Chapter 58 Derrick #2
“Like a holiday romance thing?” Christian pushes. When did he get so nosy?
“Sure hope not,” Charlie turns and looks at me, “but we’re figuring it out.”
Sienna gives me a knowing smile. Yes, girl, I know he is that dreamy.
“Does that mean LA is on the cards?” Jackson calls out. Charlie glares at him.
“We’re just having breakfast together, everyone chill,” I say, leading Charlie to our seats. “We’ve worked up an appetite, and I’m starved.” My friends groan at my innuendo.
“Damn right we did.” Charlie chuckles as he leans in and kisses me passionately, putting on a show that makes my friends laugh. We head toward two spare seats, and Charlie walks over to talk to his sister, who has probably been wondering where her brother has been for the past twenty-four hours.
“So, I’m guessing you’re not blocked anymore,” Sienna teases.
“I’m the first guy he’s been with since his accident, he kind of freaked out and I triggered a PTSD attack.” Sienna’s face softens hearing that. “Anyway, we’ve sorted it out and he was very apologetic about it all.”
“Bet he was. Seeing how happy you two looked walking in here,” Vanessa comments.
“You look happy, D,” Sienna adds.
“That’s cause I am.” I sigh happily.
“The way he kissed you in front of everyone. Damn, boy, that was hot,” Vanessa adds.
“Chance would never,” Christian adds.
I still, remembering what happened with him last night, which feels like a lifetime ago. “He’s not happy about this development,” I tell them.
“How does he know about Charlie? Did something happen?” Sienna asks.
I nod. “He followed me home last night and we got into an argument. He told me he loved me last night.”
“He said what?” Vannessa gasps.
“Then he insulted Charlie and asked what I saw in a cripple over a rockstar.” My stomach turns remembering those words, especially after what Charlie told me about how much he struggles with his new identity.
“Fucking asshole, wait till …” Christian states angrily.
“No, please don’t say anything. I handled it.”
“That’s not right, though,” Christian argues.
“He was lashing out. Hurt people, hurt people.” My friends don’t seem to agree with that sentiment.
“He’s not doing drugs again, is he?” I shake my head because I don’t think he is. I think he’s just annoyed that his secret booty call has turned him down. “I’m still keeping my eye on him,” Christian tells me.
“Hey, D,” Evan says, walking into our whispered conversation with Levi in his arms. “Did I miss something?” he asks, looking concerned.
“Um, yeah you did. Derrick has a boyfriend,” Christian tells him.
“No, I don’t.” I hush him. “We aren’t there yet.”
“With GI Joe?” Evan asks.
“Charlie, his name is Charlie,” I reiterate, and how did he guess that?
“Don’t think you could do better than him, D, he’s hot,” Evan states.
“Agreed. He’s so … manly,” Christian adds.
“Hey, hands off my man,” I smirk, “but he’s hot, isn’t he?” I gush, looking over at him as he chats with his sister and Jackson. “Problem is, he lives in Montana and isn’t keen on LA, and after hearing about what he’s been through, I don’t think I could ever ask him to move there.”
“Montana isn’t that far. What, like two or three hours?” Vanessa asks.
I shrug. I haven’t looked into it. “Just my luck to find the perfect guy not in LA.”
“Forget about the distance, how does he make you feel?” Sienna questions me.
“He makes me feel great. I don’t want to jinx us or put pressure on him. We are going to take it day by day. But I really like him. And the sex …” I gush like a schoolgirl.
“Maybe Evan and I need to get to know him, make sure his intentions are pure for our friend,” Christian states while Evan nods.
“Do not scare him off,” I warn those two knuckleheads.
“Never. But if he’s going to be part of our circle, we need to know he’s good enough,” Evan adds.
“Jackson is his best friend. Don’t you think that says it all?”
“That is a good point. Guess we are going to have to talk to Jackson then. Come on, E, let’s do this,” Christian calls over Evan, and they head off.
“It’s the blind leading the blind with those two.” Vanessa chuckles.
“Don’t worry about them, they are harmless, they just love you and want to make sure he’s not going to hurt you, again,” Sienna states, raising a brow at me.
“Don’t hold what happened at Christmas against him, please.
Yes, it hurt, but he’s been an open book since arriving in Hawaii.
He was so scared that I would be repulsed by his prosthetic limb that he pushed me away.
He’s dealing with a lot, and I’m giving him grace.
It’s how he acts after this that I’ll hold against him,” I explain to my girls.
“You know we love and want to protect you,” Sienna says, throwing her arm around my shoulders.
“I know,” I say, patting her arm.
“He’s not what I thought you would choose, but now that you have, I couldn’t see you with anyone else.” Vannesa smirks.
“He’s such a man. We’re total opposites, but maybe that’s what I need, someone who’s different because my normal types haven’t been working out.”
“You needed someone with less ego than your previous men,” Vanessa adds.
“He has a calming energy around him,” Sienna muses as she looks over at him.
“Guys, let’s not marry me off just yet,” I joke.
“I’m happy that you’re open to whatever could happen. That’s a great first step.” Sienna nudges me.
“I am open to whatever the universe wants to give me.” I smirk as my stomach rumbles.
“Guess the universe is telling you, you’re hungry.” Sienna giggles.