Chapter 11: Dinner with Derrick
The candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows across the table. Derrick’s smile was warm, genuine, the kind that made Beth’s stomach twist in a way she couldn’t quite name. He reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers lightly. “You’ve been quiet tonight,” he said, his voice tinged with concern. “Everything okay?”
Beth forced a smile, her lips curving upward as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Yeah, just… tired,” she lied, her voice steady despite the storm churning inside her. Her thighs clenched together under the table, the memory of Thompson’s hands still burning against her skin. She could still feel the heat of him, the way he’d taken her in his office, the way she’d let him. And before that, Raj—his taste lingered in the back of her throat, a secret she carried like a weight.
Derrick’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t push. “Work’s been rough, huh?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. The waiter appeared, refilling their wine glasses with a practiced grace. Derrick nodded his thanks, his attention never fully leaving Beth.
“Yeah,” she said, her voice softer now. “Just… a lot going on.” She took a sip of her wine, the rich flavor doing little to calm the restless energy coursing through her. Her mind wandered back to the office, to the way Thompson had looked at her, the way he’d made her feel. It was wrong, she knew that. But it was also intoxicating, a thrill she couldn’t shake.
Derrick’s voice pulled her back. “You know you can talk to me, right? About anything.” His eyes were earnest, filled with a love that made her chest ache. She nodded, her smile tightening.
“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I don’t want to burden you.”
He reached for her hand again, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re never a burden, Beth. You’re my wife. My partner. Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out together.”
Her heart clenched at his words, the guilt pressing harder against her ribs. She wanted to tell him, to confess everything, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she nodded again, her eyes dropping to her plate. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion she couldn’t quite name.
The rest of the meal passed in a blur of polite conversation and forced smiles. Beth’s mind kept drifting, her body still humming with the remnants of the day’s encounters. She felt like she was living two lives, one with Derrick, sweet and safe, and another that was wild, unpredictable, and utterly intoxicating.
When the check came, Derrick insisted on paying, his smile easy and uncomplicated. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, standing and offering her his hand. She took it, her fingers trembling slightly in his grasp.
As they walked out into the cool night air, Derrick wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I love you, Beth,” he said, his voice soft but sure.
She leaned into him, her chest tightening. “I love you too,” she whispered, the words feeling both true and hollow at the same time.
They walked in silence for a while, the city lights casting a soft glow around them. Beth’s mind raced, the weight of her secrets pressing down on her. She knew she couldn’t keep living like this, torn between two worlds. But for now, she let herself lean into Derrick’s warmth, the safety of his love a temporary balm for the chaos inside her.
When they reached the car, Derrick opened the door for her, his smile still as kind as ever. “Let’s go home,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet certainty.
Beth nodded, sliding into the passenger seat. As the car pulled away from the curb, she stared out the window, the city lights blurring together. She didn’t know what she was going to do, how she was going to reconcile the two halves of her life. But for now, she let herself drift, the hum of the engine lulling her into a fragile sense of calm.
The night stretched out before them, full of unanswered questions and unspoken truths. And as the car disappeared into the city’s embrace, Beth couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to change.