Page 84 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
The Melting Pot of New York City’s Finest Bodily Fluids
“Where’s Delaney?” I asked Derk who was hanging out in our apartment, looking rather fidgety.
“Out shopping.” He looked around the living room as I grabbed a lint roller and started cleaning my sweater.
I was getting ready for my date with Greg that I was semi-looking forward to now. It felt like more of a chore than anything at this point. I was excited about the pizza part though.
The last two days had been the most awkward of my life, thanks to Henry’s spontaneous kiss. All day yesterday, I thought about how he’d treated me in the morning and how it had felt right but also so weird. When I got home last night, I faked sickness and made sure no one came in my room by turning out the lights and practically hiding under my blankets so my Kindle didn’t shine too brightly.
Was I avoiding Henry? Of course. I didn’t know what to say to him, how to react to him, and the one person I wanted to talk to, the one person I worked my problems out with was the problem this time. I thought about talking to Delaney, but I didn’t want to get her in the middle of our little roommate drama, especially because she’d probably never let us live it down.
That left Jenny, so when I got to work yesterday, I sat in her office and waited for her to come in. Unfortunately, she and Henry don’t get along so she wasn’t much of a help when it came to talking it out. She kept telling me to forget about him and move on, that he was just playing me, which I didn’t believe was the truth. At least I hoped it wasn’t. He would have no reason to do such a thing . . . besides . . .
Cherry Chaser.
I couldn’t believe he was a Cherry Chaser. I couldn’t believe he would ruin our relationship for that. No way.
This morning, I slipped out quickly, avoiding him once again, and I knew he knew, because later he sent me a text stating he was displeased with not seeing me in the morning. I felt guilty, so damn guilty, but I was a nervous wreck whenever I was around him.And I hated that.I shouldn’t be nervous around him, ever.
I pushed the Henry drama out of my head when I got home from work and started getting ready for my date. I was hoping for at least an enjoyable night with Greg, who seemed like a good guy. I got a message from him earlier that he wasn’t able to secure us reservations at the pizza place, but he thought it would be fun to make pizza at his place, which I was comfortable enough with. I gave Jenny the guy’s information, normally a task assigned to Henry, and told her if I didn’t text her later tonight, he had abducted me.
I studied Derk some more and noticed he was really on edge, like bouncing his leg up and down,looking at his watch constantlykind of on edge.
Taking a moment, I sat next to him and asked, “Is everything okay, Derk? You seem a little . . . strange right now.”
“Fine,” he curtly said, still looking at his watch.
“I don’t buy it. What’s going on?”
Derk ran his hands through his hair, looked around again, and then pulled something out from his pocket. He held it out to me, and I gasped.I might have just died from happiness right now!
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“Are you proposing tonight?”
“I was thinking about it, but she’s taking forever to get home. I’m going to lose my nerve.”
“Why, do you think she’s going to say no?”
“She might. We haven’t talked about marriage or anything like that, Rosie. But I know I can’t be without her anymore. I can’t stand thisher placeandmy placething. I want us to live together, to share a life together.”
My heart melted right there on the spot. I liked Derk, but I just grew a little bit more fond of him after that.
“She’s going to say yes, Derk. No doubt about it. She’s crazy about you.”
“You think?” he asked, clearly fishing for compliments.
“I know, Derk. She is going to be so excited. How do you plan on doing it?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know really. I thought about doing something elaborate, but that’s not the kind of couple we are. I was thinking about meeting her in her bedroom and going down on one knee. Keeping it simple.”
“It will be a total surprise. Eep! I’m so excited for you two.” I clapped my hands.
“Thanks, Rosie.”
I thought about Derk and Delaney’s relationship over the years and how they started off as friends but found they were a lot more than friends as their time together went on. I didn’t blame them; they were electric together.
