Page 40 of Nostalgia
Which was a relief. I didn’t have to wait for the smell of their craps to go away when I went into the bathroom. I kept all of my hair and makeup organized. I didn’t have to take cold showers because they used up all the hot water. My mother had spoiled me and it was the one thing I missed. The full-sized bed was shoved against the window. It had a floral comforter. I snorted. He was going to look so cute curled up under all the flowers. I flipped the light on and then walked to the bathroom door and kicked it open. It was exactly how I had left it too. There were ponytail holders in a glass jar next to a toothbrush holder. A curling iron and straightener sat discarded in the sink. My hairdryer was still laying on the floor. They hadn’t touched my things. A lump formed in my throat.
Derek’s hand found my shoulder. His fingers worked the muscles there. He didn’t say anything and I wondered how I had made it through all of these emotions without him the first round. His presence did something to me. It calmed and soothed my troubled heart.
I stepped over the cords and hair stuff and pushed my door open slowly. A gasp escaped my lips and I stumbled back into Derek’s arms. He placed his hands on my shoulders and propelled me forward. I was slightly mortified and slightly emotional. Everything was the same, except my bed was made and I have never made my bed growing up. The white comforter was still the same and damn, the horses. Horse posters. Horse figurines. They covered everything.
I liked to imagine that if my dad hadn’t drank all the money away I would have had one. I would have learned how to ride like other kids at school.
Derek let out a whistle behind me as I turned the light on. “I thought I had obsessive tendencies as a kid.”
I ran my hand over my bed and Derek leaned my suitcases against the wall. I wanted to shower but I was too tired. I was too exhausted to even think of a retort for Derek. I reached up onto my tippy toes and kissed his cheek before I turned the light back off. I kicked my shoes into the darkness and crawled under the covers.
I barely heard Derek before I fell asleep. “Thisno funny businessis going to be rather difficult with us sharing a bathroom.” The door closed with a click and I fell asleep almost immediately.
Chapter Forty-Three
Derek
Surprisingly enough,I slept. It had been a restless last few months but for the first time I slept soundly. It wasn’t unusual for a SEAL to be able to fall asleep anywhere and sleep comfortably. That wasn’t my problem, no my problem was that I couldn’t get to the tired part.
I stretched my arms over my head and recognized the sound of a shower running. A very near shower. I leapt out of bed as quickly as my legs would carry me and tested the doorknob.
Locked.
I groaned but I wasn’t surprised. I had to be patient. When it came to Aiyanna I could wait an eternity.
The shower shut off and I knocked on the door. I knocked on the door and waited patiently. She poked her head out and grinned. “Good morning!"
I smiled. “Good morning to you too. I hoped the door was unlocked about five minutes ago, if I'm being honest."
She rolled her eyes. "If my dad hears that we messed around under his roof, he will kill both of us."
"At least I would die happy," I grinned.
She rolled her big brown eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure. Then your entire team would come down here and my family would be toast."
"You don't think I can take them?" I mocked being hurt.
She laughed and shook her wet hair out. It was making a puddle on the floor. I wanted to push the door open and slam her against the wall. Consequences be damned. "My brothers play dirty. They always have."
"Fair enough."
The lock on the door clicked back into place. I dug clean clothes out of my camo duffle bag and waited for the door to unlock again.
When I got out of the shower I could smell breakfast cooking downstairs. My stomach growled. I opened my door at the same time Aiyanna did. She grinned as she raced down the hall then down the stairs. I was right on her heels but I was too afraid of hurting her if we both took a tumble. She jumped over the last few steps and was in the kitchen within seconds. Her dad put down his mug of coffee and tried to hide his grin. He wanted to act tough but I could tell he enjoyed having his daughter back under his roof. I didn't care for the man but that didn't mean I couldn't pity him for what he went through, especially if what Aiyanna had said was true. That he hadn't drank alcohol since she had disappeared.
We wolfed down breakfast as her father put his phone up to his ear. I didn't know what to call him and he didn't exactly make it easy on me. Which was fine, I had only met one of my girlfriend's parents and that hadn't turned out well. He set his phone down on the counter as Aiyanna gulped down her orange juice. He updated us as I added more bacon to my plate. Kia was out of surgery but was still in a coma. He was in the intensive unit. Something about the way he said it brought me back to what had happened to Elise. I couldn't bring myself to speak.
Her dad broke the silence. "So you're a SEAL?"
"Yes, sir."
"What are your intentions with my daughter?" Aiyanna's fork dropped from her fingers and missed her plate. The sound broke my trance from the last time I had been interviewed like this.
"Honestly, sir, this is rather new. I don't know what to expect from it. But I care about Aiyanna a lot or I wouldn't be here right now." I shrugged as I took a sip from my black coffee. Her father didn't approve of that in the slightest. He had offered me cream and sugar. When I had turned them down he had balked. It was unsettling I guessed. But the sugar made my stomach hurt. I honestly didn't drink coffee much, it was more of an indulgence.
"Why do you want to be with her if you don't know your intentions?" He was really laying it on thick.
I cleared my throat. "From the day I met her, she showed me that running away from life and pain wasn't a good way to go about things. She inspired me to be better. She inspired me to let go of my demons."
