Chapter 15
Derek
Things were weird. Not in a bad way necessarily, but things weren’t normal. For the first time in months Zoe was smiling without me forcing it out of her. It was refreshing. Even though I’d never say it to her, I was getting really tired of the mopey, moody version of Zoe. The zombie I’d been living with. And when I’d found her cutting, well, that shit just scared the life out of me. She didn’t know it, and she never would, but I didn’t sleep for days after that. The moment her eyes closed, I watched her like a creeper, afraid she’d slip back into her dark habits. But now, now it seemed like the darkness was starting to lift, and the Zoe I grew up with was slowly but surely beginning to come back. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe she’d ever be the same girl again…fuck, after what happened none of us ever would be the same, but a smile?I was damn happy with a smile. And I reckon I had a bouncy blonde to thank for the change.
It wasn’t just Zoe who she was changing, either.
The thought of Mia made my palms sweaty. I don’t remember the last time I’d been on a real, honest to goodness date. Certainly not since I’d moved to Melbourne. I wasn’t some man whore who slept around, and I wasn’t an asshole either…well, at least not most of the time. I was honest. Upfront. The women I was with knew exactly what they were getting into. Then it was their choice. I told them what I wanted, and how I wanted it, and if they were okay with that, well then, lucky me. But if they weren’t, well, no harm no foul. Out of respect for Zoe, I hadn’t brought anyone back to our place, and I never stayed the night. It was a couple of hours of mutual fun and it was all over. No numbers were exchanged. No promises were made. No hearts were broken. It was all I wanted. All I was capable of.
But Mia…
Mia just might be different.
There was just something about her.
Something more I needed.
Something I needed to know.
I wanted to know her secrets.
Why she was guarded.
Who hurt her.
Who I needed to beat the shit out of.
I liked talking to her.
I liked being with her.
I liked seeing her smile.
I liked knowing I was the one who put the smile there.
Shit! I was screwed. I sounded like a girl! I hadn’t even taken her out yet and already she’d wormed her way under my skin. I had to get this shit under control, and quick!
Shaking off the thought, I changed into my sweat pants, then yanked a shirt over my head before stuffing my feet into my runners and heading out the door. I needed to burn off some of this pent-up energy. Running was my only option right now. I was going to run the nerves out of my system.
Two and a half hours later I crawled back through the door and collapsed on the floor. I’d pushed too hard. Again. I was an idiot. I’d never learn. My jelly legs couldn’t hold me. If I’d have had my wallet with me I couldn’t be sure I wouldn’t have hailed a cab and caught a lift home. Instead I’d wobbled home, grateful it wasn’t another metre further.
“Shit, Derek, you okay?” Zoe asked, coming into the lounge room, where I lay sprawled out pathetically on the floor.
“Yeah,” I lied.
She vanished out of sight and I could hear her shuffling about. A moment later an icy water bottle was pushed into my hand and I was thankful Zoe was in my life. “What the fuck did you do to yourself?” The feeling vanished instantly.
“I just went for a run.”
“How far?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you stretch?”
“Um.”
“Derek!” she scolded. I chuckled. It was funny. I mean, this was Zoe. Zoe, who hated exercise and sweat more than spiders, was lecturing me over not stretching properly. “You know you shouldn’t run without warming up properly.”
