Page 46 of You've Always Been Mine

I’ve moved on to the hashbrown when Derek asks, “So… do you do that often?”

I look up. “Do what?”

His expression is cautious. “Drink with strangers. I’m not judging. I’m just curious.”

I believe he’s not judging, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling defensive. “No, I don’t drink with strangers often. Last night was a lapse of judgment.”

“Caused by what?”

The fact I’m hiding something major from you, and I don’t know how you’ll react when you find out…

“Something Holly said.”

“Ah.” His lips turn down. “Holly.”

“What’s that look for?”

“Holly hit on me when I was driving her home.”

“She did?”

He nods.

I wish I could say I’m surprised, but that would be a lie. Holly’s been boy-crazy for as long as I’ve known her. However, I hoped she valued our friendship enough to not make a move on the guy I’ve been pining after for years.

“I’m sorry about that. I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Derek shakes his head and then changes the subject. “So how are you feeling?”

“Like my head was banged against the floor a couple of times,” I admit.

“Want a pain reliever?”

“Yes, please.”

Derek walks into my bathroom and digs around the cabinet for the medicine. I finish off my breakfast while he’s gone, and I’m already starting to feel better.

“Here you go.” He drops two white pills into my palm and takes the empty plate from me, placing it on my nightstand.

“Thanks.” I throw the pills into my mouth and chase them with a long drink of water.

I lower my head and find Derek watching me with an unreadable expression.

I tilt my head. “What?”

Without missing a beat, he asks, “When did you know?”

I have no idea what he’s talking about. “Know what?”

“That you had feelings for me?”

“Oh.” I stare down at my hands and play with a loose thread on my comforter. “I’m not sure. I think it was gradual.” I peer up at him through my lashes. “What about you?”

“Prom,” he states. “Seeing you with someone else forced me to realize I was in love with you. And that I had been for years.”

There he goes again, saying the L word with absolutely no reservation.

Times like this make me realize that while Derek is very similar to the young man who was once my best friend, there are things about him now that make him different. Most of them are good.

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