Chapter 50

Derek sits on his knees, his face still bunched in confusion. The width of the couch yawns between us, a sudden no-man’s land. “Then what is it?” he wants to know. “Is it me?”

Kind of, yeah.

But I don’t want to just come out and say it like that. He’ll take offense, and at the moment, everything seems to hang in the balance between us. We’re at a tipping point, and the wrong word could break us apart.

It isn’t reallyhim, though, is it? Part of it is me.

Because more than anything, I don’t want to lose him again.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I place a hand on his arm as if trying to keep him close. “I don’t really think we should…I mean…” How to put this delicately?

The tension eases out of his shoulders, and his brow clears as he covers my hand with his. “You mean not here. I get it. Maybe we should go to your room?”

I don’t take the bait. “Maybe we shouldn’t. Derek…”

His hand slips under mine, comforting. “What is it? Tell me. Baby, please.”