Chapter 205: Not Running
Derek Haven was a man. A big strong man who was also very handsome.
Even from an objective point of view. Anybody with a heartbeat would have to admit that. As far as Emily was concerned, even an inanimate object, would be able to tell just how handsome Derek was. When it came to the male of the species. He was one of those who had gotten some really good genes from both his parents.
A real man amongst men. And that brought Emily back to her original point. Derek Haven was a man.
And being a man, he had to deal with certain things that Emily did not have to worry about. One of those things happened to be morning wood. The very thing that had happened on Sunday morning. She should not have run.
She should have stayed. The two of them should have talked things over instead of once again leaving everything in limbo. But should have, and could have, were nothing more than just different ways to phrase regrets. And Emily did not want to dwell on that. What was done was done.
She had made her choice to leave, not because she was running away from Derek in that moment. But because she had seen the embarrassment on the poor man’s face. And if there was one thing that Emily knew about men, despite never ever wanting to claim that she was an expert when it came to them.
It was that men had their pride.
She had seen the look in Derek’s eyes when the two of them had gingerly separated from one another. It had not been just the look of a man who was embarrassed. It had also been the look of a man who could not believe that he had failed at something.
Emily had happened to catch him briefly looking down at himself as though he were disappointed. And Emily knew Derek. He was the type of person who believed in mind over matter. No doubt, he had probably found a way to be angry at his body for responding in a natural way. Feeling as though he should have had control over what his unconscious self did.
So basing on experience, Emily had decided to leave. Whenever Derek got like that, believing that something should have been accomplished simply because he wanted it to be so.
It was impossible to reason with him. She had to let him cool down first, and come to grips with what had happened before either of them could even think to talk about it in a rational way. Otherwise, it would be the same as trying to make an intelligent conversation with a brick wall.