84
" “You were just worried about me.”
An exhale, relieved that I understood. “Yeah.”
I turned. “Because you think I’m worth it.”
He put his fingers under my chin. “I absolutely think you’re worth it.”
“But you don’t think you are.”
His mouth opened. Shut.
“That’s what this is about, Derek. You won’t let us worry about you because you don’t think you’re worth it. But I do. I absolutely do.”
I lifted onto my toes, put my hands around his neck, and pulled him down. When our lips met, that first jolt...It was everything I hadn't felt with Simon, everything I'd wanted to feel.
His hands went around my waist, pulling me closer—
Simon's footsteps thudded through the hall. We jumped apart.
"And he says I have lousy timing," Derek grumbled. "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
89
" Simon kissed me and I just stood there like someone had cut the cord between my brain and my muscles.
Finally, the connection caught and I did kiss him, but awkwardly, some part of me still holding back, my gut twisting, like I was doing something wrong, making a huge mistake, and—
Simon stopped. For a moment, he hovered there, face above mine, until I had to look away.
"Wrong guy, huh? he said, his voice so soft I barely caught it.
"Wh-what?"
He eased back, and his eyes went blank, unreadable.
"There's someone else," he said. Not a question. A statement.
"S-someone...? A boyfriend, you mean? From before? No. Never. I wouldn't—"
"Go out with me if there was. I know." He took another step back, the heat of his body fading, the chill of night air moving in. "I don't mean a guy from before, Chloe. I mean one from now."
I stared at him. Now? Who else...? There was only one other guy—
"D-Derek? Y-you think—"
I couldn't finish. I wanted to laugh. You think I like Derek? Are you kidding? But the laugh wouldn't come, just this thundering in my ears, breath catching like I'd been smacked in the chest.
"Derek and I aren't—"
"No, not yet. I know."
"I—I don't—"
Just say it. Please let me say it. "I don't like Derek." But I didn't. Couldn't. "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
91
" When I inched closer, not wanting to intrude, he tugged me in front of him and I stumbled, half falling onto his lap. I tried to scramble up, cheeks burning, but he pulled me down onto his knee, one arm going around my waist, tentative, as if to say Is this okay? It was, even if my blood pounded in my ears so hard I couldn’t think. "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
92
" The door slapped shut, sound echoing as Derek marched across the yard, dead on target.
I looked around, desperate for an escape route, but there was none. Go forward and deal with Derek, or run back toward Simon and have to deal with both of them. I kept walking.
"Where's Simon?" he snapped.
Relief washed through me. I didn't trust myself to speak, so I just pointed back to the woods.
"He left you? Out here? At night?"
"He dropped something," I mumbled, trying to get past him. "He isn't far."
Without a sound, he was right in front of me, blocking my path
"You're crying?" he said.
"No, I—" I tore my gaze away. "Just dust. From the path. Simon's that way."
I tried to pass him, but he stooped, trying to get a look at my face. When i wouldn't let him, he caught my chin. I jerked back, flinching at his touch, heart thudding at it, too.
I told myself Simon was wrong. I'd never be dumb enough to fall for Derek. But I had. With him so close, my stomach kept doing weird little flips. It wasn't fear. It hadn't been fear for a while.
"You've have been crying," he said, voice softer. Then his breath caught, the growl coming back as he snapped, "What did Simon—?" He bit off the words, cheeks reddening like he was embarrassed even to think Simon might be responsible. "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
93
" "Now, do I dare ask what you guys are doing hiding out up here? Or is it going to make me jealous?"
Simon was smiling as he said it, but Derek glanced away with a gruff "Course not."
"So you weren't having another adventure?" Simon lowered himself on my other side, so close he brushed against me, hand resting on mine. "It sure looks like a good spot for one. Rooftop hideaway, old widow's walk. That is what that is, huh? A widow's walk?"
"Yeah. And it's rotting, so stay off it," Derek said.
"I did. So, adventure?"
"A small one," I said.
"Oh, man. I always miss them. Okay, break it to me gently." "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)
95
" Will you for_me?
I stared at the two hands, trying to figure out the missing word until a loud sigh came through the door.
"Either the answer is no or my drawing sucks."
"Hold on." I quickly dressed and opened the door. Simon was leaning against the wall.
"So?" he said.
"I'm having trouble with one part." I pointed to the hands.
"Give," he said.
"Ah." I read the note. "Will you for...forgive me? I looked up at him. "I think that's supposed to be my question."
"No, you did the right thing. You realized it wasn't what you wanted, and you said no. I'm the jerk who stomped off and left you alone in the forest. I'm sorry. Really sorry." He paused. "So...are we okay?"
Relief made my knees wobble. "We're okay. But I am sor—"
He held up a hand to cut me off. "I can't get mad at you for confirming something I already suspected. I gave it a shot. I didn't work out. I'm not going to say I'm fine with that, but..." He shrugged. "I like you, Chloe. And it's not a girlfriend-or-nothing kind of like, so I'm hoping we can skip the we-tried-dating-and-it-blew stage and jump straight back to where we were, if you want that."
"I want that." "
― Kelley Armstrong , The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3)