by L. B. Reyes
“Then why—”
“I don’t know…it just…I don’t know. With everything going on now, I was thinking that years ago, drinking would have been my solution.”
“Is it that bad?”
It must be.
“I’m just not sure how to handle it.”
“I could help, if you wanted me to.”
His lips tilted up, just slightly, but it was enough to bring me some sort of peace.
“So what do you think of your dad working at the restaurant? Do you think it’ll work out?”
Of course, I wanted it to work out, more than anything. I would love to be around him, see him set an example for me, prove to Evie he’s not a bad person. I wanted to have him around, so he could hopefully see how much I’ve changed, make him proud. But I also knew my dad was in a fragile state of mind. The wrong influence and he could easily make a bad decision.
With all my heart, I hoped my dad would be around for a long, long time.
“I have faith it will,” I replied. “He gets along with everyone so far, and he seems comfortable.”
Derek nodded, tilting my face up to his. His expression was torn, overwhelmed. And I didn’t know why. He wasn’t telling me.
“I just want you to be happy,” he whispered, his lips feather light.
“I am.” The reply was instant. This was the happiest I’d been in…ever. “I don’t need money or anything else, just you. The rest doesn’t matter.”
He kissed me again, but this time there was something in it. A silent demand. One simple request.
Stay with me.
Little did he know I’d never leave. I once was naive, foolish enough to let him go. I would never do it again. I was forever his.
***
Deborah and Frank arrived after a while, and despite her illness, she was happy. Her face lit up with the sight of everyone there, especially when Lily ran up to her and hugged her.
The rest of the evening was something out of a dream. Though we all had in the back of our minds that Deborah was ill, and we needed to take care of her, none of us showed our concern. It was family day—worrying could wait.
Lily played, and Evie and Carter spoke. Derek, Nathan, and Frank bonded over grilling, while Deborah sat with me.
She smiled and took my hand, squeezing it. “Thank you for what you did, dear. And sorry for the trouble.”
“It was nothing.”
“Just so you know, I will be getting surgery after a couple of rounds of chemo. I’m not too optimistic, but I at least want to try.”
“Oh, thank God,” I sighed, pulling her into a hug. She laughed, patting my back gently. “Who talked sense into you?”
“No one,” she replied. “To be honest, I saw you with that boyfriend of yours. I figured your future kids could use a grandmother too.”
My cheeks heated. Never in my life did I ever think I could mend everything I’d destroyed. Never did I think I would feel so…rich. I didn’t have money like before, but this wealth was different. This wealth was pure. This wealth couldn’t be valued with money.
After sunset, Derek and I headed home—our home—to rest.
He made love to me that night in a way he never had before. It was passionate and loving, desperate and needy. Like he wanted to embed the memory of us deep inside his mind and body.
I didn’t think anything could tear us apart.
Little did I know.
Chapter 36
Derek
The days were dragging on, and everything seemed to be piling up. There was shit going on everywhere: the restaurant, Hannah, Evie, Deborah…even Dylan who’d never bothered for us to have a brotherly relationship. All off a sudden he wanted one. It didn’t bother me; I just wished it wasn’t happening at a time where everything was so messy.
I finished dressing for the day, having the fucking feeling something was going to go wrong. I didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t sure I was prepared for it.
Lies.
I knew I wasn’t ready for it.
Regardless, I wanted to think it wasn’t all that bad. I walked out of the restroom, stopping midway when I saw Hannah’s sleeping figure still covered by the sheets. My heart thudded in my chest when I saw her at peace. Beautiful. Hannah hugged the pillow beneath her, and I wanted nothing more than to lie there with her. Hold her in my arms out of fear of her disappearing. I couldn’t, though. I had shit to do…shit to sort out.
If everything worked out, I’d be able to fucking think clearly again.
I wanted to give her a kiss, but instead, I turned around and walked toward the door. If she woke up and looked at me with those eyes, I wouldn’t be able to. If she woke up and spoke…
“You’re leaving?” Her sleepy voice suddenly surrounded me, and once again, I found my feet glued to the damn floor.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but even then, I could picture her sitting up, her sleepy eyes staring back at me with confusion. Just in her voice, I could hear slight disappointment from seeing me about to leave and not saying goodbye.
“Have you eaten breakfast?” she asked. I heard her soft footsteps on the carpet, and I forced myself to turn around, only to find her already walking to the restroom. “Wait for me!” she exclaimed from there. “I’ll make your coffee.”
I sighed, running a hand over my face. I’d hoped she wouldn’t wake up because it would have been easier then. She wouldn’t have realized how stressed I was.
“I don’t have to go to the gallery today,” she said, wrapping her silky, black robe around her body.
Hannah walked up to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a quick kiss.
I swallowed, wanting to leave yet being unable to with her closeness. Instead, I brought my hand to her face, touching the soft skin of her cheekbones and watching how a smile spread across her face. “I thought you were going in every day this week,” I said.
Hannah yawned, the sleep still very much present in her expression. “I know, but I’m tired. It’s been several days where I haven’t stopped. I feel exhausted. Nathan was pretty understanding about it, since his friend, Tom, is there to help.”
It was true. For a couple of weeks, she’d been working nonstop, and lately I started to notice it was difficult for her to get up in the mornings. She’d even covered a couple of days for Lisa and me at the restaurant, when we were out making deals with the sellers of the property we were interested in.
“You can stay and rest today, if you want.”
Please stay.
Hannah shook her head. “No, of course not. It’s different at the restaurant. They’ll think I get ‘special treatment’ because I’m your girlfriend. I don’t want that.”
I knew she’d say that. I also knew I couldn’t ask her to do anything she didn’t want to do. Hannah always did what she believed to be best.
“Anyway,” she said, again her eyes lighting up, “let me make your coffee. I’m sorry for waking up late. I was just so tired and—”
I stopped her, kissing her. Her body, as always, molded against mine, and for that moment I decided I could wait. Just for then I could forget because she was there. She was with me. And she was mine.
“What are you doing?” she asked, gasping when my lips traveled down her jaw. She moaned when sucked on her skin, knowing I’d leave a mark. “Derek, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to be late for work,” I whispered, removing her robe.
Everything else could wait.
***
When I arrived at the restaurant, everyone else was there. Lisa’s eyes snapped up to mine, our gazes meeting instantly despite the people there. She gave me a single nod, letting me know she’d be in the office as soon as she could. Charles was there, as he’d been for the past couple of weeks, working nonstop and trying to mend whatever was left of a relationship with his daughter. Blake, surprisingly, was also there, though I could tell he wanted to be anywhere but around Lisa and me.
I sat on the chair beh
ind the desk, placing my face in my hands. I could still smell Hannah, could still feel her soft touch, hear her soft moans, the way my name left her lips. It felt like she’d given every bit of herself to me that morning.
Or maybe it was all in my head.
I cursed, slamming my hand on the desk.
“You need to relax.” I heard her before I even knew she was there. Lisa stood by the door, her hands gripping two folders tightly. “You’re going to kill yourself if you keep this up, and I can’t deal with all three restaurants all by myself.”
I knew she was joking. She was trying to make light of the situation but couldn’t. This affected her as much as it affected me.
Seeing I didn’t even smile, Lisa sighed and closed the door, walking over to the chair across from me.
“They accepted our offer, Derek,” she said, placing one of the folders in front of me. “We can build your third restaurant there.”
She wasn’t happy. She couldn’t force herself to be happy with everything else going on. I saw it in the way her lips pressed together, the way her gaze didn’t light up with the idea of one of her dreams coming true.
We stayed quiet, avoiding the unavoidable. It was useless, but neither of us could bring ourselves to confront the situation head-on. I was too much a coward. Lisa was too hurt to do so.
But what was the point? The one thing my mother taught me to do was to rip the damn Band-Aid off, so that’s exactly what I did.
“What about the other folder?” I asked, gesturing to the package she held on to. Her face paled even further, and I knew what was coming. “What else do you have to tell me, Lisa?”
Lisa was worried. She couldn’t even hide it. “I’m not sure we should discuss this now, Derek.”
And that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. The familiar combination and dread filled me up, a cold sweat drenching me from head to fucking toe. Still, I tried to maintain my composure. Tried to be unaffected.
I was a fucking failure.
“Lisa…just give me the papers.”
“Derek—”
“I said give me the goddamn papers!” I roared, loud enough that others could hear.
I was too far gone to care. I snatched them from her hands, watching how she winced in response. I never spoke to her that way.
I didn’t pay any mind to her, though. My gaze flew to the papers in front of me, only skimming to find the information I needed. My heart raced as did my mind, but I had to remain calm. I had to remain in control even though I knew I was losing it. With every word I read, a new wound formed and an old one opened. I could feel Lisa’s eyes still on me, but fuck…I was too far gone. When I’d seen enough, I closed the folder, setting it on the desk calmly.
I sat back, sighing…not because I wasn’t furious, but because I felt if I didn’t get any oxygen to my brain, I’d do something crazy.
“Say something,” Lisa said. I heard the fear in her voice, and though typically I would have cared, I just couldn’t anymore.
My answer was simple.
“You know what to do.”
***
Hannah spoke to Blake before even coming into my office. They’d become close friends—very close. She smiled, and he placed his hand on her shoulder, chuckling at whatever Hannah said. Even through the damn security camera, I could see the way her eyes sparkled, the way her face irradiated pure joy.
Cat then approached them, and something she said made Hannah jump up in happiness, hugging her. Congratulating her. She placed her hands on her arms, telling her something. I wasn’t sure what.
Within a few minutes, Blake also hugged Cat, then greeted Charles who’d also befriended him. It was an odd sight, to see Charles interact so openly with them, but it was even weirder when he opened his arms and Hannah hugged him.
I scoffed. Her anger with him was short-lived.
It seemed like an eternity when I finally saw Lisa approaching them. I was tempted to grab a bottle then and there but stopped myself because for this I needed to be sober.
Hannah was the first to leave the group. I shut off the camera and stood. Collected. Prepared.
The door opened slowly, and she smiled widely when she saw me. Without a care, Hannah dropped down the purse on the floor and ran to me, lunging herself in my arms. She giggled, burying her face in my neck, and taking a deep breath.
“What’s all this for?” I asked.
She pulled back with a grin, pressing her lips to mine. “I missed you.” Hannah’s fingers met the collar of my shirt, and she played with it, her eyes taking a teasing glint. “I really wish I could take this off.”
I took her wrists in mine, stopping her, though what I really wanted was to pin her to the wall and make her mine again.
“I need your help,” I said, pulling away from her.
“What is it?”
I picked up the folder and handed it to her. “I don’t think this is right, but I can’t…” Fucking hell. “I can’t place it.”
Hannah’s brows knitted together, and I fought the urge to smooth out the crease that formed on her forehead. She looked at the papers, taking a seat as she read them thoroughly. Concentrating deeply, Hannah didn’t even notice when Lisa walked into the office or Blake…or her father.
Blake looked pissed.
Charles confused.
Finally, Hannah sighed. “It doesn’t make sense. Nothing adds up.”
“I know, that’s what I thought too, until I saw this.” I picked up the sheet of paper I’d set apart, placing it over the folder she still held in her hands. Lisa looked away, and I couldn’t tell if there was actual remorse in her face.
I must have been numb to it, because I didn’t fucking feel it.
My eyes stayed glued to her face.
I saw her.
Memorized her.
But as soon as her expression turned pained, I wished I was blind.
“What is this, Derek?” she asked, her voice anything but even. She looked over at Blake, who stared at Lisa dumbfounded, and then to her father, who was confused as ever.
And then her eyes fell on me.
“What is going on?” she asked.
I leaned back on the desk, armor up.
At least I learned something from her.
Lisa cleared her throat, but her eyes were full of tears. The sting of betrayal was present. “Hannah, just tell us what happened,” she explained. There was no demand in her voice. Just pain.
Hannah stood, her hands falling to her sides. She was distraught, and her gaze met mine. Pleading. Begging.
“Derek, I don’t understand. What is going on?”
I smiled, though I knew I didn’t mean it. Her eyes were full of tears, but I couldn’t believe them. They were fake like they’d always been.
Everything about her was always fake.
“What’s going on is that on the days you covered for us, large amounts of money were transferred to another account. It has your approval and Blake’s, and the account, ironically enough, is set up for your father. So yeah, I’m hoping you can explain.”
Chapter 37
Hannah
There was a time when I had dreams. They were small, really, like any other child’s. I dreamed about having fun with my friends. I dreamed about a happy, fun Christmas. I dreamed about large, fun birthday parties at water parks. I always wanted one. However, as time passed and I grew up, I came to the saddening realization that dreams tend to stay dreams. They don’t always come true, if at all. It hurt to learn that, but somehow, I managed to pull through.
Then I started taking piano lessons. It made me happy—and it wasn’t a dream. I could sit down at a piano and play, get lost in the music, pour my feelings into each note. It was my escape, the only one I had for a long time. Until I gave it up. Without it I was bitter and hurt.
Then I met Derek.
Little did I know he’d be both my savior and the person to hurt me the most.
I looked up at Derek, who’d fixed his gaze on
me. I’d never seen him so angry before, though I wasn’t sure who it was directed at. Then I glanced at Lisa, who stood off by the window, her arms crossed over her chest…betrayed. Hurt. Blake was furious, maybe? I couldn’t tell. He was tense, and his fists were balled up to his sides. And my dad…he seemed ashamed. Embarrassed.
It was easier to analyze them than to confront what I felt because I, I was humiliated. I was destroyed.
Once again, I’d dreamed.
Once again, I’d hoped.
And just like that, the person who gave it to me was taking it away.
Despite the ache I felt, and as stupid as the question was, I still asked, “What are you trying to say?”
Derek’s lips tilted up slightly.
The smile was deceiving.
“I must be fucking stupid for this to have happened twice,” he murmured.
Though I expected that answer, I wasn’t prepared for the wound to open. I felt Blake’s gaze turn to me and my dad’s too.
His lips curled as he shoved the document towards me. I flinched; the action was painful and uncalled-for.
Lisa spoke up, her voice unsteady. “We’re just trying to clear things up, Hannah.” I scoffed, shaking my head, but she continued. “Can you just tell us what happened?”
“Does it really matter what we say?” Blake asked, his tone deadly. “Seems like you’ve already determined what happened so—”
“No, we’re searching for an explanation,” Derek glared.
“Which I gave to her the day she questioned me,” Blake spat.
I ran a hand over my face. “You knew about this, Blake?” I asked.
He sighed but nodded.
“Oh, your partner didn’t warn you?” Derek said, the malice in his voice opening the wound even more.
I ignored his remark, turning my attention to my father. “Did you do it?”
His eyes widened, and his mouth opened in pure shock. He couldn’t even fucking speak.
