Page 75 of Anathema
This was us.
EPILOGUE
Alexis & Derek
ALEXIS…
Twowholeweekshadpassed since the events in the headrace tunnels occurred. I haven’t spoken to Chyler or Madison and didn’t care to. I avoided them as much as possible, dodging calls and ignoring text messages as I tried to process everything Chyler had revealed while we were down there.
Derek tried to get me to talk to them, to at least attempt to clear the air between us, but I wanted nothing to do with them. Not yet, at least. If they could hide as much as they did from me for several years, they could wait a few more days or weeks for me to finally hear them out and accept whatever bullshit apology they could come up with.
It was a warm evening, and Derek brought me to a local rooftop patio for drinks. This past week, the two of us spent a lot of time getting to know each other, not just in bed but on a more profound level. I found myself enjoying his company and craving it on thedays he would leave for work, and I would be stuck at home waiting for him to return.
I lay on the couch, my legs draped over his as he rubbed my thighs. A movie that I can’t remember the name of was playing in the background as I threw popcorn at his face, and he attempted to catch it in his mouth.
“Tell me more about yourself.” Derek took hold of my hand mid-throw and pressed his lips to the back, his eyes never leaving mine.
“What’s there to tell? You stalked me for the good part of a year… I’m sure you ran a background check at some point to know what you were getting yourself into.” I scoffed, rolling my eyes playfully.
“It was tempting, but I didn’t. I wanted that information from you.” He smiled against my hand before dropping it to my thighs and rubbing his thumb along where his lips had touched.
“What a romantic gesture.” I sagged against the cushion at my back and smirked. “Where should I start?” I asked, sucking on my teeth.
“The beginning sounds good.”
He didn’t need to tell me what he meant by ‘the beginning’; I knew he was referring to Charlotte, Madison, and Chyler—the beginning of what felt like my life. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if it wasn’t for them all those years ago. They saved me then and saved me now.
Blowing a sigh, I looked down at our hands, finding it hard to hide the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips.
“Sure.But you might not like this story.” I brought my gaze up to meet his warm brown eyes, and he nodded.
“I’m sure it can’t be any worse than what we’ve already been through.” He added.
“Let’s see… it all started with a frat party and a bottle of Malibu…” I giggled.
I didn’t hide anything from him, learning my lesson from how I felt towards Madison and Chyler. Derek sat there for hours with me as I told him the story of how we became friends… sisters, and how I inevitably ended up working for Charlotte.
I may have been slightly vague about the details surrounding the jobs I had performed for her over the years, but those details didn’t and wouldn’t matter anymore. The past was finally in the past, and now I had a new future to look forward to.
One where I could be me but a little less stabby—or just enough.
As we sat on the patio, drinks in hand—Derek had a local craft beer, and I had a Malibu Dr Pepper—we admired the sunset together, the perfect setting to end a long day.
“Is there a reason why we are here tonight and not rolling around in the sheets?” I raised a dark brow, sipping my drink. I’ll never get over the flavor of coconut rum mixed with Dr Pepper. It’s like a vacation in my mouth—take me away.
“You’ll see. Just wait.” He smirked, and my eyes widened as I sat up straighter in my chair and looked around at the other tables.
“Derek. We’ve talked about this. You are—” I whisper-hissed in a panic.
“Not. I’m not.” He chuckled into his beer.
I fell back into my chair, blowing out a sigh of relief.
Of all the things we discussed in the past week, one was the future, what he wanted, and what I wanted. This relationship would only work if we were on the same page, and that page, as of right now, had no marriage or kids for a good long while.
Derek might have been ready to settle down, but I sure as hell wasn’t, and even though Chyler and Atlas had agreed on a long engagement, I wasn’t fond of that idea for us.
I was his, there was no doubt about that, and if I had to spend every nightreassuringhim of that fact, I’d be more than happy to, but I wasn’t ready to wear a ring—soon, but not yet.
