Chapter 257
In all the time Suzy had known Derek, she had never seen him like this.
The Derek she knew was always smiling around her, carefree and playful, as though nothing in the world could truly trouble him.
But now he stood before her with his lips pressed into a tight line, amber eyes glistening with unshed tears. He looked remarkably like a large dog that had been neglected by its owner.
The sight was unexpectedly heartbreaking.
"Finished?" Suzy asked softly.
Derek froze. He glanced at her, then quickly looked away again.
"Yeah..." His voice came out low and muffled.
Suzy stepped closer. "Then I guess it’s my turn to talk."
Derek remained silent. He didn’t move away either. He simply stood there, stubbornly avoiding her gaze.
The meaning was obvious.
What else could she possibly have to say?
Rising onto her toes, Suzy cupped his face between her cool palms, forcing him to look at her.
Derek offered no resistance.
His eyes remained lowered, long lashes concealing whatever emotions lurked beneath.
Even so, Suzy noticed the thin sheen of moisture gathering in his eyes.
It looked as though a single blink might send it spilling over.
"Why are you crying?" Her voice softened.
"I’m not." Derek turned his head, attempting to pull away, only for her hands to tighten around his face.
"If you’re not crying, why are your eyes red?"
"Something got in them."
"Inside the apartment?"
Derek immediately fell silent. His lips flattened into a stubborn line, his jaw tense.
Looking at him like this, Suzy couldn’t help laughing.
"Do you realize how silly you’re being right now?"
The comment earned her a glare.
The tears lingering in his eyes looked ready to fall at any second.
He opened his mouth as though intending to say something, only to swallow the words back down.
With a helpless sigh, Suzy wrapped her arms around his waist.
Her cheek rested against his chest as she held him close.
"Who said you’re just some ordinary college junior?"
The words hit him instantly.
A visible tremor passed through his eyes.
After a few seconds of resistance, Derek finally tightened his arms around her and pulled her against him.
His voice came out rough.
"Suzy... tell me honestly." He paused. "Between Thomas and me... who do you like more?"
For a moment, the hallway seemed to fall silent.
Leonard’s television drama continued playing in the kitchen. The television in the living room hummed in the background. The fire crackled softly inside the fireplace.
Yet all those sounds seemed distant, muffled behind invisible glass.
Suzy gently pulled back from his embrace and looked up at him.
His eyes were still damp. The grievance written across his face was almost overwhelming. It looked as though he might actually cry if he disliked her answer.
Instead of responding immediately, Suzy hooked an arm around his neck and tugged him down.
Before Derek could react, she rose onto her toes and pressed a brief kiss against his lips, like a feather drifting across still water.
Derek froze.
Suzy brushed her lips against his once more before stepping back with a teasing smile.
"So." She tilted her head. "Who do you think I like?"
Derek wasn’t fooled in the slightest. Closing the distance again, he backed her into the corner of the hallway.
"How would I know?"
His fingers intertwined with hers as he leaned closer.
Their lips brushed. The next second, he bit gently at her lower lip.
Not enough to hurt, but just enough to express every ounce of frustration and wounded pride he had been carrying.
"You’re impossible, Suzy."
His voice was hoarse.
"You probably have room in your heart for plenty of men besides me."
The accusation instantly triggered a guilty conscience. His reddened eyes fixed on hers as he deepened the kiss.
Only when her breathing became uneven did he finally pull away.
Suzy’s cheeks were flushed. She was still trying to catch her breath.
Derek stared at her beautiful face.
His heart softened... And ached.
Why couldn’t she belong only to him?
What a terrible woman.
She already had him. Yet she still managed to attract everyone else’s attention.
The thought made him irrationally jealous.
Still, no matter how upset he was, he couldn’t bring himself to truly hurt her.
Lowering his head, he rubbed his cheek lightly against hers.
"Can’t you look at me a little more?"
His voice sounded almost pitiful.
Even if she cared about other people too, shouldn’t she spread her attention around equally?
That was the part that bothered him most.
Why did Thomas always seem to receive so much of it?
"You really are jealous."
Suzy pinched his cheek.
Immediately, tears began rolling down his face again. One after another. Like a faucet that had suddenly been turned on.
"I’m only jealous because I like you."
The simple honesty left Suzy speechless.
After a long pause, she sighed.
"Fine." She squeezed his hand. "I know. This time I could have handled things better. I’ll pay more attention next time."
Even though she could clearly tell that at least part of this performance was deliberate, she still found herself falling for it.
Perhaps it didn’t matter. As long as he was willing to put thought and effort into her, that was enough.
A spark of hope immediately brightened Derek’s eyes. Almost imperceptibly, he glanced toward the far end of the hallway before lowering his head once more.
His lips found hers again.
"Suzy..."
A soft kiss. Then another.
"Am I your favorite?"
The question came out against her lips.
Suzy looked into the handsome face inches from her own and answered without hesitation.
"Of course."
She might as well indulge him. It certainly wasn’t the first time.
"If I didn’t like you, why would I have brought you here in the first place?"
"That’s true."
Derek’s smile finally returned. His eyes curved with satisfaction.
Pulling her into his arms again, he buried his face near her neck and inhaled the faint fragrance lingering on her skin.
Contentment settled over him like warmth. For the first time all day, he felt completely at peace.
"I love you, Suzy."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Really?" she teased.
"You doubt me?" A wounded look immediately appeared.
Suzy laughed softly. "Of course not."
Though privately, she couldn’t help thinking that if he truly loved her that much, he could always raise his affection score a little faster.
Derek had never been particularly talented with words. He preferred actions.
Lowering his head once more, he captured her lips in another kiss.
Warm golden light spilled through the hallway.
Tiny motes shimmered in the air.
Pinned gently against the wall, Suzy felt the cool surface against her back and the heat of Derek’s chest pressed against the front of her body.
Her fingers curled around his broad shoulders. She could feel him trembling slightly.
At the far end of the hallway, beyond the corner where the light faded into shadow, a tall figure stood motionless.
For a long time.
Nobody spoke.
Eventually, footsteps echoed softly.
"Did you find it?"
Hearing someone approach, Leonard looked up toward Thomas.
Thomas returned to the table without expression and sat down.
Picking up a prepared dumpling wrapper, he resumed folding with mechanical precision.
"Yeah."
Leonard studied him for a moment. Several things seemed to cross his mind. In the end, he said nothing.
Lowering his head, he continued rolling dough.
A short while later, Suzy finally returned.
Both men looked up. She came back alone. Derek was nowhere in sight.
"Where is he?" Leonard asked.
"He’ll be here in a minute."
Thomas remained silent. His gaze drifted briefly toward Suzy’s slightly swollen lips.
Something tightened painfully inside his chest, as though an invisible hand had reached in and squeezed his heart.