She hurried into Nellie’s room. Nellie sat on her bed staring at the television but the volume wasn’t on. Her face crumbled when she saw her best friend and Veronica rushed to her crawling in bed next to her and held her as she wept. The tears went on for several minutes, until she finally gathered herself together enough to talk.

“I’ve decided I’m not going to waste my energy being angry with Rick. He isn’t even worth my breath much less any tears. I’m incredibly hurt over Courtney’s betrayal.” She took a shuddering breath. “The stupid thing is, I’ve always had my suspicions. It bothered me when Rick flirted with her. He flirted with you, too, but I knew I had nothing to worry about. I’ve never trusted my sister completely. Or how they seemed to be around each other.”

Nellie said she wasn’t sure now what she’d been more afraid of—facing the fact that Rick was cheating on her, or the prospect of being alone. Veronica knew first hand what it felt like to be alone and understood that fear all too well, though she’d never have stayed with a cheating man. This wasn’t something she’d say to her fragile friend, however. It would do no good now.

After hours of rehashing everything Veronica got her to eat a little and even laugh a few times. She hadn’t planned on talking to her about Noah—this was supposed to be about Nellie, not her, but Nellie insisted. The change in subject turned out to be a good thing. Nellie was pleased at how well things were going for Veronica and assured her that everything would work out.

She agreed with Veronica that she should ask Noah about the baby he might have but reminded her not to judge him for the things he’d done in the past. Everybody had skeletons in their closet but she did urge her to make sure he was no longer involved in anything dangerous.

By that evening Nellie was ready to take a long shower and then try to get some sleep—sleep not induced by any medication. She promised Veronica she’d stop taking the pills and Veronica warned her she’d be back to check on her often before she left.

Veronica had only been home a few minutes. She’d just messaged Noah to tell him she wasn’t going to make it to Gio’s when she heard the knock at the door. She peeked through the window cautiously and saw Derek. She had to wonder if maybe he’d been parked up the street, waiting for her to get home.

He’d left two messages on her phone that day she hadn’t had a chance to listen to. A little annoyed that he apparently thought it okay to just drop by like this for the second time, she opened the door.

“Hey,” she said but made it a point not to smile too big. She didn’t want him thinking she took this as a pleasant surprise.

“Hey.” He ran a hand through his hair. The usually intimidating looking dean appeared a little emotionally exposed. “I uh, was hoping we could talk. I tried calling but you’re not answering. I hope you’re not upset with me about the other day.”

She hesitated for a moment not sure if she should step outside or invite him in. Against her better judgment she opened the screen door and let him in. The thought of Noah arriving with him still there and things possibly getting ugly was a very real one. But if she had to make a choice between things getting loud or ugly inside the privacy of her own home or outside on her porch for all her neighbors to hear and see she’d do this inside. Besides her plan was to send him on his way quickly.

She saw him glance around as he walked in, trying to get a feel for how much things had changed since he’d last been there. Perhaps pick up more clues on her relationship with Noah.

As rude as it was Veronica didn’t offer him something to drink. She wanted him out as soon as possible. He started apologizing again about the other day but she stopped him.

“I’m not upset at you, Derek, so don’t worry about it. I was a little surprised that’s all.”

“Have you talked to him about it?”

“No, I haven’t had the chance.” They stood just inside the doorway and it was awkward but she refused to ask him to take a seat. She was keeping this conversation short and to the point.

“I won’t say anything else negative about him. But I will say this, Roni. As your friend, I’m worried about you. I don’t think you realize this but you’re still in a very vulnerable state. It hasn’t even been a year since your mother died and this guy showed up at the perfect time when you needed someone—anyone even this kid in your life. You didn’t even do a background check on him.”

“I told you. He’s my friend.”

“But for how long?”

“Over a month,” saying it made his point sound even more valid. “Almost two,” she added the doubt suddenly creeping in. Had she really just allowed herself to get involved with someone she would’ve have under normal circumstances because she was afraid to be alone again? What Nellie said earlier came back to her. You do things out of your nature when you’re afraid. Because of that same fear, Nellie had continued to look the other way, ignoring valid suspicions that her own sister might be doing the unthinkable with her husband.

Derek tilted his head and their eyes met. “Can I ask you something?”

He didn’t even have to ask her. She already knew exactly what he was thinking. As usual he’d figured the whole thing out. That Noah had moved in at a time when she needed him most and of course she’d easily fallen for him. But there was so much more to their relationship than her just needing him.