All I Ask(77)

“Hmm…” Our lips are a breath apart. “What do you like?”

She closes the distance. “You.”

“Good answer because I like you.”

I make the final push and press my lips to hers. I’ve wanted to kiss her since we got here last night. But minutes after we got into bed she was asleep on my chest, her hair over my arm, looking so peaceful as I held her. I did kiss her forehead, but that was because I couldn’t stop myself. I want her like that every night. I want to wake up with her next to me. I want to come home from work and see her in that house, making dinner or painting. Any way that I can have her, I will take.

“Gross.” Chastity’s voice cuts through and I quickly move back in my seat. “Can you guys not make out when I’m home.”

Teagan shrugs. “When you pay the rent, you can determine the rules.”

“No, Mom, I work with him and…gross.”

“I happen to think kissing is a very natural thing. Derek, kiss me.”

“Hi, Chastity,” I say, hoping to stop their conversation and get out of this.

“Hi, Dr. Hartz.”

“Derek, please call me Derek,” I tell her again.

She’s pretty much refused to, and I don’t know why.

“Fine, Derek. Good morning.”

“Good morning.” I smile. I can’t remember the last time that Everly said that to me. Maybe if the two of them could get along, she could convince my daughter I don’t suck.

Teagan gets up, grabbing the plate of eggs and bacon she didn’t eat, and I grab it. “I’ll eat that.”

She laughs. “You’re still the same, always hungry and willing to eat anything.”

“And you still eat like a bird.”

Chastity sits at the table. “See, Mom, we should get a bird.”

I grin. “You should.”

“Why? So the stupid cat can eat it or worse, I’d end up with a pregnant bird.”

“I bet you’re more of a dog person,” I say conspiratorially.

“Oh! Yes, a dog.” Chastity beams.

Teagan turns and glares at me. “I know what you’re doing and I’m not getting an animal. I live in this tiny-ass apartment where I can barely fit the human crap, no way are we getting a dog.”

“Don’t let her fool you, Dr. Har—errr-Derek, she has a million excuses and none of them involve space.”

“I love animals, thank you very much,” Teagan defends. “Outside.”

“It’s fine, Chastity and I will make you an animal lover,” I inform her.

Chastity lifts her hand in a fist bump. I, of course, return the bump and Teagan is fighting a smile while trying to appear pissed.

“You.” She points at me. “Out. My daughter and I need to talk about alliances and whatnot.”

“Sounds good.” I walk over to her, not sure if I kiss her or do we hug?

So, I wait…praying she takes mercy on me and leads. Teagan looks at me with a grin and then finally she wraps her arms around me and kisses my cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

“Still gross,” Chastity says.

I walk over to her and give her the fist bump sign. “See you later to help with the horses?”

She lifts her fist, tapping mine, and nods. “Definitely.”

As I walk out of the apartment I can’t help but smile. Moving back to Chincoteague has been the best thing to happen in a long time.

*



My phone rings from a number I don’t know. “Hello?”

“Hi, Dr. Derek, it’s Chastity. Listen, I’m not going to be able to make it today. I have to work on my project before it’s due. So, Everly and I are swamped and are going to be a while.”

I dropped Everly off at Teagan’s earlier today and I guess they got tied up. “Okay, I totally understand, school comes first.”

“Thanks.”

I hang up and text Teagan.

Me: Things okay over at your house?

Teagan: Girls have been doing their social media thing, no screaming so I take that as a good sign. They said they need to work on it and then take other photos for this account thing.



I knew that’s what they were doing. This was an excuse to talk to her today.

Me: I want to see you.



This is really the point. It’s been twenty-four hours and I fucking miss her. My entire body yearns for her.

Teagan: You just saw me when you dropped off Everly.

Me: Not the same. I couldn’t even kiss you, touch you, be near you other than the few seconds we had.



Everly was not having it. She stood at Teagan’s door, waiting until I left to go inside. It’s hard because Chastity isn’t the issue, it’s my kid. She’s still upset about her mother and then she’s got these delusions about Teagan. I worry how she’d react if I did get Teagan to agree to move into that house with us.

It won’t go over well, but I’m also not willing to wait until Everly is ready, considering I don’t think she ever will be.

Teagan: I miss you too. I’m going to drive Everly home and maybe you can sneak out for a kiss?

Me: Maybe we can go to that old make-out spot and I can get frisky?

Teagan: I’m not sure because last I remember, you didn’t do the make-out spot.