we might would have fared well

 

Eric didn't know what was going on, but he knew Derrick was troubled. He could see how he wasn't paying attention like he used to. Even at work, he would go off somewhere. Eric didn't want to bring it up, but it was becoming obvious.

"What's going on?" They were supposed to be making dinner but Derrick wasn't helping. He considered Derrick the expert at protein dishes, but he wasn't even aware that he was supposed to be chopping the onion. And then when he did he cried like a river.

"Oh, I don't know," he seemed so overwhelmed. He had to sit down while Eric took over. The beef was sizzling in the skillet. Eric hurried to get the onion mixed in.

"Did something happen?" Eric looked back at him for a moment but got to cooking as if someone needed to see this meal through.

"I don't really know, Dora hasn't texted me," Derrick looked as if his world had come undone.

"Why should she?" Eric winced thinking this was weird.

"She..she went on a date with that guy..who..who she said she wouldn't." Derrick finally blabbered.

"Oh, that guy who's been coming in for ti chi," Eric remembered now. He'd see the guy talking to Dora. "They seem like old friends to me."

"Oh, she's that way with everybody," Derrick sniffed. "It'll be all my fault..if..if something happens."

"What do you think is going to happen?" Eric asked after he got the tomato sauce in the one-pot meal so it could simmer. Eric sighed and sat down across from Derrick at their little space in the kitchen where they ate meals.

"The worst, I guess." He cringed at the thought.

"I don't think he's a werewolf." Eric looked at his boyfriend blankly. 

"From what she's told me, I don't think she's fragile. She dated guys and girls and I really think she thinks about herself the most. I don't think she'll let anyone hurt her." Eric told him.

"But, but she's like this adorable little thing," Derrick confessed.

"Kind of like your crochet critters?" Eric got up and went to get the plates and got a salad in a beg out. "I think it's time to let go. She is not a doll. And another thing, you should not be making her in charge of your online account for your other little business. You should be taking care of it, yourself."

"What?" Derrick looked up at him a bit frantic. 

"You take care of your life and let Dora take care of her own. She wants it that way." Eric gave his boyfriend a serious look. "You haven't slept in days. Stop worrying."

"I want to. I do, but I keep thinking I ruined everything for her ..when..when I told her..about us." Derrick was in tears.

"God, if she knew you were like this," he shook his head. "You're just too sweet for your own good."

"That's just what I was thinking about Dora." He looked up at him miserably.

Eric took Derrick's phone from him and turned it off. "You can text her tomorrow. She's on a date. We need to give her some privacy."