Summer didn’t know how long she slept, held against Derek’s chest, but when she opened her eyes again the room was bright. It had been a long time since she’d been able to sleep that well, but even as she woke up she remembered her decision from the night before.
As carefully as she could, she slipped away from Derek, trying not to wake him, and crept toward the door. Best if she just vanished, and he forgot she existed.
Derek stirred when she moved out of his arm, adjusting himself a moment when the footsteps caught his ear. He shot up on the couch and looked around, spotting her close to the door. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was hard as he asked the question. “Are you just going to leave? After all that?”
She flinched, freezing in place, and hung her head, the picture of guilt. After a moment, she came back, not meeting his eyes, and picked up the pad.
‘you don’t want me here. I ask too much’
She could feel his anger, but didn’t understand it.