While you were sleeping Hollywood Heights
Six weeks later C-2
The following morning, Loren stops by Derek's room with coffee and donuts. She sees Eddie asleep on the sofa in the room.
"Good morning." She taps his shoulder lightly. Eddie wakes up. "Good morning."
"I bought coffee and donuts." She hands him a cup and the bag with a donut inside.
"Thanks." Eddie takes a sip of the coffee.
"There's cream in the bag."
"I take my coffee black." He takes another sip.
"How's Derek?" She looks at Derek.
"There's no change, glad he's stable." Eddie responds.
"I can stay with him after work so you can go home to rest." Loren says.
He stands up. "No need Loren, my mom will be coming today and she will stay with him while I go home to shower."
"I don't mind helping." She can tell he's bothered by her presence.
"I know you're his fiancé, but, I really don't know you very well, maybe another day."
Loren gets her bag from the floor. "I will be back later." She walks out, Eddie watches her until she's out of sight.
An hour later, Katy, Eddie's mom and Nana Lois, walk into his room. "We're here, how is he doing this morning?"
"No change mom."
"Did you eat?" Katy asks.
"Loren brought me coffee and a donut, I'll eat later." He adds.
Nana Lois smiles. "Was the pretty girl here?" She scans the room.
"Yes, Nana, she was here, she went to work."
Katy sits next to Derek; she caresses his face. "I still don't understand why he was so secretive about being engaged."
Lois smiles. "You're going to like her, she's sweet and beautiful."
"I'm sure she is, but, why keep this whole engagement a secret from us, I wasn't aware he was seeing anyone." Katy shares.
Eddie agrees. "That's what I don't understand, he tells me everything, why keep this woman a secret?"
Nana Lois looks at him. "Her name is Loren."
"Whatever." Eddie says and heads to the door. "I'll be back later."
By noon, Loren walks in with a bag. "Hello."
Katy gets up to acknowledge her. "You must be Loren."
Loren smiles. "Yes, nice to meet you."
"I'm Katy Duran, Eddie's mom and Derek's aunt, I know you met my mother Lois."
Nana Lois smiles and she walks towards Loren to hug her. "Isn't she beautiful?"
Katy smiles. "Yes she is." Katy looks at Loren. "I'm sorry, Derek never told us about you, we are a close knit family, I don't understand why he was so secretive."
Loren sighs, will this ever end, she doesn't know how to respond. "I'm sorry, I don't know why he didn't mention it."
She picks up the bag she placed on the chair. "I made a bowl of fruit for Eddie, I know he's staying here with Derek."
"Thank you Loren, he went home to shower and to rest for a bit, my mother and I will stay until he's back."
"I offered to stay with him, but, he refused." She adds.
"Give my son time, he and Derek are very close, he's trying to figure out this whole engagement thing, we are sure Derek will explain when he wakes up."
Loren sighs, when he wakes up, how will she explain herself to his family? What will they do when they find out they're not engaged.
Two weeks later; Derek is still in a coma. Loren stops by every morning and to bring Eddie coffee and an egg sandwich. She makes breakfast at home and shares with him. He's a Technical expertise so he's able to work remotely from Derek's room.
A month later, they take turns bringing lunch. Loren makes the most amazing dishes; Eddie brings lunch Nana Lois prepares at home, he seems more at ease with Loren, he notices she isn't like any of the women he's dated. He understands that's the reason Derek was attracted to her.
Nana Lois and Katy invite Loren over to dinner that weekend, they enjoy talking to her.
"Where do you parents live?" Katy asks.
Loren sighs. "My father left when I was very young, my mom raised me on her own, she remarried and travels with her husband, he's a musician. I live with my best friend Mel."
"That's wonderful, Eddie mentioned you're a pharmacist."
"Yes, I love my job very much."
Eddie walks in. "Did you eat without me?"
Katy looks at him. "I didn't know how long you'd be; we couldn't keep Loren waiting."
Eddie smiles. "Sorry Loren, I had a busy day today, did you enjoy Nana's pasta dish?"
"I did, everything she makes is amazing." She looks at Nana. "I need your recipe."
She smiles. "I will share with you; Eddie tells me you are an amazing cook."
Loren blushes. "I really enjoy cooking."
Nana Lois prepares Eddie a dish, he sits and eats while his mom and Nana Lois talk to Loren.
Katy makes coffee. "We will serve the banana bread you made."
"I hope you enjoy it; I love to bake." Loren says modestly.
"You can bake? Seems Derek hit the jackpot with you Loren, I'm sure you've noticed he loves to eat." Eddie adds.
Loren smiles, it seems that is all she can do when they mention Derek, she knows nothing about him, every time he picked her up, he would only smile at her, no conversations with him at all, why would Mel put her in this situation?
After she leaves, Katy turns towards Eddie and Nana Lois. "I understand why Derek fell in love with Loren, she's an amazing young lady, she is definitely one of a kind."
"I noticed the day we met, I hope our Eddie will meet someone like Loren." Nana Lois looks at her grandson.
Eddie sighs. "Yes, someone as perfect as Loren."
Loren is home, she places the leftovers in the fridge and sits outside on the patio, Mel walks in.
"How was dinner?" She wonders.
Loren looks at her. "It was amazing, if you're hungry there are leftovers in the fridge."
"Thanks, I'd love some." Mel heads to the kitchen and warms the leftovers in the microwave. She walks out to the patio and sits across from Loren.
"You're quiet, everything okay at the Duran's?"
Loren looks at her. "It was perfect, Nana Lois and Katy were the perfect hosts, I really enjoyed talking to them, they keep bringing up Derek, what am I going to do when he wakes up? I barely know him, I've gotten to know his family very well these past 6 weeks, I can definitely say that I am beginning to care for them."
"Something else is bothering you, I am truly sorry Loren, I made a mess of things, I said you were his fiancé because I wanted you to stay with Derek after his accident."
"Don't worry anymore, I guess things happen for a reason, I realized I that I'm not in love with Derek, it's safe to say it was just a crush with him, what am I? A teenager?" Loren sighs.
"It makes sense, you just had a crush on your Uber driver, when he wakes up you will be able to clear things with his family." Mel adds.
Loren looks at her. "And tell them what? They are very sweet people; how can I explain to them that I'm was never in love with Derek." She pauses and looks at Mel. "How can I tell them that it's Eddie I am falling for?"
Mel's eyes widen. "Oh no Loren! Now what?"
End of chapter, kindly review!