Chapter Eight
DEREK
Sunday evening, the door to the basement creaked open and near inaudible footsteps padded down the carpeted stairs. While my heart pounded in hopes it was Lilly, my brain knew that was impossible.
As I lay on the sofa in the same clothes I’d worn since Lilly left, Sarah made her way to me with a furrowed brow and pursed lips.
“Are you ever going to emerge?” she asked.
“Nah. The world sucks. I’m better down here.”
“What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting weird the last few weeks. First, you’re giddy all the time and now you’re despondent. What gives?”
I’d underestimated my sister. She’d always seemed so oblivious. Maybe she noticed me but just never brought it up.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” I drew an eye roll from her. She hit my feet, forcing me to move my legs so she could sit. “How was it last night? Are you over your hangover yet?” Asking about the bachelorette party was about the worst thing I could have done for my mental state, but I needed to hear about Lilly, even if it hurt.
“Oh, the whole thing was canceled. I guess Lilly got some kind of stomach bug. She sounded like a hot mess when she called me, so we called it off. I went to Jason’s last night instead.”
My heart fluttered at the thought that there might be a terrific reason why Lilly bailed on the party. It was more than likely not the case, but my body reacted as though it was. To keep hope from overtaking me and setting me up for certain crushing disappointment, I focused on Sarah’s boyfriend. “So he’s a thing, huh? You really dig him?”
“Yes, Derek, I do. And I’d really appreciate if you lighten up on him. He’s a good guy.”
The pink flush in her cheeks and the vulnerability in her eyes told me it was time to have her back and accept the dolt.
“Fine. I’ll behave the next time he’s around. I promise.” I crossed my heart, and she smiled. The tender sibling bonding moment warmed my chest and softened me up to the point I wanted to come clean about Lilly and me. “Listen pickle, I need to tell you something—”
Once again, the door creaked open and this time the sound of feet running down the steps was much louder. Less than a second later, Lilly was in the room, panting as though she’d ran all the way to our house.
“Derek, I—oh my God!” she cried and jumped a half a foot in the air when she spotted Sarah.
“Lilly! Are you okay?” Sarah got up and ushered her to the sofa. I breathed slowly, trying to calm my racing mind.
Lilly’s face was beet red from exertion and I think some embarrassment maybe?
“I…um…Sarah…oh, God, I’m the worst!” She dropped her face into her hands and started to cry.
I wanted desperately to scoot over and hold her in my arms, but I knew that was a terrible idea. Instead, Sarah wedged in between us and wrapped her arms around Lilly.
“Oh honey, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
“I’m not sick. I just, I should’ve told you the truth. Oh God Sarah, I lied to you so badly.”
Sarah’s spine straightened and her eyes went wide. She didn’t let go of her bestie, though.
“What Lilly’s trying to say is that she and I have been sleeping together,” I said, roughly yanking off the band aid.
Sarah jumped up from the couch and stood facing the two of us with red cheeks and a gaping mouth. “You what?”
Lilly’s tear-stained face rose from her palms. “It was my idea. Don’t blame him.”
“I was supposed to help her learn how to spice things up for her man. Jared dumped her because he thought she was too vanilla.”
Sarah shook her head as if nothing made sense and rattling the thoughts around would put them in order. “I…I…”
“Look none of it matters now because she went back to him tonight. So you don’t have to worry about us sneaking around.”
Silence drew out for much longer than I expected. I peeled my eyes off Sarah and noticed Lilly staring at me with tender, unreadable eyes.
“Except I didn’t…go back to him.”
My breath hitched as a sharp pang zinged in my chest.
“What?” I asked.
“I went to Jared’s place and when I saw him again, I couldn’t go through with it. It was like—like he didn’t deserve all the great stuff you taught me. All I felt for him was anger and a little resentment.”
“Is this some kind of joke? What the hell you two?” Sarah asked.
“It’s not a joke,” Lilly said, without taking her eyes off mine. “I think when I came to Derek for help, something in me subconsciously wanted to be with him now that I was free. But I didn’t realize it until today.”
“Do you really mean that?” I asked. She nodded with a sweet, tiny smile.
“But Lil, this is DJ! He’s been making your life miserable since we were thirteen!” Sarah protested.
“I know. And don’t get me wrong, he can still be really annoying. But compared to the man I almost married, he’s a saint—kind, giving, thoughtful, attentive…and crazy sexy,” Lilly said.
Sarah paled. “I’m gonna barf. Please don’t say shit like that.”
“You may want to get out of here then, pickle,” I said, scooting closer to Lilly on the sofa. “If the thought of us being affectionate makes you nauseous, you’re about to get super sick. I’m gonna kiss my girl, and I can’t promise I won’t get carried away.”
“Oh my God! What is happening? Jesus!” Sarah cried and fled up the basement stairs.
Taking Lilly’s face in my hands, I kissed a couple of freckles on her nose. “I’m so happy, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you love me.”
“I love you, Lilly.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
Fuck.
“You’re such a good girl .”
“Oh God! Say that again!”
Scooping her up, I carried her to my bedroom and put her on the bed. “You’re my good, good girl,” I said, soaking in her resulting moan. “And you always will be.”
She wound her arms around my neck and pressed her lips to mine. “Always.”