Page 19 of Baby Girl
“Yep, exactly. Or you can tell your d—” she starts right as there is a ding and the door opens.
We’re inside, turned around to face the front, with the ground floor button pressed, and she still hasn’t finished her sentence.
“Or I can tell…?” I start off for her.
“Oh, right. Uh, you can tell your dormmate. I gave her the rundown as well before she left last night.”
I nod. “Yeah, she’s probably going to hover like crazy once she is back from her classes.”
“The way she hovered while you were here, I would believe it.”
The elevator dings and the doors open, people immediately stepping forward before we’ve even begun to leave.
Marie’s voice turns extra perky as she saysexcuse meand everyone steps back, but I make aharrumphingnoise.
“Why do people do that? Can’t they stand back at a reasonable distance and then wait to see if there is someone leaving? It just makes them look rude,” I rant to no one in particular.
“People live in their own worlds these days, forgetting that other people exist too. All we can do is keep reminding them that we are here as well.”
Even though I’m not looking at her, I nod in agreement.
Maybe that’s what I need to be doing more of—letting people know I’m here. I have barely anyone in my circle, just Oakley and maybe now Will. Derek, Hudson, Darcy, and Xavier have all disappeared, not even contacting me once since that first night in the hospital.
But, really, that’s what I want, right? I told Oakley to make them go away, and she did.
Except for the money. That still came.
Scowling at that thought, I clutch tighter at my bag as Marie works her way around the people in the lobby area, making our way to the front door. As we get closer, I lose the frown and start scanning for the entryway for Will, only to have my heart do something that my doctors would have been very unhappy with.
Derek.
Sitting in the waiting area, laptop balanced on his bent and crooked knee, ankle resting on the opposite knee.
My heart swaps places with my stomach as we get closer, and he must sense my stare because he suddenly glances up in our direction.
He came.
Has he been here this entire time?
His gaze flicks above my head and back down to mine, the beginning of a smile starting to stretch his lips as he closes his laptop and reaches for his bag on the floor.
I…what?
Did he not leave?
“Emery!”
Head snapping in the direction of the front doors, I see both Will and Vinnie coming through. Will’s expression is concerned, then he smiles that Colgate smile of his, and my heart goes back to its proper place. But it doesn’t feel right at all.
Will rushes toward me and crouches down so we are at eye-level. His gaze roves over my face, pausing significantly on the cut and bruise on my cheek. His lips quirk. “Are you an underground cage fighter, and this is how you’re letting me know?”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “No, I wish. I—”
“Excuse me, could I please have a word with Emery?” A shadow looms behind Will as the deeper male voice breaks into our conversation.
Nerves rattle my rib cage at seeing Da—Derek so close.
Will is equally surprised to see Derek and shoots up to standing, bringing them almost chest to chest. “Professor King, ah, hi, sir. What are you doing here?”
