Undersold(50)

John shook his head. “Heard this before, Derek.”

“He’s right, we’ve heard this before.” I wanted Derek to pull himself together, get clean, but we’d played this scene out a hundred times already.

“I know guys, I know. I can’t do anything about that right now. But I’m gonna try, best I can, to make it right. I gotta go back soon, but I wanted to say that. And to ask for forgiveness.”

John and I stayed silent for a minute. Derek stared down at his shoes.

“I forgive you,” John said quietly. I looked over and there were tears in his eyes.

“I do too, Derek. I want what’s best for you,” I said.

Derek smiled sadly, and pulled us both into a hug. We stayed like that for a minute, before moving away.

“Alright guys,” Derek said, and stood up. “Time for me to get out of here.”

“Good luck. Call me soon,” I said.

“Yeah, same here.” John nodded.

Derek nodded back, then headed off toward his crappy old Altima.

I had no idea whether or not rehab would stick this time, if Derek really was ready to get his life on track, but I wanted him to try, and I missed my younger brother. I knew John missed him too. We watched him climb into his car and drive off.

“Enough for one day?” John said as Derek pulled onto the main road and drove off.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

We climbed into the cab of his truck together, and drove back toward our childhood home. We didn’t say much, and the weight of the day was thick between us. We had just buried our father, but we had said the important things already, and now I was ready to start moving on. I thought about Shane, back in the city, doing whatever he was doing, and I hoped he wasn’t too upset. My entire body ached to message him, and I realized it was time to try and get in touch. I pulled my phone out and wrote him a text.

I’m sorry I’ve been silent for the past few days. I miss you. We need to talk soon. I’ll be back in the city tomorrow, if you have time to meet.

I hit send, and looked out the window. Trees and winding roads went by as we moved back toward Levittown. A minute later, my phone buzzed.

Think we can chat sooner than that? I didn’t know how we could, but his positive response brought a smiled to my face.

I can call you later, if that’s what you mean. I hit send. We were a few minutes from home, and the houses all started to look the same as we entered Levittown’s perimeter.

Not exactly what I mean. That was a weird text, but I ignored it and figured he’d explain himself eventually. As we pulled onto the street, I recognized a black car sitting out front of the house.

“Who’s that?” John asked, pulling into the driveway.

I had no idea how to answer. That’s Shane Green, CEO and billionaire, and my sortof-boyfriend.

“I think that’s for me,” I said lamely.

John shut the car off and looked at me. “Alright, that’s cool. Who is it?”

“Uh, I’m not sure.”

He looked at me like I was insane. “Are you joking?”

“Look, this is weird, but just go with it, okay?”

He let out a sigh. “Fine, I don’t have the energy to fight you on this.”

We climbed out of the car, and I moved toward Shane. I looked back at John. “I’ll be inside soon.”

He nodded. “I’ll be right in there if you need me.”

As John pulled open the front door, Shane stepped out of the back seat of his car. John looked back, and Shane waved. John gave him a nod, and then went inside.

My breath caught in my throat. Shane was more beautiful than I remembered, and his square jaw and flint blue eyes, his perfectly fitting suit and chiseled body all struck me as if I were seeing him for the first time. I couldn’t believe he was there. He moved toward me, hands in his pockets, and piercing, engaged look on his face. He stopped within a few steps of me.

“Hi Amy, I’m sorry to drop by like this.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Darcy told me.”

That made sense. I wasn’t sure how they got in contact though.

“I’m sorry about that,” I said, unsure how to go forward.

He shook his head. “Enough apologies. The only thing I’m here to do is offer my support. I know this is extremely difficult for you. If there is anything I can do, anything you need taken care of, consider all of my resources at your disposal.”

I took a step closer to him, and could smell his body. I wanted to throw myself at him, wrap my arms around his chest and sob or laugh or both until I couldn’t breathe, but the memory of him and Janice filled me with fear and doubt.

“Are you and Janice together?” I blurted out. I couldn’t believe I said it that way, then of all times, but I had been holding that in for too long. Being so near him was too much, and I couldn’t control myself.