-1The churning in Derek's stomach was the result of a sleepless night and the unsettling knowing that his father was a monster. It was a scary to thing to realize, that the blood of a monster ran through his veins. He gulped down the lump that was forming in his throat. What if blood was telling? What if he became his father's son?
"You're not him."
Derek jerked his head up. Addison stood in the doorway that led into his guest room. The burgundy cotton t shirt and black boxer shorts seemed a contradiction to the well put together woman he had known since he was eighteen. Since day one she had known what he was thinking, could finish his sentences. "I could be."
"No. I don't believe that. And I think, deep down, you don't either." She inched out of the doorway, one hand resting on her lower abdomen. A greenish tint marred her pretty face. "I'm fine," she said softly when she noticed his concerned look. "You know me, I'll bounce back."
"You shouldn't have to bounce back. You shouldn't have anything to bounce back from." Derek couldn't look at her. Looking at her served as a reminder of how evil his father was. The thing that killed him the most wasn't what his father had done, it was knowing that he had introduced Addison to his parents. He had told her if she needed anything or just needed 'family' to go see his. He had placed her in the position for this to happen.
"It isn't your fault."
"Stop doing that," Derek snapped. Baby blue eyes blink, then well up. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He scooted to the edge of his chair, reaching for her hand. "This isn't your fault either."
"Maybe. Maybe not. We both know I'm not the most moral of people." Addison twined her fingers through his. In college she had been on the wild side. Drinking, one night stands, even toying with drugs. That had been then. She wasn't that person now, and hadn't been in a long time. Derek had little doubt that she was the victim and his father the monster. "What am I going to do? I can't go home. We know how my parents are. It isn't going to matter how it happened or why. They're not going to listen to anything I say. This will just be another embarrassing Addison moment to them."
"Then don't tell them," Derek said. He scooted off the chair and onto the couch, his leg touching her's. He pulled her into his arms, holding her the way he would his youngest sister. "You don't need them. You have me." Her body started to tremble, he could feel tears soaking through the thin material of his green checked button down shirt. "You have me, and we are going to get through this."
Stayed tuned for the sequel More Than Friends?