Derek’s POVI know I should stop.That’s the irritating part.I know exactly what I’m doing, know it’s immature, unnecessary, and probably proving every single point Lena has made about me recently, but every time she walks past me acting calm and unaffected like I don’t exist anymore, something in me immediately wants to ruin that composure just enough to get a reaction.Any reaction.Because apparently my brain has decided peace is unacceptable.Dinner starts relatively normal, which in this house usually means everyone is pretending not to notice the tension sitting at the table like an uninvited guest.Mom is calm as always, elegant even while drinking water somehow, Dad is asking clipped questions about school and football like he’s interviewing employees instead of speaking to family, Chloe is busy trying to stack peas on her fork for reasons known only to her, and Lena sits quietly beside her, composed in that frustrating way she always is when she’s trying not to draw attentio
Last Updated : 2026-05-08 Read more