Now or Never

it.”
    “I love it.”
    Derrick scooted to the side. “Get up here.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to pull out your IV or anything.”
    He held his arm up, and Grayson climbed into the bed with him. They were pretty squished, but she wouldn’t be anywhere else. She laid her head on his chest, and they watched television for hours.
    By his heavy breathing, Grayson realized Derrick had dozed off. Quietly, she slid off the bed.
    She nudged him, and his eyes fluttered open. “I’m going to go. Thank you for allowing me to visit.”
    Derrick squeezed her hand. “I’ll keep in touch. “
    “I hope so.” Grayson leaned down and kissed him. She hurried down the hall to the gift shop and grabbed a handful of new release novels, and a few snacks.
    By the time she got back to his room he was back to sleep. She wrote him a quick note. Hurry home, Gray.

CHAPTER 34

    Two months later, the doorbell rang while Grayson was in the middle of writing a paper for school. She was as irritated at the interruption as she was relieved for it. Even if it was someone selling something, it was a distraction to get her eyes off the screen for a few minutes. School was fun, but it was a lot of work.
    Grayson set her computer down and stretched before crossing the living room to open the door.
    Nothing could have prepared her for Derrick standing on the other side.
    She covered her mouth, breathless at the sight of him. He was still leaner than before the accident, but he looked great. His hair was slightly longer, and his face was covered in stubble, hiding most of the scars on his face. His eyes were intense as ever, and maybe a little apprehensive. Not a look she was used to seeing on him.
    She hesitated before taking a step back and holding open the door. He brushed passed her and went into the living room.
    “Is your mother home?” He looked around, his watchful gaze taking in the small house.
    “She’s gone for the weekend. Yoga retreat, again.”
    One of the cats wrapped itself around his legs, purring. He leaned down to pet it, avoiding her eyes as he said softly, “We need to talk.”
    Grayson’s heart pounded. She took a deep breath before she replied, “I agree.”
    They were silent as Grayson settled onto the couch, and Derrick took an armchair next to her. The space between them felt like a void.
    Derrick spoke first. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past two months. Well, hell, the past four months.”
    “Me too—”
    Derrick cut her off. “Let me finish. If I don’t get this out now, I might never. This isn’t easy for me.”
    Crossing her legs on the couch, Grayson turned towards Derrick, giving him her complete attention. She wondered if he was about to dump her, then berated herself because it wasn’t like they were exactly a couple. She wasn’t sure she could handle that, but they needed to figure something out. They couldn’t go on like they had been.
    “I haven’t been honest with you.”
    Her heart dropped. She knew it. All the evasiveness, not to mention seeing him with that blonde chick…Grayson forced herself to meet his eyes.
    “I live with Megan, but I wasn’t lying when I said she wasn’t my girlfriend.”
    Anger rose in her chest. “What the hell does that mean?”
    “Let me back up and try to explain.”
    “Please do.” Grayson spat back as she crossed her arms and leaned back on the couch cushion. A million thoughts were racing through her mind as she waited for him to continue. Had their whole relationship been one big lie? Did he ever have feelings for her? Was she just another notch on his belt?
    “I met Megan a couple of years ago. She’s on our racing team. Most races need a female, so we put an ad out on the Internet, and she replied. At first, it was just training, but then one thing led to another, and we started a sexual relationship. She was more into me then I was with her. But, I was upfront that we weren’t exclusive, and she was fine with that. Or at least she claimed to be. It wasn’t until recently she’s been acting crazy.” He paused. “After I met you.”
    “Years?” Grayson stared at him in disbelief. “You’ve been with her for two years, and you don’t consider her your girlfriend? How long have you lived together?” She almost felt bad for the girl. Almost.
    “A few months.”
    “And you’re still having sex with her?”
    “Rarely.”
    Grayson clenched her jaw briefly, tempted to throttle him. “Rarely. Oh, well, that