Page 26 of Inked Nights

Why was he here?

She couldn’t hope. She couldn’t dream. And right then, she couldn’t even breathe.

“Olivia.” He cleared his throat. “Can I come in? I think we should talk.”

Without words, she took a step back and let him in. The door closed behind them both, and she turned to him, holding her hands close to her stomach.

Then she blinked.

Because Derek was in her house. Her home.

And she had no idea what might happen next.

Chapter Ten

Derek had no idea what he was going to say. He’d come up with ideas and then, as soon as he saw Olivia and the wide-eyed look of a woman deeply hurt by his actions, all of those ideas had slipped right from his mind.

She stood in front of him wearing soft leggings and a shirt that had seen better days, with her hair piled on the top of her head in a clip thing. And she’d never looked sexier. Even with the redness of her eyes and the puffiness of her face that told him she’d been crying, he thought her beautiful.

And he’d been the one to put those tears in her eyes and that look on her face.

Him.

Because he hadn’t been able to stay when he should have. Because he’d been blindsided and needed time to think. It might have been what he needed, but he’d hurt her in the process, and now he’d just have to hope that she would forgive him for it.

“Thanks for letting me in,” he said, not sure where to start. He was better with his hands and his words when it came to others. He was never one to easily figure out what to do with his own life and decisions, but he could help others work through theirs.

Now, he needed to work for himself.

And hope to hell that Olivia understood.

“I’m honestly surprised you’re here.” She wrung her hands in front of her, then let out a little half laugh, half sigh. “And I have no idea what to say to you. Should I ask you to sit down? Offer tea? A beer? I’m not the best at social interactions on a good day, but with you? I’m so far out of my depth, it’s not even funny.”

Derek reached out to take her hand, thought better of it, then did it anyway. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away.

“I don’t need to sit. I don’t need a drink. And I hate the fact that we’re so awkward around each other right now. The one thing we never were before was awkward.” He paused. “Even when we were kids.”

“Derek. You don’t have to talk about that…that time.”

“I know, but the thing is, I think I do need to talk about it. I don’t have anyone to talk about it with now.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, a frown on her face.

Derek let out a breath. He hadn’t meant to get into this part, but he needed her to know everything. There could be no more secrets between the two of them.

“Maybe we should sit down,” he said softly. “It’s a long story.”

“They always are,” she said wryly before taking her hand back and leading him to the living room. He’d seen her place before and had wanted to see more, wanted to know more about her, and he hoped that after they talked today, she’d let him into her life beyond noticing the color of the couch and throw pillows.

They’d just have to see.

Soon, they were sitting next to each other, the awkwardness settling in, so he just started talking. The quicker he got this part over with, the faster they could get to the part he’d actually tried to practice.

“After the accident, my mom pulled me out of school, pulled me out of everything really. She wanted to keep me safe all while not really talking to me. Dad let it happen because he…well, he didn’t care.”

“Derek.”

“No, it’s the truth. Mom went into an overprotective and blaming mode. Dad went into a weird ice mode where he pulled away from everything and everyone. We moved soon after the accident, Mom not wanting to be near where Stacey had been.” He paused. “I never saw you again after the funeral. And even then, I don’t remember much about that. You know?”