If Walls Could Talk

Sixteen

"What are you making in this one, Nika?" Calum laughs, watching her focus as she drops chocolate chips into the cooking batter on the griddle.

"Smiley!" She grins, dropping two chips to be slightly crooked eyes.

"I like it." He chuckles, waiting until the pancake is ready to be flipped.

"If you keep waking up with her I'm going to start feeling useless around the house." Calum looks up as Skye comes into the room.

"You're very much still needed. I need you today actually."

"Work?"

"That and I would really appreciate if you would do a grocery run for us. We are all but out of food, and the Amazon order is no longer priority, because they are so down on staff."

"I can run to the store. When do I need to keep Nika occupied for you?"

"Around two."

"Then I'll go shopping this morning and be back by lunch."

"Thanks, Skye. I'd go, but I have some things to do before the live later."

"Don't worry about it. I don't mind going to the grocery store." She waves him off.

"Skye!" Nika calls over to her suddenly.

"What?"

"Daddy and Nika making pancakes!" She grins, pointing at the plate full of the breakfast item.

"I can see that."

"You're welcome to some. I am a pretty good cook when it comes to breakfast." Calum laughs.

"Sure. I'm going to get ready first, so I can leave as soon as I'm done eating though."

"We'll make sure to save you some."

"Thanks."

Skye pulls her phone out as she heads back down the hall, hitting call on Derek's contact.

"Skye." He answers almost immediately.

"I miss you. Also if you accidentally need to go grocery shopping and manage to hit up our usual store in about an hour, I might accidentally see you for a minute." She laughs.

"Coincidentally, I do need groceries." He laughs.

"Want to randomly run into me at the grocery store then? In an hour."

"I could possibly be there. Yes." He chuckles.

"Great. See you then."

"Bye, Skye." He laughs.

"Bye, Derek." Tossing her phone on the bed she hurries to collect what she needs, heading for the shower.

***

Skye can't help but grin as she pulls into the parking lot, Derek's beat up old car easy to spot. Pulling into the stall next to his, she hits the horn to get his attention.

"Oh hello there random friend I just now ran into." Derek laughs as I climbs out of his car.

"What a coincidence that I ran into you here." She laughs back.

"How's life been, Skye?"

"Better. But still a little weird. I miss you and your couch even a little bit." She sighs, hugging him tightly despite the fact that it's frowned upon in the current state of the world.

"I thought you told me he promised to respect your wishes to not be anything but professional."

"Well ya, but he still likes me. And that makes it a little weird. Like he's not being flirty or anything, but we all still know he would if he could. It's like an elephant in the room. I don't know... that's just how it feels to me at least. But at least he isn't being all pissy and brooding around angrily cuz I turned him down."