Chapter 4

Present day...

It was the smell of strong coffee that stirred her awake. When her brown orbs were half-lidded, a mug was hanging in the air... No, there was a hand holding onto it.

 It took a few more blinks to open her eyes, but she nearly bolted out of her skin when she realized that this was not her room.

"Slow down; you're at my place." Derrick chuckled at how she took that hot mug, peering around as if she had been kidnapped. He sat on the bed and pushed the tray he brought along closer.

"I didn't know what you would like, so I made your old favourite. Omelettes with two slices of bread, fried chicken franks and a chocolate bar in case you want dessert."

"Thanks." Valery did not know what to say; the situation was weird. 'Hold on, am I naked?' Her thoughts went wild when she suddenly looked down at her chest. 

"Do you not remember what happened last night?" Derrick tilted his head to the side, searching for her lost gaze. 

Valery was not going to pretend that she did not recall the mistake of a kiss at the club's parking lot, nor did she forget they took the same ride- clinging to each other. She could not determine where they ended up for the night or how she became half naked, wearing only her bra and very lacy see-through panties. 'Oh God, tell me nothing happened. How could I have been so dumb to get drunk on the first damn date?' she could not bring herself to look Derrick in the eye. 

"Um, did we...did we...I mean..."

"We got here late. I was showing you the guest room when you threw up all over the place. So I had to take off your clothes," said Derrick.

Valery let out a silent sigh of relief. "Right, and my clothes?"

"I washed them last night; I can get it for you while you eat. Or would you prefer my shirt?"

"Wearing a shirt is less scary than being in my undies." Valery cooked up a nervous grin as she sipped on the hot beverage. 

"Okay, one oversized t-shirt, coming right up." Derrick set down his cup and dashed out. He returns with an oversized orange shirt.

In a hurry to take it, Valery knocks over her beverage, splashing the black contents over the tray and on the bed.

"Oh no, I'm sorry."

"Hold on, let me get that." Derrick rushed to her side to take the tray.

"No, it's my fault I should do it." Valery haphazardly insisted on taking it, which led to another accident. When the tray crashed into his sweatpants, Derrick became the victim of already spilt coffee and bread crumbs. Valery withdraws, very much apologetic. 

Derrick had difficulty processing everything when Valery kneeled on the bed like a lost puppy. The commotion must have taken her mind off the t-shirt. Derrick fought his testosterone-driven instincts to stop himself from staring too hard at her full breasts or the fabric guarding her lower temple. The little fat on the sides of her waist and those broad hips. 

"Wear the shirt; I will take care of this." Derrick averted his eyes to breathe. That saga ended with them going downstairs for breakfast. Valery insisted on leaving but declined to let Derrick drop her off. She ordered a ride, apologized for what happened and then flew out. 

***

Making out with Derrick weighed so heavily on Valery's conscience that she ignored his phone calls after that day. 

At work, she crammed her head with the important stuff, so it was easier to not get carried away by guilt. You will be focused when your job is to crack bones and save lives. 

After twenty hours of surgery, Valery changed into her clothes, getting ready to leave the hospital. But before then, she had to visit the paediatric section to see Lizzy. There was a seminar coming up. Valery had to review some notes with her and find out if she would make it to the event. From there, she rushed back to her department because she had forgotten one of her slides. Overall, it was a stressful finish.

Passing through the ICU, Valery is alarmed when someone calls out her name. She twirls a few times, searching for the voice. 

"I'm right here." A finger tapped her shoulders, and she turned. 

"Derrick?" Valery clutched her backpack ungracefully.

"Let me guess, you did not see any of my call or texts for the past six days?" Derrick's brow was up.

"Um, I was busy; it's nothing personal." Valery nodded as if the one to convince was herself. "What are you doing here?" She scratched the nape of her neck. 

"I came to see a friend. Dr Mason." Derrick casually slides both hands into his pocket, rocking back and forth. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here."

"As a?"

"Doctor... Oncology department."

"Wow, that's awesome. So, before you run away, I beg you to buy me a can of soda at the cafeteria," Derrick said. 

Valery has to deal with his way of stealing her time because saying no to him sure was hard.

They went to the cafeteria and settled for snacks. Derrick stares at her the whole time. She sticks her straw in a bottle and makes a mess of her meat pie.

"You did not change at all. You are still that clumsy girl I fell in love with in High School," he broke the silence.

Valery keeps her eyes down as she swallows the baked dough. "The same girl you couldn't keep?"

Derrick scratched his left brow and leaned in slightly. "Yeah... Violet, go out with me."

"What?" Valery's mind slipped into a pit. Her eyes shot up almost immediately to reject. Still, Derrick touches her hand and says, "A second date. Let's have a second date."

"Derrick, I do not see that as a good idea."

"I will wait for you at the same restaurant- this Friday at eight."

"No, Derrick I..."

"If you do not show up, I will know my place and stop bothering you. Think about it, please." Derrick's voice softened even more. 

**

Driving back home from that little snack break put Valery's mind asunder. To want or not to want Derrick, why had it suddenly become a stumbling block in her peaceful lonely world? After a series of biting her nails, she dials up another crazy person's number. Since the phone was linked to her car, she could drive quickly. 

It took a lot of beeps to get an answer from the other side.

"You call in monthly instalments." Margret skipped saying hello, to render her heartfelt complaints. 

"I'm sorry, Marge. Seriously I feel very shitty about it. You are my better half and the only friend I can run to; please don't abandon me." Valery moped behind the steering wheel.

"Are you driving? Can you get to my house?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll see you in a bit." Margret ended the call before the minute mark. 

Margret was one of the few people that knew her past. She understood Valery more than Jennifer or anyone else. Since preschool, they have been best friends, soulmates, partners in crime, and forever sisters. She was the only one who could paint out Valery's characteristics and nature with her eyes closed. 

'Marge', as Valery liked to call her, lived alone in a self-compound with her black Maltese, Mimi. When work stole her friend, Valery found her way to Marge's wanted list. Having Valery at home after months made her a little nuts. 

"You've gained a few pounds." Margret's arms were the safest. They did not judge or condemn insensitively. 

"Is that bad or good?" Valery murmured over Margret's shoulders. 

"It's wonderful; you've got your appetite back."

"Or I'm eating junk," Valery said. Mimi hopped onto her lap when she lay on the couch, "Can I crash here for the next ten years?" said Valery. 

"Pfft! This is your home; you can stay forever." Margret was quick to get drinks. 

"You won't believe who I kissed a few nights ago."

"You kissed a man?" Margret beamed. "That's good news!"

"It was Derrick Duncan."

"That is blasphemy!" Margret gaped hysterically.

"I know!" Valery buried her face with the dog. "We met weeks ago and went on a date, and now he wants to meet again." 

"..."

"Say something, Marge; I'm losing it here."

"I don't know what to tell you right now. You swore never to go to that scum now, your next life and all other lives."

"You still think he is scum?" Valery raised her neck at her friend. Margret shrugged. "Did he not feel like scum when you were kissing him?"

"No, he did not," Valery sat up fully, stroking Mimi's curly fur to tame her anxiety. "It felt good, actually, but I wasn't thinking of him when it happened." She confessed.

"It was Riley, wasn't it?" Margret shared the same gloomy expression with Valery.

***

Friday night took forever to come.

Derrick polished up, put on some perfume, and made it to the restaurant on time. "May I take your order?" A waiter was there as soon as he sat down. 

"A glass of your finest wine will be okay. I'm waiting for my date," Derrick said. The waiter took notes and adhered to them. 

Five glasses down the line, Derrick stares more at his watch than the door. Two and a half hours had passed, yet there was no sign of Valery. Derrick pursed his lips. The world hung on his shoulders, and he began seeing defeat ahead. Nobody said it had to be easy, but he wanted to bury himself in the ground right now.

"Sir, should I refill your glass?" The waiter came back. Derrick did not notice his glass was empty. He paused at that moment, thickening his face when he put up a wistful grin. 

"No, you can get me the bill," he said.

The waiter nods attentively and checks for the price. Derrick hands him his credit card and waits. He slides his phone into his pocket and searches for his car keys. 

"Hi."

Derrick lifted his chin sharply when he heard her delicate voice. "I was stuck in traffic; sorry I made you wait this long." Valery was here.

While Derrick marvelled at her last-minute entry, the waiter returned. "You know what, we'll be keeping this table for a few more hours." He found his breath while pulling the seat for Valery.

Derrick's heart swelled with glee. Valery was here in all her innocent splendour. She was here, and that meant he had a second chance. He is not a failure.