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That Night (Coming Home To The Grove 4)

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“Well, I needed to talk. Do you have a few minutes?”

She looks worried but doesn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Come on, I’ll make some tea. Wait, or is this a hot chocolate talk?” she asks, looking at me over her shoulder as she holds the kitchen door open.

“Definitely hot chocolate.”

She purses her lips, knowing that there’s something wrong with me. Lacy is the nurturer of the group. She’s going to make me feel better, I know it. Even if it’s just listening to me get it all out.

We chat while she makes the drinks, and when she sets the steaming cup of chocolatey goodness in front of me, she says, “Spill it.”

I cover my face with my hands. God, where do I start?

I put my hands down and lay them flat on the table. “I lied to you guys. But not because I wanted to or anything. I was embarrassed.”

Her forehead creases even more. “What exactly did you lie about?”

“Uh, well, Derrick didn’t leave me at the bar.”

She shakes her head. “Why would you lie about that?”

I can feel my face heat. “He left me at my house… the next morning.”

She looks as if she still doesn’t get it. But I can see the second it starts to make sense and she smiles real big. “Ohhhhh!”

“Yeah, well…” And I tell her everything. About us meeting and how it just felt right, and I took him home with me. I scan over quickly about the amazing sex because I’m sure she doesn’t want to hear about her fiance’s brother. I tell her about the way he just left the next morning. No goodbye, no see ya later, nothing. I even tell her about him taking me horseback riding. About him asking me out and then about this morning when he was at the clinic and obviously tossed out the flowers instead of giving them to me.

When I finally finish, I stop suddenly, and I feel as if I’ve been running a race. She’s staring at me with the biggest look of confusion on her face. “It doesn’t make sense!” she exclaims.

“I know it doesn’t. But I don’t know what to do about it. I mean, what does any of this mean?”

She shakes her head and then straightens her back as if she’s made a decision. “You need to talk to him.”

I’m shaking my head before she even finishes the sentence. “No, I can’t. He wants me, then he doesn’t want me, then he does. I just don’t know…”

“Liv, listen to me. I know Derrick. I’ve known him all my life. He may have had sex with you the first night, but he’s never been known to be a player. If he likes you, it means something.”

I open my mouth and slam it shut again before I finally get up the nerve to say what most worries me. “But what if he doesn’t? What if he’s just looking for another night and that’s it? I mean, he was irresistible, but I’m not going to be his booty call for whenever he’s in the mood.”

Lacy rolls her eyes. “Well, he’s not like that. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Go talk to him. It’s eating you up inside. You need to find out what he’s thinking.”

I think about it, and while I am, Lacy snaps her fingers. “He was jealous!”

“What? Why? Of who?” I ask her.

“Kyle. You said you were talking to Kyle when he pulled in. Maybe he was going to give you the flowers, saw you with Kyle, and left. It makes sense.”

Jealous? Could Derrick Keller be jealous? He doesn’t seem the type, but also, if it’s possible, that could mean that he actually likes me. That he might want more than a one-night stand or some booty call.

I’m nervous, but I finally give in to what she’s saying. She’s right. I’ve been so upside down with all of this, I know I need to work it out. And I’ve never been one to walk away from a problem. I need to face it head on. Even if it ends up breaking my heart.

I thank Lacy for the hot chocolate and the talk and then go to the Keller Ranch.

When I finally get up the nerve to knock on the door, Derrick swings it open and pushes the screen door so there’s nothing between us. “Where's your boyfriend?”

“My boyfriend?”

“Yeah, ya know. Kyle Richards, the pro baseball player.”

“Kyle and I are just friends. We’re the godparents to Brody and Rose’s soon-to-be child.”

“So he’s not your boyfriend?” Derrick reiterates.

“No.”

“But he called you early in the morning the day after we were together, and you said you were eating a bagel instead of telling him you were with me.”

My eyes widen as I realize that this is why he left. He must have overheard me on the phone. “Of course I didn’t tell one of my friends that I was brushing my teeth so I could get back to having sex with a guy I met in a bar the night before. I mean, I didn’t even know your last name at that point.”



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