Page 23 of The Girl I Once Loved

He pulls his hands off me and shakes his head.

“It’smywedding. Not my parents’,” he answers sternly. “Besides, those guys don’t know me like you do.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, all things considered. I’m sure Daisy has asked—” but I’m unable to finish my sentence.

Derrick saves me from the awkwardness of sayinghername out loud and ends my thought for me.

“She has. Or at least that was Daisy’s plan for this morning,” he confides with a warm smile. “But I’m hoping that won’t dismay you from standing by my side.”

“If I say yes, will we stop with this touchy feely shit?” I groan.

“Sure.” He chuckles lightheartedly.

“Fuck it. Then I guess you got yourself a best man,” I concede with a shrug.

Derrick’s smile stretches as he pulls me into a hug, honestly grateful that I gave in to his request.

“Yeah, okay. Enough of that,” I mumble, pushing him off me. “Otherwise, people are going to think that we’re the ones getting married.”

“You think our bromance is ready to take that next step?” he jokes, giving me a light punch on the shoulder.

“Bromance?” I arch a brow. “Jesus-fucking-Christ, Monroe, you have got to stop watching those fucking romcoms with Daisy. She’s a bad fucking influence if she’s got you swinging out words like bromance.” I laugh, feeling a bit lighter than I did before he stepped onto my boat.

“Trust me, I’m as much of a bad influence on her as she is on me.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“Again, save me from the sordid details.” I roll my eyes. “Now, if you’re quite done, how about you help me out this morning? I’d welcome another pair of hands to get the Royal Shank ready.”

He looks around the deck and starts pulling up his sleeves.

“Why the hell not? It’s not like I have anything better to do today.”

I offer him a smile, grateful for his company, more than I am for his help.

Surprisingly enough, the rest of the day flies by without a hitch, and it’s only when the sun begins to set over the tranquil oceanic horizon that I realize I’ve survived most of it without my mind trickling back to the real reason why I decided to spend my day off on this boat.

Not that I thought I had much choice.

I hardly slept last night, just thinking about how I’d react when I saw her again. Would I play it cool and nonchalant, or would I completely lose my shit the instant our eyes met? I went back and forth all night just thinking about us finally being in the same room together, ultimately deciding that I wasn’t mentally prepared to handle such an ordeal. So when I heard Daisy’s car drive up, I picked up my shit and got the hell out of there.

A coward’s choice, for sure, but the only one I could make regardless.

“Shit! Is that the time?” Derrick groans after a quick glance at his Rolex, successfully pulling me out of my reverie.

“Bailing on me already?” I ask when he starts fixing his clothes and hair to look more presentable.

“Daisy and I are supposed to have dinner with my parents tonight,” he explains with a grimace. “The three of them are probably already waiting for me at the restaurant. Goddamn it.”

“I’m sure Daisy can entertain herself just fine without you for a little while,” I tease him. “She’s a big girl and can take care of herself.”

“I know that. I just don’t like leaving her alone with my parents, that’s all.”

My brows knit together at the way Derrick suddenly looks on edge, so in contrast to his usual cool and collected demeanor.

“Your parents still not on board with the wedding?” I ask, going to the root of his problems.

“I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what they’re on board with or not. Never have, never will.”

“So what’s the problem?”

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