"Okay, whoa stop. I love you. I respect you. You know that. But right now, you're way out of bounds. I'm not involved"
It wasn't so much his words that rang in her ears, but more the tone of voice in which he took. He had never disregarded her in any way before, and certainly not in the manner he did only hours before. Perhaps he was right, perhaps she had no right to speak such truth in his life.
Derek tried to be present while they were having drinks, but Emily could see that he was distracted. She knew that something had gone down between Derek and Penelope, and though Penelope hadn't yet fessed up to it, she could guess that it did not go well. JJ had admitted to walking in on something earlier that afternoon, but she wasn't quite sure what. She was glad that they were having a girls night the following evening, if only to allow Penelope to have an outlet. No one was really surprised when he bailed after the second drink.
When Penelope heard the knock on her door, she wasn't at entirely surprised. She knew it would be him. Though she did doubt he would show up judging from how mad he was earlier, the moment he knocked on her door, there was no questioning on who it would be. Sighing she threw on her favorite hoodie over her pyjamas to greet him at the door.
"Hey," she greeted opening the door without looking through the peephole.
"Hey, my turn. Can we talk?" Penelope met his gaze and nodded.
"We don't have to do this Morgan, you already made yourself perfectly clear. I had no right to call you on it. It's none of my business. It's your life. You're a grown up capable of his own choices. I'm sorry I butted in. It obviously wasn't my place."
"P…" he said apologetically hearing the hurt in her voice as she addressed him.
"I was a jack ass this afternoon. I am so sorry. The thing is, you were right and I knew that. I just wasn't ready to be called on it."
"Maybe, but you were right. I was out of bounds. It wasn't my place."
"Don't P. Don't do that."
"Don't what Morgan?"
"Don't diminish your part in my life, your importance in my life. I screwed up today and I am sorry, but if anyone had any right to call me on my shit this afternoon it's you. You're my best friend and that will always come first."
"But it didn't today Derek. It hasn't for awhile now. We've been living separate lives for months. Maybe we've over-estimated whatever this is?" Derek hung his head, realizing just how much he had hurt her. How his choices had consequences he hadn't known it would have.