Page 95 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
“The cat photographer,” Derk said.
“He doesn’t just take pictures of cats; he only did that a couple of times,” I replied in an annoyed tone.
“Still . . . meow,” Derk said, raising his “pretend” claw at me.
“I hate you.” I laughed. Changing the subject, I asked, “What’s the newly engaged couple going to do today?”
“Probably fuck all day long,” Derk said with a hopeful look.
“No,” Delaney said. “We having lunch with our parents to celebrate, but we can fuck up until then.”
“Really? Then what are we waiting for?”
“Go get naked”—Delaney slapped his ass—“and I’ll be right in.”
“Best fiancée, ever.”
We watched as Derk leapt in the air and clicked his heels together while taking his shirt off. Delaney shook her head at him but her eyes spoke of love. I was so happy for them. They really were perfect together and deserved each other.
Before the ugly green monster of jealousy roared to life, I shook the thoughts out of my head and twirled my phone on the counter.
“What’s going on with you and Henry?” Delaney asked just as Derk clicked her bedroom door shut.
“W-what are you talking about?” I stuttered.
The last thing I wanted was to get Delaney involved in the melodrama between Henry and me. I didn’t want her to have to find the need to fix things, because knowing Delaney, that was exactly what she’d want to do.
“Henry called me last night when Derk and I were in the middle of getting busy, so I didn’t answer, but he left me a voicemail. He was drunk off his ass, mumbling into the phone about you and not giving him a chance.”
Crap.
My heart churned from the thought of Henry getting wasted and having a semi-heart-to-heart with Delaney. First, I didn’t like that my actions led him to have such a night and second, I hated that he called Delaney. I was always his drunk call, the one he talked to when he was upset, but now that I was the issue, I couldn’t be the solution.
“Yeah, you don’t need to get in the middle of it. We’re just having a few communication issues at the moment,” I answered, trying to be as politically correct as possible.
“I don’t buy it.” She saw right through me. “Derk said some strange stuff was happening between you two, and he also said he heard Henry ask you to go swing dancing last night.”
“Derk needs to mind his own business,” I mumbled.
“He’s a nosy little bitch, you know that, especially when he’s uncomfortable. Since he was proposing last night, waiting for me, of course he was going to listen to your conversation. Now tell me, what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I said, growing irritated. “Just drop it, Delaney.”
“Is he trying to get with you? I told you he’s a cherry chaser.”
“He is not.” I said. “He wouldn’t throw our friendship away just because he likes to sleep with virgins, which isn’t the truth anyway.”
“Have you asked him?”
“No,” I replied. “How would I go about having that conversation with him? There really isn’t a smooth segue into that topic.”
“You’re right about that. I would just ask him.”
“I’m not going to ask him, because it’s irrelevant. We are experiencing a disagreement right now.”
“Okay.” Delaney eyed me suspiciously. “I’m going to tell you this. I don’t like it when my friends aren’t talking.”
“We’re talking,” I lied.
