What Doesn't Kill Us-Ch 14
Penelope woke up early the next morning, she rubbed her eyes and decided that she would get up and get out of the house before she was bombarded with questions from Derek. She grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower, a few minutes later she walked into her bedroom and was surprised to see Derek sitting on her bed.
She said, "how did you get in here"?, he said, "I picked the lock", she said, "I need to get to work", he said, "today's Saturday sweetness, neither of us work today". She said, "well I have plans with Laura today so I", he said, "how about we go to the park and talk"?, she held up her hand and said, "not now", he reached out and grabbed her hand and said, "yes now".
She blew out a deep breath and finally after looking at his sad eyes for a few minutes agreed, he smiled as they headed out of the room, when they walked out the door he said, "it's a beautiful morning, is it okay if we walk"?, she shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head yes. He looked over at her once they were away from the house and his heart ached because he was causing her pain.
Penelope said, "it's really beautiful here", he said, "yeah it is but I have to admit that my view is better", she blew out a deep breath and said, "you wanted to talk, so talk". He said, "baby girl you have to believe me I didn't kiss Tamara, she kissed me", she looked up at him and said, "it didn't look like you were pushing her away Derek".
He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms and said, "Penelope I love you, I have loved you for years and I thought you believed that", she said, "I do,
I did, ohhhhhhh I don't know what to think". He cupped her face in his hands and said, "I would never hurt you, not ever", when tears streamed down her cheek he brushed them away with his thumb.
She said, "we can't focus on this now, we have to focus on the case, I wonder if the team has any information about the newest couple"?, he said, "I was wondering the same thing". She bit down on her bottom lip and said, "I'm going to talk to Laura today and see if she can shed any light on the case", Derek said, "why do you think she would"?, Penelope said, "she was friends with both of them from counseling".
Derek said, "Laura and Joseph seem so happy don't they, by just looking at them you couldn't tell that they went through counseling a few years ago", she looked at him and said, "they have troubles like every couple I guess, I mean look at us". Derek kissed her lips gently and said, "I love you and would never ever hurt you".
She rested her forehead against his and said, "I know handsome, it's just seeing you kissing another woman hurt me", he closed his eyes and said, "I know and it broke my heart to see how hurt you were". She took a deep breath and said, "how about we go get some breakfast, I'm starving", he laughed and said, "if my baby girl wants breakfast, then breakfast it is".
Tamara watched as Andy and Mandy walked out of the park hand in hand, she took a deep breath and said, "it looks like they are going to be harder to break up than I first thought. She tapped her chin and grinned as a plan came to her mind, she overheard lastnight as Mandy and Laura made plans for this afternoon so all she had to do was wait for them to head out before making her move on Andy.
She grinned as she turned and headed back to her place to get ready, she glanced over her shoulder one final time and watched as the happy couple disappeared around the curve. Derek gently squeezed her hand and said, "when this is over I was hoping that you would, that you would", she laughed and said, "you were hoping that I would what"?, he swallowed hard and said, "I was hoping that you would move in with me".
Penelope stopped dead in her tracks and said, "wh what"?, he pulled her into his arms and gently pressed his lips against hers and said, "I was being completely serious when I told you I loved you". She smiled and said, "and you want me to move in with you"?, he nodded his head and said, "I do but if you aren't ready for that yet then I", she cut his rambling off by crashing her lips against his.
When they pulled apart she happily said, "yes handsome, yes I'll move in with you", he smiled and said, "you won't regret it sweetness", she laughed as they started walking toward the diner. What they didn't know was that while they were heading into the diner a couple were getting ready to lose their lives a few miles from them.