AN: So very sorry for the long gap here. First there was an issue with my muse being a butthead, then, just when I had him back to being cooperative I got in a car accident. I'm okay but the bruised ribs made life difficult, especially because I was in training for my promotion at work. The person at fault for said accident doesn't seem to have insurance so the stress from trying to figure out my medical bills sent Sebby back into hiding. Finally bribed him back out today so I'm going to try to knock this ficcie out today before he wanders off again.
MN: I'm sorry guys. No excuses, just I'm sorry.
It was late evening by the time we finally made it back out of my bedroom. I was sleepy, sated, and deliciously sore. And hungry. Definitely hungry.
Derek had sent me to take a shower while he went on the hunt for food, and I'd taken my time, letting the hot water ease some of the stiffness in my muscles. I had toweled out my hair but not bothered with the blow dryer before donning a clean pair of jammies and going to find my Baby Boy.
I found him in my living room, sitting on my couch. He was clad in a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top and had the remote in his hand, flipping through Netflix. "Hey there, Love Bug. Getting ready to go for a run?"
He smiled and shook his head, then jerked a thumb in the direction of his bag which now sat open near the door. "Nothing else left clean but this or real clothes." He patted the couch next to him and I obliged, crossing to settle in next to him. "You, Princess, had no real food that wasn't moldy, so I dialed dinner."
I shrugged. "We were gone for a while. Not much can survive that long unless it's full of chemicals. Guess I will be cleaning the fridge out tomorrow."
His phone vibrated on the side table and he reached over, immediately pressing the button to silence it and letting out a quiet sigh.
I snuggled more tightly into his side. "That better not be Boss Man you're sending to voicemail."
He dropped a kiss on the top of my damp hair. "No. I'm not brave enough to do that." The phone buzzed again and he blindly reached out and silenced it again.
"Better not be your mom either. I know she thinks you're not too old to whoop." I accentuated my words with an elbow nudge to his side.
He chuckled. "I will never be brave enough to even think about doing that. I know she would fly to Virginia just to give me a good whack. It's just a friend. He probably wants to go for drinks but I'd much rather stay here."
A knock at the door propelled him to his feet. "You wanna answer that? I'm pretty sure my wallet is still in my pants and those are somewhere on your bedroom floor."
I agreed and stood as well, moving to the door. I undid the locks and pulled it open. "Hi there. It's going to be just a second..."
My train of though derailed as my eyes settled on the person standing in the hallway outside my apartment. "Sam?"
"Hey Penelope." He had the nerve to smile at me. "I've tried to stop by a few times but I keep missing you."
"I was out of town on a case." I shook my head to clear it. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to talk to you. Can I come in?" His smile was gone and his expression looked genuine.
I was ready to tell him no when I heard a shuffling sound across the hall. Not wanting to give my nosy neighbor reason to complain, I relented and stepped back. "Fine, but just for a minute." He stepped past me and I closed the door and turned to face him. "Well?"
"I've realized I made a terrible mistake and I was hoping you would give me another chance."
It took everything in me not to snort in laughter at him. Instead, I took a moment to put my thoughts together before responding. "I'm not interested in being your second choice or your fallback option. And, quite frankly, I'm no longer interested in you. So, if you don't mind, I think it's time for you to go." I opened the door to accentuate my point.
Sam, however, made no move to exit. "You aren't my second choice. I just realized that I wanted you to be my first choice. I know we were keeping things casual before, but I really want to try for something more with you!"
I stood my ground. "I found my something more elsewhere. You need to leave now."
He stepped toward me, but not to leave instead he raised his hand toward my face. "But Penelope..."
"I wouldn't touch her if you enjoy your current relationship with that hand." I hadn't even heard Derek come back out of my bedroom, but I certainly wasn't going to object to his interjection.
Sam's face paled and he spun around. He stared at Derek a moment before turning back to me. "I should have known." With nothing more, he stormed past me an out into the hall.
I closed the door behind him and clicked the deadbolt for good measure. When I turned back around, Derek standing close. "You okay, Baby Girl?"
I nodded. "Yeah. He just took me by surprise is all. What a jerk!"
A smile spread on his face. "The look on his face was pretty great though."
It started with a chuckle from me and in a matter of moments we were both laughing so hard we were leaning on the door and each other. By the time we managed to get control of ourselves, several minutes had passed.
Once we had caught our breath, Derek took my hand once again, leading me back to the living room. I had just sat on the couch when there was another knock at the door.
I moved to stand back up, but Derek shook his head. "Oh, no. I think I'll get it this time, just in case."
