Chapter 19

My jaw falls open and I swear it refuses to return to its position. Why on earth is Derek my screensaver?!

I widen my eyes and stare at my boss, incredulous. “Did you look through my phone, Derek?”

At work, I’d opt to call him Mr. Anderson. But something about this has me stating his first name without so much as a single twitch. What is he thinking?

Derek, shockingly, stays neutral. He shakes his head. “No, of course not.”

“Then what the hell is my new screensaver?” I demand to know. I almost stomp my phone like Natalie had at the pool but manage to hold back.

I shove my newly fixed phone toward my boss, breathing heavily with frustration. There he is, on my screen, looking like one of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen. “How’d that get there?” He asks with mock sincerity.

My boss examines it, going, “hmm,” every ten or so seconds as he stares into the soul of my phone. What’s going on here?

Then, he shrugs. “Well, your photography skills are quite good. Maybe the guy at the phone show thought so too. He might have been the one to change it himself.”

I can’t even believe what I’m hearing right now! There’s no way Derek himself didn’t do this, and his fake smile is proof enough that he’s a liar!

My skin grows itchy, and I begin to fume while I stand before my boss. What the fucking hell? After last night and proving he’ll always be there for me?

Now he’s over here lying, going through my property, and taunting me like I have nothing better to do?

How can one man be so damn narcissistic, so thick-skinned? I want to scream at the man and his pathetic attempt of keeping a straight face in front of me.

How had I never noticed any of this before? He’s not just my boss, but he’s also my neighbor now!

I’ve let my guard down too damn far with him. That must be it.

Although, as I return my gaze to the screen, I do take a moment to look over the picture covering my phone screen.

He really is handsome. His muscles ripple as he moves through the water, droplets surrounding him all around.

I still feel a rush of anger at my boss’s slight betrayal. The picture is good, yes, but the idea that he could have scowered my phone for any information to use against me makes me absolutely terrified.

But I realize there’s no way I can actually stay angry at Derek.

I groan, letting a long breath exit my lips as I roll my eyes and open my pictures app on my phone.

“I’m sending you the pictures of the girls. But you best me on high alert from now on.”

“Oh? And why is that?” Derek taunts.

I shrug, clicking each picture I’d taken. “Oh, you know. Someone could easily change your phone background. Or your neighbor and daughters could scheme together to get you back?”

That breaks the barrier, and Derek laughs a true laugh. He seems amused by my baby threats. Well, I guess that means I’ll have to come up with better ones.

“There, check your texts, that should be all of them,” I instruct.

Derek picks up his own phone and scrolls through the couple dozen pictures I’d grabbed of them before everything went to hell.

“You’re quite good,” he admits, nodding approvingly at each image he sees. “You seem to be a budding photography genius here.”

I let my cheeks burn but refuse to say anything further. I just don’t know what’s going on here. Is he trying to flirt?

Or am I blowing everything out of proportion like always?

Maybe it’s the hormones. I still have to get to a doctor, get a confirmation to my pregnancy. The stick is pretty accurate, but with everything on the horizon, I know this will be a long process.

“Thank you,” I finally push out, still unsure whatever else to say.

“My girls really do like you,” he’s saying as he finishes looking through the pictures.

“Oh?” I ask, feeling like a complete utter idiot as I try to find words to say to him. God, have I never spoken to another human being before?

I’m starting to wonder just how bad my mood swings will be while pregnant.

“Yes,” Derek insists, lacing his fingers together on the desk between us. “In fact, Bea and Tris like you so much that this Saturday, I’ll be throwing them a Princess Party. My little princesses have insisted you join us.”

Really?

“Are you sure?” I ask, cautious. I don’t know why it feels like some strange setup, but I also know Bea and Tris are two of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met.

“We even set a very strict dress code. You won’t be able to enter the apartment without following the protocol.” Derek’s face relaxes with his words, and it helps ease my anxiety.

“What time?” I question.

“Early in the evening, around five. The only thing they begged for at their party was for Miss Esme to come over dressed as her favorite princess.”

“I don’t even think I have a favorite princess anymore,” I realize. “It’s been maybe a decade since I watched a single princess movie.”

Derek shrugs. “Guess that means you’ll have some imperative research to do for this weekend.”

I can’t stop myself, and I start to giggle slightly.

“Okay, okay, I’ll find an outfit and dress up for the girls. Just a curiosity, who will they be dressing up as?”

“Ah,” Derek sighs, zipping his lips closed. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy by the two troublemakers. They want to surprise everyone with their beautiful dresses and smiles.”

I nod, understanding the idea.

“So, if Bea and Tris are going to be princesses, what prince does that make their father?”

“The correct term would be King Derek,” he corrects me with a mischievous grin. “And that shall also be a surprise for the guests to see. The girls have been helping me build the costume for quite some time.”

I look back down at my phone screen at Derek’s perfect chest, and it reminds me of the kindness and sweetness of his two little girls.

“You know, they’re so lucky to have a dad who loves and cares about them,” I say without much of a thought. “Not every kid, let alone every girl, gets to feel that way in her home.”

“Did you not?” Derek asks.

I sigh, not sure how to explain. “As an adult, I was fine until Ryan sprang the divorce on me. But otherwise?” I stop, searching for what exactly I want to give to this man. Instead, I find myself shrugging.

“I guess I haven’t felt like a princess in a long time.”

Derek nods, and before he can speak, his office phone begins to ring, signaling the end of our conversation.

As he answers it, I shake the now fixed phone and mouth a thank you before I exit the office.

Not only do I have a new dress to craft and a princess party to attend, but the little bit of time spent speaking to my boss has put a few crucial things into perspective for me when it comes to the baby I’m having.

“I don’t know if he knows you’re in there,” I tell my belly as we walk down the hall. “But I know Derek will help keep you safe. Father or not.”

I don’t expect a single thing from Ryan besides taking my child away.

Maybe I should contact Daniel, the divorce lawyer.

Now seems like it will be the best chance to get this ball moving.

As much as I’d like to avoid years of long battles with Ryan over everything, the one thing I can count on is having the support necessary to get through this divorce.

Bring it on, Ryan.