Chapter 14
That woman was too much!!
“Jayna,” Derek growled as the night before replayed in his mind. His eyes landed on the thick folder Leighton had given him that sat untouched on the passenger seat. He growled again. How was it that he was helping to plan a wedding? The universe indeed had a twisted sense of humor.
It wasn’t like he had anything against marriage, despite what Jayna had insinuated. He was thrilled that Nick and Piper had made up and were about to get married. He was happy to help and honored to be one of Nick’s groomsmen. However, working side by side with Jayna would be pure torture.
But he’d suck it up and be on his best behavior—for Nick and Piper.
The digital clock on the dashboard flashed 4:45. He was fifteen minutes early, and Nick wasn’t home yet. Shifting into park, he killed the engine and stepped out onto the Taylor driveway. He grabbed the cooler full of beer from the truck bed. Nick’s fridge was not well stocked lately, given his preoccupation with winning back Piper. Derek was just thankful Piper had said yes to the second proposal. Nick would have been heartbroken if she’d turned him down again. It was yet another reason he swore to remain single. Love was way too complicated.
He glanced at the house across the street. Ophelia stood at the front window, staring out. The woman was such a busybody. No need for neighborhood watch on this street; Ophelia had it covered. He eyed the roof as he walked up the front pathway.
He knew better, but the ten-year-old boy inside him couldn’t resist. Messing with The Meddler was too much fun. What the hell! Throwing caution and better judgment to the wind, he grabbed the ladder from the side of the house.
Maybe he was destined to remain the hell-raiser who caused the townsfolk to raise their eyebrows. He definitely remained the black sheep of his family, a designation he proudly wore. He’d stopped caring years ago what others thought of him. There was freedom and empowerment in not giving a damn.
However, at night, he tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling. That’s when he cared that he was the unlikeable son and possibly the town joke. However, it didn’t stop him from wearing it like a badge of honor the rest of the day.
What was it about this roof that made him so introspective? Perhaps it wasn’t the best place to sit after all. But it sure had a great view. He cracked another cold beer.
A car pulled up to the curb and out stepped Leighton, in all her golden beauty. He downed the beer in his hand.
She walked up the pathway to the front door, sending an annoyed glance at his truck, oblivious to the fact that he sat on the roof. He hated that she felt so uncomfortable around him. And he hated that he even cared.
He threw the empty can onto the grass near where she stood. She jumped and then moved back to stare up at the roof.
“What are you doing on Nick’s roof?”
“Drinking.”
“On the ROOF?”
Why did everyone keep asking that? Like roof drinking was so far-fetched.
“Why not? It has the best view.”
Shockingly, she set her purse down and climbed up the ladder.
“Why are you drinking on Nick’s roof?” she reworded the question as she reached the top rung.
“Afraid I’m going to jump?” His left eyebrow shot up, the belligerent one that never failed to get him in trouble.
“Are you?”
“You’d like that!” The belligerent brow rose higher.
“No, Derek, I wouldn’t,” she sighed. “You’d make a mess of the flower bed I just planted.”
The other brow shot up now. “That’s it? You’re worried about some stupid flowers?”
“The roof isn’t high enough to cause you much harm.”
He pursed his lips and continued to push. “Would you even care if I hurt myself?”
Leighton stared at him, gave a slight head shake, and started to back down the ladder.
“You’re not going to join me?”
She paused, peering up at him. “No. Drinking with you never ends well.”
Damn, that stung. But it was true. He should never have touched her that night in the cornfield maze. They’d both consumed far too much alcohol. He should have kept his no-good hands to himself.
“Are you ever going to forgive me?”
Her forehead creased as she digested his out-of-character words, and her eyes met his. They were multicolored — gold, green, and hazel. So expressive. Her hair moved in the slight breeze, shades of wheat and caramel. Even her sun-kissed skin was golden. Leighton Gray was mesmerizing, and he needed to stop noticing that.
With great effort, he forced air back into his lungs. Her presence always left him breathless. Was it caused by attraction or from guilt?
“I’m sorry, Leighton. I shouldn’t have kissed you that night. I… I had feelings for you, and I acted on them.”
Her mouth dropped open, and he instantly wished he could take the words back. They were far too honest. Feelings were something he kept buried and never admitted to having. And even while he regretted speaking those words out loud, he wondered just how true they were. Were his feelings for her genuine, or had she simply become a habit? For so long, he believed he wanted her, angered that she chose Tommy over him. Did he really care? Or was she just another competition between him and his twin ?
He was nowhere near as torn up over losing her as Tommy was.
“I kissed you back. I could have stopped you, but I didn’t.” Leighton glanced away as she spoke. She looked so uncomfortable, and he hated that she felt that way around him. He hated that he had cost her so much already. She didn’t need to lose her dignity as well.
“Of course, you kissed me back. I’m irresistible!” He reverted to the clown, the never-serious, full-of-himself persona he’d been playacting at for so long now.
Leighton visibly relaxed and climbed up the top rung, cautiously stepping onto the roof. “Give me a beer.”
He handed her a cold can as she slowly sank beside him at the peak. He continued to stare at the woman he had no business staring at.
The truth was, Leighton belonged with Tommy. They were the golden couple. The perfect son marrying the girl he’d rescued from the wrong side of the tracks. They were a bloody fairytale come true. Tommy was her knight in shining armor. The hero.
And Derek had been the fire-breathing dragon who had destroyed that innocent love out of jealousy and spite. That was the hard and unflattering truth.
This rooftop truly did bring clarity. The biggest realization was that he wasn’t meant for relationships. He ruined everything he touched. He had the right idea to only casually date. The women he dated were well aware that he was a commitment-phobe. No surprises. He was done hurting people.
She popped the tab and took a tentative swallow. “It was wrong of us. I don’t know if Tommy will ever forgive us.”
“So, we keep apologizing until he does.” Ian’s words came back to him. “How many more times do I need to apologize before you forgive me?”
“This being the first time, I’d say at least a dozen more.”
“Seriously? Sorry isn’t an easy word for me.” It always got stuck in his throat, tangling up his tongue. It had been that way since childhood. He hated to apologize.
She took another swallow from the beer can, staring at him over the rim. “It was a stupid mistake that we both regret.”
He nodded, chugging the rest of his beer before throwing it on the grass beside the other one.
“You’re picking those up.” She shook her head. “You really are an ass.”
“Yep,” he grinned, pulling another beer out of the cooler. “Oh, crap.”
“What?” Her head turned, following his stare, and she repeated his words. “Oh, crap.”
Ophelia Meddler was crossing the road.
“Did Nick know he was building a house across the street from the Meddler?”
“That’s why he got the land so cheap.” Derek waved the beer can in his hand. “Want to join us for a beer, Mrs. Meddler?”
“Don’t egg her on,” Leighton warned him.
“I don’t think there’s been a Halloween yet where I missed egging her house. Last year included.” He waggled his eyebrows at Leighton and was delighted to hear her laugh.
“Derek!”
“The Meddler has it coming! She called my mother last week when I was up here drinking. I got an entire lecture on drinking too much and acting my age.” He shook his head, grimacing.
“See, it helped a lot.”
“Whatever.” He tried to sound belligerent, but it fell short.
“Is that you, Leighton Gray?” Ophelia stood on the curb, shielding the sun with a hand raised over her brow.
“I’ll be all the talk at the next business association meeting,” Leighton grumbled.
“Sure will,” Derek agreed. “Sucks to be you.”
“Shut up and hand me another beer.” She tossed the empty can onto the grass beside the others. “You’re picking that one up, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hope began to fill him. If Leighton could forgive him, maybe Tommy would, too.
Working on this wedding might not be so bad after all.