Turn Me On (Man of the Month 7)

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Winston. But Mr. Ingram's father just called. He wanted you to know that Jared tried to commit suicide."

* * *

It took a few hours and a half dozen calls, but Derek finally managed to piece the story together. His friend had tried to OD on pills, and he was currently in a private hospital in Vermont for recuperation and psychiatric evaluation.

Derek was scheduled to fly up there first thing in the morning.

Now, he stretched out on the couch, not doing a damn thing except waiting. Not for tomorrow, but for Amanda. She was due any minute, and though his first instinct had been to cancel their date, he hadn't done so. He'd kept silent because the only thing that he was certain about in this crazy day was that she was the person he wanted to see.

A moment later, he heard the keypad beep. She entered, started to flash her bright smile at him, then faltered.

"Derek? What's wrong?"

Immediately, a wave of guilt crested over him. He hadn't cancelled the date because he wanted to see her. But did he really have the right to bring her down, too?

"It's fine," he said, pushing himself up onto his elbows. "I should have called. I'm not really good company today. I don't want to ruin your Saturday, too."

"Hmm." She dropped her purse on the entry table, then came to kneel in front of him. She reached over and felt his head. "You don't have a fever."

"It's not that." He took her hand, deciding he should tell her. "Jared tried to kill himself."

She froze. "Your friend? The one you told me about from boarding school?"

He nodded.

"Oh, God. Derek, I'm so sorry."

"I don't want to lay this on you, too. You should just go. I can--"

"No," she said, her voice firm. "Now scoot over."

He didn't have the motivation to argue, so he scooted.

She slid onto the couch next to him, then pulled his head down against her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. He's a good friend, and I love him, and part of me thinks I should have seen it coming."

"It's not your fault."

"I know that, too."

Their eyes met, and the concern he saw on her face made him feel cherished. He wished Jared could have felt that way.

"There is one thing."

"Whatever you need."

"I'm so tired."

"Well, then close your eyes and go to sleep."

"Will you stay?"

"Derek, yes. Of course. I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you."

"Shhh," she murmured, stroking his hair. "Just close your eyes and drift."