I looked up and caught the half smile tugging on his lips. His damn kissable lips. There was more to the story but I didn’t want to push. Not right now. Tonight, I didn’t want to think. I just wanted to enjoy living in the moment. I could worry about the rest tomorrow. Future Mia could deal with it. Derek opened the door, ushered me out into the night, and led me down the street. We walked silently side by side until the moment his truck came into view. I felt myself stiffen at the sight and Derek must have felt it too. Without a word he was suddenly holding on a little tighter and staring down at me with trepidation in his face. Forcing myself to breathe again, I marched forward, determined.
Derek unlocked the truck, opened the door, and waited until I was in before softly closing it. As he dashed around the other side, not once did his eyes leave mine. Part of me was convinced he was terrified that if he looked away for even a moment, I’d vanish. The truth was, as nervous as I was, I wasn’t going anywhere. I was exactly where I wanted to be.
Once Derek was beside me, he fired up the ignition and turned the radio on low. Neither of us spoke. I didn’t have anything to say. Instead, I dropped my head back against the headrest and let my tired eyes flutter closed. I just needed a minute. A moment to myself to mentally prepare myself for whatever was coming next. It wasn’t that I was afraid of Derek. Sure, I was afraid of what he could do to me, to my heart, but instinctively I knew he’d never do anything to hurt me. At least not intentionally. Now I just had to get my own wayward thoughts under control.
“Mia! Mia!” I felt a warmth on my cheek and I could smell his minty breath as my eyes cracked open.
“Mmmm.”
“Come on, Tinkerbell. Let’s get you into bed.”
My heart took off. I was barely awake, but my pounding heart was.
With trembling fingers, I undid my seatbelt and hopped out. Derek must have sensed my nervousness, or perhaps he was just worried about my complete lack of coordination. Wrapping his warm arm around my shoulders, he guided me up the front step and into the house.
I gulped.
Loudly.
I waited for Zoe to appear.
Thankfully, she never did.
Instead, Derek took my hand and led me through the dark house.
