CHAPTER 9
"Yes, that's understandable," Derrick said softly. "But you don't feel that way about me, do you, Sandra?"
Her eyes widened, surprise flashing through them. It struck something deep in him.
"No, Derrick! Never!"
He kissed her once more before nudging her gently up from the couch. "Go call your friends before Karla actually gets the cops involved. She meant it, Sandra. And I wouldn't be surprised if Ken's already on his way to your house. You call the girls. I'll ring Ken and let him know you're okay."
Sandra dropped onto her couch with a sigh, head flopping backward as she stared at the ceiling. She felt drained in a way that had nothing to do with grief. This wasn't about Clement's death. This was something altogether different—confusing, uncertain, and intensely emotional.
She might've fallen asleep in that fog of exhaustion had the doorbell not rung. Twice. Loudly. Urgently.
No need to guess. Karla or Sophia—or both—were here. Her phone call hadn't fooled them for a second. They needed the full story. In person.
With a groan, she dragged herself to her feet and shuffled toward the door.
Derrick had only dropped her off about thirty minutes ago, after the necessary phone calls had been made. The memory of the desire in his eyes still burned through her. His kiss lingered like a brand. The brush of his fingers along her face, his whispered promise that he'd see her soon—it all haunted her.
Now, standing on her own threshold, she was supposed to figure out how she felt about all of it.
When she opened the door, her suspicion was confirmed. Karla and Sophia stood there. Karla's gaze was sharp and probing. Sophia's was anxious, full of worry.
Without waiting for an invitation, Karla swept inside, Sophia trailing behind.
"All right, spill," Karla demanded. "We're not buying that nonsense about you just deciding not to go to The House and hanging out with Derrick instead."
Sandra followed them to the living room and flopped onto the same couch she'd just left.
"And don't leave anything out," Karla continued. "I'll sic Ken on Derrick if I have to. I'll get the story one way or another."
"Are you okay?" Sophia asked gently. "Did something bad happen? Did someone hurt you?"
Sandra gave a tired smile. How was she supposed to answer that? Yes? No? Kinda?
"I'm fine," she said. "Really. It's just... complicated."
Karla's lips thinned. That answer only confirmed her suspicions.
"So what happened?" Sophia pressed.
"What really happened, Sandra?" Karla asked. "I saw how determined you were yesterday. Even if you had doubts, you were going. Then suddenly, you call and say you're home?"
"I did go," Sandra said cautiously.
Sophia frowned. "But you said—"
"I never said I didn't go. I said I changed my mind."
"And?" Karla's voice lowered. "What happened?"
Sandra exhaled slowly. "Derrick happened."
Karla's eyes widened. "Oh my God. He was there? Did he lose it?"
Sophia looked utterly lost.
Before Sandra could answer, Karla barreled ahead. "I'm so sorry. I should've warned you. Derrick's a member, but he's rarely there. I didn't even think to mention it. What are the odds, right?"
"Wait, Derrick goes to The House?" Sophia's voice was incredulous. "Why?"
Sandra flushed. She and Karla exchanged a look.
"He's a Dominant," Karla explained gently. "Like Ken."
Sophia's reaction was immediate silence, her face tightening. Sandra braced herself. She knew this part wouldn't be easy.
"He saw me with someone else when I walked in," Sandra said. "It... didn't go well."
"I bet," Karla murmured.
"He dragged me out, took me back to his place. Said I had no idea what I was getting into."
"And did you correct him?" Karla asked.
Sandra nodded. "That's when it got... interesting."
Both her friends leaned forward.
"He said if that was what I needed, what I wanted, then he was going to be the one to give it to me."
"Whoa," Karla breathed.
"What?" Sophia sputtered. "He what?"
"He wants me," Sandra said softly. "Has for a long time. I had no idea."
Karla's eyes widened. "I mean... I always wondered. The way he looked at you sometimes. But then you and Clement were happy, and Derrick never made a move even after Clement passed. I figured I imagined it."
Sophia's face darkened. "He had feelings for you while you were married to my brother?"
"It's not like he acted on them," Karla said, a touch of defensiveness in her voice. "You can't control attraction."
"Clement knew," Sandra said. "Derrick told me Clement knew. And it didn't change their friendship."
Sophia folded her arms. "Look, I'd rather him than some stranger from The House. But this worries me. Him. You. The whole situation."
Karla frowned. "That kind of person? You do realize Ken's the same kind of person, right?"
Sophia sighed. "That's not what I meant. I'm worried about Sandra. She's been impulsive lately, and I don't want her to get hurt. And I'm still trying to wrap my head around Derrick and how this might affect all of us."
Sandra's frustration simmered. "I have thought about all of that. Believe me. I haven't taken this lightly."
She took a deep breath. "I never saw Derrick as more than a friend. But now... I don't know. I feel like I'm betraying Clement just by thinking about it. But Derrick never made a move before. And now he has."
Sophia looked away, conflicted. Karla reached for Sandra's hand.
"Yes, this changes things," Karla said gently. "But nothing is guaranteed in life. You of all people know that. Let me ask you something. If you knew back then that you'd only get a few short years with Clement, would you still have married him?"
Sandra didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. I wouldn't trade our time together for anything."
"Then why not take a chance now?" Karla asked. "What if this turns out to be something beautiful? What if you only get a year? Or even less? Wouldn't you rather have that than live with regret?"
Sophia was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I do want you to be happy, Sandra. Even if it's not with Clement. I'll support you, no matter what."
"Thank you," Sandra said, eyes misting. "I don't know what I'd do without you both."
Karla squeezed her hand. "Just know, if Derrick ever hurts you, Ken will take him out. With love, of course."
Sandra laughed softly but sadness tugged at her chest. She didn't want this to come between any of them.
Sophia stood and hugged her fiercely. Sandra hugged her back, then walked them out.
"Call us, okay?" Karla said. "Anytime. Doesn't matter when."
"I will," Sandra promised.
She stood in the doorway and watched them leave before grabbing her purse and keys.
Her hands acted before her mind caught up. It wasn't until she approached the cemetery gates that she realized where she was going.
She braked at the entrance, staring into the rows of headstones.
She'd come to ask Clement's blessing. To tell him about Derrick. Even though she'd promised herself she wouldn't come here again.
With a shaky exhale, she backed up, turned the car around, and drove away.
This time, she headed toward Derrick's.
He shouldn't have left her. Shouldn't have given her space to second-guess anything. Not after what he'd told her.
He should have kept her close.
Where she belonged.