy.” I see her dimples pop this time when she smiles, and damn, the things it does to my heart.
“Well,” she breathes out while making a spinning motion with her fingers. “I’m going to get into this dress, but tell me, who’s fucking nurses?” I turn around to give her privacy while chuckling at her question.
