Chapter Text
“No.”
Braeden groans, swinging a leg over Derek’s leg so she’s straddling him.
“It’s time to move,” she tells him, forcing him to look at her. His eyes are wide and sad, mouth set in a frown.
“I can’t,” he says quietly, locking his arms around her waist.
Braeden softens, cups his face in her hands. “It’s not your fault, what happened to Boyd. You don’t have to punish yourself by staying here anymore.”
“I didn’t know Boyd,” she starts. “But Isaac talks about him a lot, and do know that he wouldn’t want you to do this to yourself.”
Derek leans into her palm, closing his eyes. “It’ll be six years next month.”
“I know,” Braeden says, rubbing her thumbs over his cheeks gently. He’s mesmerised the dates when Erica and Boyd died, spends those days in his bed watching their favourite movies.
“Erica would hit me if she were still alive,” Derek says with a breathy, sad laugh. Braeden stays quiet, knows enough to let him get this out. “Boyd wouldn’t. He’d just stare, unimpressed. Raise his eyebrows.”
Braeden smiles. “Reminds me of someone I know.”
Derek looks at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “I guess we better start looking for a house.”
“Really?” Braeden grins, kisses him before he can reply.
—
Kira, fresh out of college and in need of a roommate, ends up moving in with them.
“This will be so cool,” Kira says, face covered with the box she’s carrying.
Braeden catches Derek’s grin and the fond look he gives the girl. She rolls her eyes when he takes the box off of Kira, holding it with one hand and the grateful smile Kira gives in return.
Honestly, the two of them are so cute. Idly, she wonders if she’s supposed to feel worried or jealous. As it is, she smiles, glad that Derek has found someone other than her that he can confide in.
Also it’s hilarious to see how the girl has Derek wrapped around her little finger.
Kira bends to pick up a stray stuffed animal and Braeden tilts her head, checking her out. The girl is cute, and she always has a smile on her face.
“B, you alright?” Kira asks, frowning, and it jerks Braeden out of her thoughts.
It’s ridiculous how her first thought is to hug the younger woman, do anything to get her to smile again.
Maybe Derek isn’t the only smitten one.