Wrecking the Homewrecker (BOOK 2) EDITING

23

Adora

I drove back home, wiping the tears from my face.

I was going to face Derek, no matter how irrational he was acting.

You lied to him for five years.

Granted I might've deserved the reaction I got- but he'd blown everything out of proportion.

Derek never made me feel in danger. I always felt safe around him, solely because I'd never seen him blow up like he had tonight. It just wasn't a natural thing for him.

You should've told him.

I shouldn't have lied to him about the dinner, I shouldn't have lied to him about Santiago.

I knew it. I'd loved Santiago.

And those feelings might've gone away while I was gone. Not many people in London talked about Santiago like the people here, so draining myself of the memories of him wasn't the most difficult.

But there wasn't nothing there.

Definitely not after the dinner.

I felt tears rush to my eyes. Nothing happened, but something happened.

I gave my steering wheel a good hit, as if it would do anything, sobbing.

You should've let him go when he offered to leave.

I leaned my head back against the back of my seat, closing my eyes as I waited for the red light to change.

Was it even bothering Santiago? Had it even crossed his mind?

Probably not, because he was a better person than me.

The red light changed to green and I stepped on the gas pedal. I was ready to get home and into bed. Tonight had been so mentally straining that it hurt.

I pulled into my driveway and turned off my car, sitting still for a few seconds. I gulped and grabbed my purse, opening my door.

I walked up to the door of the house after closing my car door, opening it. It wasn't locked.

I walked inside as quietly as I could, closing the door behind me. I turned around to see Derek standing there, a blank expression on his face.

Our eyes bored into eachother's, my eyes being the first to dart away from his. I walked into the kitchen and placed my purse on the counter, flexing my jaw muscle.

"Where'd you go?" He asked cautiously.

"Out," I answered, grabbing a bottle of water.

"Out where?"

"Out," I said.

He just flexed his jaw muscle.

"I'm sorry for the way I reacted," he said.

I brushed off his comment.

"You would've acted the same way if I would told you-"

"That's the thing Derek," I said, "I probably wouldn't have."

He just sighed, raking his hair back with his hands. "You're right. I blew it out of the water, and I'm sorry-"

"Seriously," I said, brushing past him, "save it."

"You know I would never lay a hand on you like that," he whispered, "I'm sorry, I just blew up and I know I made it seem like I was going to but you know damn well that I wouldn't ever."

"If I have to walk on eggshells around you because of that argument," I said, "I don't want to walk around you at all."

"You won't, I promise," he whispered, grabbing my arms, "Adds, please."

I just looked up at him, tears forming in my eyes. "You scared me, Derek."

"I know," he said, wrapping his arms around my neck, "I scared myself."

I pushed myself away from him. "You've never blown up on me like that ever."

"I know," he repeated, "I know, Adds. I don't even know what clicked, but something did and I screwed up big time."

"Yeah," I whispered, nodding, "yeah, you did."

I didn't receive a response this time, just a guilty look on his face.

"You almost lost me, Derek."

"But you came back," he said, "you came back because that's what love does. I blow up, you forgive me after a few apologies. That's what love does."

I just sighed. "Derek, I'm tired. Let's talk about this another time."

"I'll sleep on the couch," he offered, making me nod.

"Okay," I said, making my way upstairs, away from Derek Novak.

~*~

Derek

Getting a response out of Adora was pretty much a lost cause.

I was fully aware I'd blown up- and her walking out made me realize it.

Losing Adora wasn't an idea I liked to think about.

So many questions went through my mind. Had she agreed to whatever happened with Santiago? Is that why she hated him so much, because she hadn't agreed?

Or did she?

All of these thoughts went coursing through my head as I sat in my car, outside of Santiago's building.

I procrastinated going inside. I know I'd be snappy with him even when I tried my hardest not to be.

I eventually sucked it up. I just needed to get it over with.

I opened my car door and walked inside his building. The receptionist had gotten used to seeing me around so she let me right through, making me step into the elevator swiftly before the doors closed.

I shot the lady next to me a tight smile, that was in no way genuine.

"Hey," she said, pulling her glasses off of her face, "you're Derek Novak, yeah?"

I just looked over at her. "Yeah, that's me."

She smiled a warm smile. "I'm Santiago's assistant. You look exactly like your dad, that's how I know."

I just smiled and nodded. "Thanks, I take that as a compliment."

She shot me a wink before the doors opened. "You should."

She stepped out of the elevator, making my eyebrows go into a deep furrow. I just smiled.

Women.

The elevator seemed to be moving faster than usual today. Probably because I didn't want to see Santiago.

It stopped at the thirtieth floor, making me let out a sigh before stepping out. The large silver doors that led into his office were already open, the light from the sky pouring into his office.

I knocked on the doors and Santiago looked over at me. "Hey, Derek."

He cleared his throat, flexing his jaw muscle as he looked back down at his papers.

I wiped the smug expression off of my face, walking inside. I sat down in front of him without a word.

"So have you put any more thought into the fundraiser day?" He asked. He looked up from his papers finally, his hands folded together in front of his abdomen.

I nodded. "Yeah. I think it's a good idea."

I wasn't meaning to be short with him.

"Okay. I got more information on it for you, so here you go." He slid a paper across his desk to me, making me grab it and examine it carefully.

"Yeah, it's a go." I placed the paper inside my briefcase, making one of his thick eyebrows cock up in my direction.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

I just looked up at him. "Oh, yeah. Just some trouble with the lady, that's all."

"I'm a connoisseur in that department."

"You know, I don't know if you are," I said, furrowed brows, "because this trouble has to do with you."

He shot me a blank expression.

"I know about your past with Adora," I said.

He nodded over at me. "It's a lot."

"Yeah, it is," I said, "and the fact that neither of you decided to bring it up to me is even more."

"Yeah, I was definitely going to say hey, we've both had sex with your fiancée."

I just flexed my jaw muscle. "If I find out that she didn't agree to anything and I mean anything the two of you did, I'll end you."

I stood up and grabbed my briefcase, making a loud chuckle fill the room. "I can guarantee you, Mr. Novak, your soon-to-be wife never had any complications agreeing to what we did together. You can ask her, she'd say the same thing."

"And if she doesn't say the same thing," I said, "I'm a man of my word."

"Ending me is going to be pretty challenging."

I looked back at him. "Like I said, I'm a man of my word."

He smiled. "You're dismissed."

And with that, I smiled as I walked out of his office.

~*~

Adora

I watched the door open, still grating the block of cheese in my hand.

Derek walked inside, shrugging out of his sports coat.

I just looked at him, cocking an eyebrow up as he turned around to face me.

"Good evening," he greeted, "how's your day been?"

I just looked away from him. "Fine."

I heard his slow footsteps making their way over to me. I felt his hand on my arm, a small kiss being pressed to my forehead.

I knew exactly what Derek was doing, he was trying to make himself look good again.

And I was still indifferent.

"Did you work today?" He asked.

I shook my head.

"So what all did you do?" He asked, leaning against the counter.

I began grating the cheese at a faster pace. "Nothing, really."

His eyes darted down to my hands that were moving at an erratic pace. "Be careful," he said, grabbing my arms, "don't cut your-"

"I've got it," I snapped, pulling my arms away from his hands.

He just sighed, pursing his lips together. "What's for dinner?"

"Stromboli."

"Sounds delicious," he said, "you think it'll be done by the time I get a shower and change?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

He just nodded. "I'll be upstairs if you need me."

My focus never strayed away from the cheese in my hands.

I finally was done grating it and I poured the shredded cheese over the Stromboli, shoving the pan in the oven.

I sighed and rested my hands on my hips.

I was so snappy and upset that it was probably unhealthy.

Maybe you should take it easy on Derek.

My eyebrows went into a furrow at that thought.

I looked down at my phone after it vibrated.

[From: Brenna]
Landon is finally awake! Come over later.

I smiled at the picture she'd sent of them.

[To: Brenna]
I'll be over very soon!

I placed my phone on the counter and folded my arms over my chest. I watched the Stromboli cook through the oven, my eyes fixated on the rising dough.

I jumped when I felt a pair of arms around my waist. Derek just smiled against my neck, chuckling. "It's just me."

I pushed myself away from him. "Don't scare me like that."

He leaned against the counter, arms folded over his chest. "The Stromboli looks good."

I just looked at him, my arms folded over my chest as well.

He shot me a smile. "You're so cute."

I just furrowed my brows together, my impatience at its all time high.

"You cannot act like that," I said.

"Like what?" He asked, his eyebrows in a deep furrow to match my own.

"Like everything is okay!" I yelled, "you blew up, and it took me walking out for you to get that through your head."

He sighed, looking away from me. "I know I did, Adds. I'm just trying to make it up to you-"

"It's not working," I said, my tone clipped.

He flexed his jaw muscle. "What do I have to do to get you back on my side?"

"You have to realize that you wronged. I know that's hard to do, and it's easier said than done, but you did. You can't act like everything's normal. It's not."

"Adora, I know I wronged," he said, "I know I fucking screwed up. You deserve better, you deserve someone that knows how to keep their patience and keep their anger at a low. I didn't, and I apologize from the bottom of my heart."

My eyebrows shot up as I nodded. "Good start. Let's eat."

~*~

hi guys! ❤️ sorry it took me so long to update 😩😩 I'm usually a daily updater but I've just been seriously chilling for the past few days. and I kinda wanted to build up suspense.

how did you guys like this chapter? I enjoyed writing it. my favorite part had to be when Santiago got smart as hell with Derek

how are we feeling about Derek? how are we feeling about Santiago? hmmm 🤔 I want to know what you guys are feeling/thinking!

OOH! Big news- one shot winners will *hopefully* be posted tomorrow on my twitter! They will be posted on here whenever the next chapter goes up, which could also be tomorrow or maybe the day after. They will be on my twitter first, though, that's all I know! my twitter: @ subjayy_

okay. I love you guys so very much! thanks for reading and being patient on this chapter 😊

be ready for chapter 25