The Space In Between(37)

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed.
Well, if the shoe fits.


Chapter Twenty-Three

AS WE PULLED up to Michelle’s property, I slid my sunglasses down, taking notice of the other car in the driveway. “What are Mom and Dad doing here?” I hissed at my brother. He shrugged his shoulders.
“Did you really think Mom wouldn’t want to see her daughter? Come on.”
I mumbled to myself and sat back in my seat. “Overbearing much?”
Eric watched as I slid my headphones back into my ears, and I heard him as he whispered to Ladasha. “She’s a lot ruder than I remember.”
“Oh. That’s because you’re not holding up any money.” Eric’s face instantly lost color. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I watched my brother’s face turn to horror, probably thinking of me collecting money from nasty men.
Ladasha stepped out of the car and gasped. Her brown eyes widened in amazement as she stared at the mansion in front of her. The property had everything she had seen in movies. There was an indoor swimming pool, a tennis court, fireplaces in bathrooms, a private coach house…Everything. The newly fallen snow added to the magical moment my friend was taking in. The home had over twenty-five rooms, holding within it over seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a built-in home theater.
“Holy shit. People live like this?” Ladasha smiled widely, looking around in complete awe. I stepped out of the car, rolled my eyes, and joined my friend.
“No. They don’t. Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Ladasha went to help Eric with the bags, but he assured her he could handle it. She smiled to him, and still picked up two pieces of luggage.
“You coming, Michelle?” he asked his girlfriend. Michelle was standing perfectly in her pair of heels. The sunlight kissed her blond locks, yet her blue eyes were hidden behind her large sunglasses. With her cell phone attached to one hand and her Michael Kors bag attached to the other, I was instantly reminded of Iris and her stupid Michael Kors bag. Did I mention I hated her?
Michelle’s loud laugh echoed through the air as she held her gut from the conversation she was having on the phone.
“I see she still has that unique laugh.” I smirked.
Eric shot me the dirtiest look. “Really? You really think you have the right to judge anyone right now? Don't start, Anders.”
I shut up.
Before we even had a chance to enter the foyer, I was attacked by my mom, who wrapped her arms around me. The lack of air filling my lungs was uncomfortable, but I didn’t push her away.
“Anders!”
“Hey, Mom.”
Mom stood back and looked at me. I noticed a level of alarm form within her eyes. “You look skinny. You’re so skinny.” She was right.
“I’m not. This is my friend, Ladasha.” Perfect. Change the subject away from me.
“Nice to meet you, honey. I always forget how huge this house is. I got lost trying to find your father earlier!” Mom squeaked as she poked me in the side, frowning at my recent weight lost.
“Where is Daddy?”
“In the study. Well, one of the studies. This place, I tell you!” As if cued, Dad entered the room, holding a glass bottle with a ship crafted inside it.
“It’s a nice place.” He stared at the ship through his thick glasses. “How does anyone do these? I might have to try it.”
Seeing my dad made me sigh with a breath of relief. I was a lot of things, but first and foremost I was a daddy’s girl. I loved the feeling of calmness he had with his personality. He balanced out my ‘always on edge’ mother so well. Dad walked over, and gave me a hug and kissed my forehead. His hug wasn’t as tight as Mom’s, yet it was the exact kind of hug I needed. Not too overbearing. Yet not nonexistent.
“Come on, let’s all go into the family room to catch up.” Mom ushered everyone into the other room. I could feel my mom’s eyes on me as I tried my best to blend into the couch cushion. “Andrea. I really do hope you’re hungry. They are preparing a big dinner for us tonight.”
She was overly concerned with my weight. I was pretty damn happy actually that ever since I’d met up with Cooper I’d started to gain a few pounds back. But she didn’t know that. She saw me as an extremely skinny girl who’d lost her fiancé. I bet she had nightmares at night about the life I’d been living in New York. I guessed she had good reason to have the nightmares; I wasn’t exactly making Mama proud out there.
Michelle came bouncing inside and joined us with the biggest grin I’d ever seen in my life. Eric asked her what was up, and she smiled even wider. “I have a surprise for you all! But you’ll have to wait until dinner tonight!”
“Perfect, maybe I’ll go rest for a few hours.” I faked a yawn to get out of there and headed to what was to be my bedroom for the next few weeks. This sucked.





“WHAT’S THE MATTER with you?” I asked to the distant Derrick. He shrugged his shoulders as he lay in my dorm bed.
“Just thinking.”
“About?” I questioned. He ignored me, staring at the ceiling. Ever since he arrived that weekend, he was off. “Answer me.”
He sat up on the bed, rolling his eyes. “Andrea, I’m just off, all right? You have your days, let me have mine.”
“You don’t have to be an ass, Derrick.” I hissed. I hated when he closed himself off to me like this, and it seemed to be happening a lot more since the engagement. “Do you not want to marry me?” My eyes moved to the floor, not willing to meet his eyes. Fearful of his response.