At First Hate (Coastal Chronicles)

“There we are, ladies,” Derek said, tying the boat to the dock. “You’re all set to return to the heat.”

Derek offered me his hand as I clambered out of the boat. Ash helped Amelia out, and then we all headed to Ash’s Audi SUV. I let Amelia take the front seat and sat in the back with Derek. He kept his arm around me, pressing occasional kisses into my hair on the drive back.

Ash dropped us off at Derek’s place, and I waved good-bye as they drove away.

Derek pulled my hand to his mouth and pressed kisses into my skin. “Don’t go.”

I laughed. “I’ve been with you all day.”

“So? Stay longer. Stay forever.”

I looked up into his eyes in surprise. I was expecting to see him laughing with that pouty smirk on his lips. But he was serious. He was actually serious.

“I’d like that,” I admitted. I pulled my hand out of his. “Can I rain-check for later? Maybe tonight?”

He stepped forward into my personal space, cupping my jaw with his hands. “Whatever you want, Mars. I just missed you and want every bit of time you’ll give me.”

I smiled and leaned into the kiss he planted on my lips. “I want that too.”

“Then, hurry back,” he breathed against my mouth. “You should just stay the rest of the weekend.”

“So greedy,” I teased.

“For you. Yes.” He hungrily kissed me again. “Just think of all the things that I’m going to do to you when you get back here. I have a whole list in my head. It’s probably going to take a long, long time to get through it.”

I flushed from head to toe. “Filthy.”

But I pressed myself into him regardless, devouring all of his kisses and imagining every single one of those things he’d do to me later. Which was likely his intention. He wanted me to rush back to him—or preferably, not leave at all.

We’d waited so long for this. So long. I should have been able to wait a little bit longer. It was hard enough breaking away from him to get back in my car. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to stay and be with him and make up for all the lost time. It was easy to drown in Derek Ballentine.

“Mars,” he said, leaning into my car to meet my gaze. He pressed a kiss onto my mouth one last time. “I couldn’t let you go without that.”

I giggled and kissed him again. “You’re insatiable.”

“Yes. Come back soon.”

He pulled back and tapped the roof of my car. My heart was full, and my stomach was all fluttery. I hadn’t felt like this in so long. So very long. I parked outside of Gran’s house, skipping up the front steps and doing a little twirl on the porch. The light blinked on the answering machine. I deleted the spam messages and ignored the one from the executor of the will. I didn’t want to think about that today of all days. I just wanted to shower the sea salt off of me, drink some of Gran’s sweet tea, and answer my work emails for a few hours before going to see Derek again.

I T-shirt-dried my hair, plopping it on the top of my head, and then headed downstairs. I poured myself some tea and got settled in when the doorbell rang. I audibly groaned. Now was not the time.

I pushed my laptop away from me and trudged to the front door. I swung it open, only to find my mother standing on the doorstep.

“No,” I said, trying to close the door before she could get her hooks in.

“Marley Sue,” my mom said. She held her hand out to stop me from slamming the door in her face.

“What do you want, Hannah?” I emphasized her first name and not the fact that she’d birthed me.

She sighed. “I want to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

“I’ve been worried about you.”

“Since when?” I demanded.

“I’m your mother. Surely, a girl can be worried about her own flesh and blood.”

I rolled my eyes. “Again, what do you want? We both know that you’re not here because you care about me.”

And for the first time in a long time, I saw tears come to my mom’s eyes. “Oh baby, I’m sorry.”

I retreated uncomfortably from the display. My mom was fierce and a train wreck and resolutely stubborn, but she was never vulnerable or sad. Despite everything, I felt for her. Just for a second, but it must have been long enough for it to show on my face. Even when I hadn’t wanted it to. She had to be up to something, but she was still a person.

“Can I come in?” Mom asked.

I tipped my head back and then swung the door open. “This better be good.”

My mom strode inside as if she owned the place, which immediately got my hackles up.