Chapter 5: Lingerie and Letdowns

After dinner, Derek went out again. While he was gone, I opened the drawer and carefully examined the things inside. I hadn’t expected him to like this kind of stuff—there was barely any fabric at all.

The colors were all pastels and fire-engine reds, some with little bows and lace, others with daring cutouts. I tried to imagine him buying these—quiet, shy Derek, picking out lingerie in a busy Walmart aisle. The image made me grin in spite of myself.

I picked and picked, finally choosing one with a bit more coverage. There was even a tail at the back.

I went into the bathroom and studied it for a long time before figuring out how to put it on. I fumbled with the straps, nearly poked my eye out with a bunny ear, and tried not to think about how ridiculous I must look. After I got dressed, I hesitated, unsure how to go out.

The barrage popped up again:

[The male lead is back! The side character’s been inside for so long—why hasn’t she come out yet?]

[Come on, side character, you’re already wearing it—don’t be shy!]

It was windy tonight. The bathroom door was already broken, and the wind made it creak on its hinges. I panicked, grabbed a coat and was about to put it on when my foot slipped. I fell to the ground, the coat flying aside.

My elbow hit the tile, and the cold shot up my arm. I barely had time to yelp before the door swung open, banging against the wall.

He must have heard my yelp. At that moment, the bathroom door swung open. Derek rushed in, looking flustered. He carried me to the sink.

"You okay? That sounded rough."

His voice was gentle, eyes full of worry. For a second, I saw the boy underneath the tough exterior—the one who’d always stepped in when someone needed help.

I shook my head, mortified, wishing I could crawl into a hole.

Noticing his gaze sweeping up and down my body, I almost forgot my purpose tonight. Since I was already wearing it, I couldn’t back out now. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Now he didn’t dare look at me. A faint blush crept up from the base of his ears, his breathing growing heavier. He turned his head away. Seeing him take off his own coat, I raised my eyebrows, thinking he was finally going to take the initiative.

A nervous laugh nearly bubbled out of me. Underneath the harsh farmhouse lights and the drafty window, the distance between us felt smaller than ever. For the first time, I wondered if this broken-down farmhouse might actually feel like home.