“It was complete trash,” I say through my giggles.
“I know,” Derek says forcefully. “But—”
“EvenHot Scoopknows it’s trash!” Finally getting control over myself, I draw a deep breath but quickly slip back into giggling when I see Derek’s face. He looks like he thinks I’ve lost my mind, and maybe I have. But it’s only because of that garbage that just assaulted my brain. When I can breathe again, I plant my palms on Derek’s cheeks and smile at him. “Honestly, Derek, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone other thanHot Scoop’s writers wrote it. It didn’t sound anything like their usual stuff.”
He’s still looking at me like I’m off my rocker. “None of what they said is true,” he says, as if I’m unaware of that fact.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, so?”
His jaw slides open. “So now everyone is going to think—”
“At what point did I make you believe I care what people think of me?” I tilt my head, daring him to have an answer. I care whatIthink of me, and that’s it.
He frowns. “You were afraid to read the article, Donovan.”
“I was afraid to confront the realities of my past,” I argue. “That’s not what that was.”
“But they… You…”
Apparently I’ve broken Derek Riley, but I think I might know why he’s so confused. Tucking my good hand behind his neck, I nudge him downward so I can press my forehead to his. “I forgot you don’t have much experience with a tabloid being mean to you.”
Hunter laughs, and I feel inordinately proud of myself for getting that man to loosen up after such a tense morning. Now, if I can just get Derek to relax…
Taking a deep breath, I put all my sincerity into my voice. “I know who I am, Derek. And maybe if someone on the internet criticized decisions I made as a fully formed adult or said that my parents were in the wrong, I would be a little salty. But making up lies to try to tear me down? If your mother knew me at all, she would know that’s the last thing that would drive me away.” I tilt my head back to look into his eyes, which are still full of confusion and worry. “If you’re going to let misconceptions decide who you can or can’t date, let me know now so we can move on with our separate lives.”
He swallows and clenches his jaw, and I can practically see his thoughts settling behind those pretty blue eyes of his. “That’s exactly what my mom would want,” he mutters, then sighs. “How can I be more like you, Donovan Tate?”
“Spend a significant amount of time in the wilderness. It does wonders.”
A smile slowly spreads across his face, and to my delight, he snakes an arm around my back and pulls me closer. “I just spent a week sleeping on the ground, in case you forgot.”
“You and I have very different definitions of ‘significant,’ Derek Riley.”
Though I’m teasing him, I’m pretty sure his few days on the river changed him more than I could have imagined. Most people learn something about themselves when they take a trip like that, sparking change and growth that comes over time. But the Derek holding me close is a different man from the one I met in Chuck’s store a week ago. That man was guarded and subdued, driven solely by his perfectionism, and I wonder if that version of him would have crumbled under the weight of everything being thrown at him right now.
But this Derek?
I shift one of my hands to his hair, brushing my fingers through the dark waves above his ear as I study his face. He hasn’t hidden behind a mask with me in days, which means I can see all of his lingering concern, his admiration, his… Whatever that third emotion is, it makes my heart burn in my chest, and I’m not sure I ever want to look away.
“You’re really okay,” he says almost reverently. Like he can hardly believe anyone could stand by his side in the maelstrom without cowering.
“I’m okay.” I don’t know what I can do about this mess with his mom, but I want to try. If only to give Derek a chance to truly bask in the sun like he deserves.
“Oh!” Janie squeaks. We look over to find her staring at her phone, her face pallid. “She’s here.”
“Who’s here?” Derek and I ask at the same time.
Her eyes go wide when she looks up at Derek, and I’m pretty sure she regrets saying anything because her voice drops to a whisper. “Your mom. She’s down in the lobby.”
“WHAT?” Derek tears away from my hold, stalking toward the door with his hands in fists at his sides.
That’s a bad idea. “Derek!” I shout, racing after him. I grab his wrist, but no matter how strong I might be, he’s stronger, and he just drags me along with him.
Hunter has better luck and blocks the doorway, but he has to ram his shoulder into Derek’s chest to get him to stop.
“Move, Hunt,” Derek growls, and the furious sound sparks fear into my soul. Not for myself, but for anyone who gets in Derek’s way.
“Be logical,” Hunter growls back, sounding even fiercer. He shoves Derek back a step, but I doubt that’s going to be enough to keep him in the room. I’m still gripping Derek’s stiff hand, but there’s only so much I can do to help. “Think this through, Derek!”
