Can This Be Real?

Chapter 14: Christmas apart

Derek POV

One thing that definitely runs in the Hough family is our inability to ever be on time. I should’ve rented a car instead of waiting for my sisters to pick me up from the airport. Waiting like this is just ridiculous. Now I feel bad for Bethany for all those times I was late to rehearsals.

Awh, Bethany… oh how I wish she could be here with me right now spending Christmas together but that would be too much too soon, right? Goodness, I just spent the entire week with her and literally just saw her not more than 2 hours ago. Yet, I can’t get her out of my mind. Thankfully while waiting for my sisters, I can keep myself occupied by looking through the photos and thinking about the amazing trip we just had.

Flashback

“Let’s stay an extra night,” I suggest.

With so much joy, she asks, “can we?”

I laugh and confess, “I may have reserved this place up until Christmas Eve.”

“Derek, really? But your flight leaves tomorrow.”

“Ok, so I may have also booked a second flight leaving on Christmas Eve just in case I was able to convince you to extend this trip an extra day… or two.”

“Derek Hough… you’re telling me that you were that sure of yourself and your charisma that I wouldn’t bear to part ways and would insist to extend the trip?” 

With a slight stutter, I say, “Ok when you put it like that…no… but…”

“…but you were confident enough to book the extra nights and another flight?” she says.

“Well, I had hoped that you would want to spend more time with me. I just didn’t want to scare you or pressure you to be in these close quarters with me for such an extended period of time if you weren’t ready. So, I figured we’d see how the first day would go and then decide from there,” I smile hoping to persuade her. “So… what do you say?” I nervously ask.

“Cancel your flight tomorrow and tell your family you will see them on Christmas Eve.”

I smile with delight but am slightly confused as to why Bethany starts shaking her head, I ask, “What? Did you change your mind? Be honest…I can still take that flight tomorrow. Don’t worry, you won’t disappoint me…”

With a pouty face, she says, “I’m mad at myself for not over packing and not bringing that huge suitcase with more clothes for this trip.” I start to laugh uncontrollably which causes Bethany to crack up.

I smile just thinking about that moment but am suddenly brought to reality when I hear: “Well don’t you look well rested and just on cloud nine. I’m guessing you had a good time in Big Sur?” Sharee says.

I smile and answer, “You could say that.”

Katherine, says, “You look happy, D.”

“I am happy… I truly am for the first time in quite awhile,” I honestly say. “Although, sitting here waiting for you guys for over an hour has certainly brought my happiness down a notch or two.”

“Hey…maybe if you hadn’t rescheduled your flight to arrive on Christmas Eve, we could’ve avoided holiday traffic and picked you up on time. But no, you and our future sister-in-law just had to extend your romantic getaway for 2 extra days.”

“Wow…really, future sister-in-law? Way to put pressure on our new relationship,” I say as I shake my head, “does have a nice ring to it, though.”