"I was visiting a friend," she said primly.
"Uh-huh. Let me guess, you've got some new guy on the hook, and you're about to lure him into buying a million dollar property."
"You asshole." She shot the insult at him as a joke--and she knew perfectly well that he was joking, too. But it hit a little too close to home. She was about to hook Derek up with a condo. And she was sleeping with him. True, she'd purposefully not gone there when they'd first met, but now...
"Kidding." He put his hands up in supplication.
"Change of subject. How's Jenna seem to you?" From her own conversations, Amanda was worried that Jenna missed Texas too much.
"She seemed iffy on the job. I don't think it's quite what she expected. But I'm sure she'll rally."
Amanda sighed and nodded, and they continued in that vein for a while, discussing mutual friends, movies, and other random topics. When Amanda had finished her drink, she put the glass down and started to stand. "It's been great catching up, but I really should get home. I need to--"
Derek.
He was standing right across the lobby, his eyes fixed on her, his expression unreadable.
Nausea crested, and her stomach flipped over. "I--"
But she couldn't manage anymore.
"Amanda?" Easton stood, and when she didn't move, he turned to look the same direction. A second later, he turned back to Amanda. "Who is that?"
The question pulled Amanda back to herself. "I'm sorry. I have to go." She snatched up her purse and walked as fast as she could toward Derek, but he saw her coming and moved to the elevator. She was only a few feet away when he stepped onto a car, then turned to face her.
She started get on, too, but he held out a hand, his palm flat. A virtual wall between them.
"Derek, it's not--"
But she didn't get to finish. T
he doors closed, and he was gone.
She gulped in air, telling herself he was the one being an ass. She hadn't done anything wrong. She was just talking to a friend.
Besides, they had no commitment. Had made no promises.
All true.
So why did she feel so guilty?
* * *
She couldn't sleep, and at one in the morning she finally gave in, and grabbed her phone, intending to send him a text.
But when she opened the app, she saw there was already a message waiting--several, actually--and she realized that the phone had switched to DND mode after eleven.
Derek - I'm sorry. I should have stayed and talked. I was an ass. Let me know if you need more of an apology.
Derek - A pox be upon my soul.
Derek - May the fleas of 10000 camels infest my armpits.
Tears filled Amanda's eyes, but they were the good kind. Relief and laughter all rolled together.
Amanda - Trying to decide if I should say something or see how this escalates.
Derek - About to try plagues of Israel. Save me.