Wife for Hire

Chapter 10

(Karmen)

I was sleeping with a damn fork. I sat up and looked around the room a bit confused at how I had gotten there, Jason must have caught me at the table going over the plate settings again and again until I could do it with my eyes closed. I shook my head, the plate settings were definitely engraved into my eyelids, I hope Derek is proud.

I threw the fork onto the night stand and shuffled over to the bathroom to wash my face and complete my morning routine. Derek never said what time he would be by today, but I know I didn't want to see him with crusty eyelids.

My phone buzzed and I unlocked it to see a text from Joe, I smiled. I missed seeing Joe at work every day and I hadn't really spent time with him since I've been here other than that one time I got lunch with him and Maxine. Joe was asking if I was busy tonight, I wasn't sure what time Derek and I would be done with our shopping, but I thought I could swing something later. I let him know and finished brushing my teeth and washing my face once I was done, I walked back into my room and changed out of pajamas and changed into normal clothes.

There was a knock on my door and I went over to open it, Jason was standing there. I pulled my hair into a bun so that it was out of my face and off of my neck. Jason looked me over and I tried to ignore the thump in my chest, I thought about the other night when he had stepped in to help me and tried not to blush. We were only friends, besides I was sure at this point he was only being nice to me because he didn't want to be annoyed the rest of the year we were here together.

"Derek texted saying he would be her in twenty minutes to get you. I was just going to make sure you were up." I nodded and he went downstairs, I guess we were back to being the cold Jason again.

(Jason)

I couldn't stop thinking about the meeting my dad had tried to pull yesterday. I didn't understand what he wanted from me, I had wanted to be a chef, open my own restaurant but when he said that wasn't acceptable and that I would take over the company, I accepted that. When he told me to settle down and get married, I did. Maybe not how he wanted, but it was still done. I sat at the table downstairs and sighed. Lucinda brought over a plate and a cup of coffee. I smiled at her gratefully and took the first bite. Not too much later the doorbell was ringing and Derek was being led into the kitchen by Lucinda. I gave him a nod and he sat across from me, soon he also had a plate in front of him.

"What's up man?" He asked, digging into the eggs Lucinda had cooked. I don't know how she did it, but something as simple as eggs tasted like heaven.

"Nothing, just thinking." He pretended to choke on his food. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my coffee.

"You can do that?" I threw my napkin at him and he laughed. I rolled my eyes, but began to explain everything that had happened the day before with my father. He didn't say anything at first and when he started to Karmen walked into the kitchen.

"Derek!" She said excitedly and ran over. I ignored the rising irritation at the fact that she was excited to see him.

"Good morning Karmen!" he said, returning her smile. I tried to ignore the feeling, but was failing. I stuffed my mouth with toast to keep myself from saying anything. I had no right, I was keeping my distance afterall.

"Look!" She said holding out the fork that she wouldn't let go of yesterday. I chuckled and she looked at me and glared, I rolled my eyes. Derek looked at me confused. I shrugged and finished my plate before taking it to the sink. I didn't want to sit around and watch them become better friends than I would ever be able to be with her. Derek was a good guy, the perfect person to have on your team. She would need him. I shook my head trying to get rid of the feeling that I was losing my best friend and went upstairs. When had I become so overdramatic?