‘I won’t drop you, Vivian.’ He murmured. So far, he’d walked pretty steadily, but when he looked down at her, he stumbled forward. Vivian clun...g for dear life, but Derek managed to catch himself and set her gently on the bed. He himself didn’t move so gracefully and collapsed onto the bed next to her. She sat up, trying to make sense of it all. Derek was finding comfort in the bed, crawling up toward his pillow to bury his face into it. ‘Dismissed.’ He mumbled. ‘Dismissed? What are you. ‘Did ya’ll plan this ‘er what?’ He chuckled good-naturedly and reached for his hat to dust it off and set it over on the little dresser between the beds. Then he realized there was something missing. ”ey…. where’s my keys?’ Lacey was about to deny vehemently that she had planned nothing right until he mentioned the keys, and quickly glanced down at the book in front of her, hoping he would just let it drop. Hearing no response he shrugged. Probably left them in his jeans when he thought he’d. "Tony, sit." I started to protest. I have this thing about being ordered around like a dog, even by the love of my life, but the look in Tami's eye stopped me.Tami pointed at my lap. "Robbie, sit." With or without clothes?" Robbie asked sarcastically, but sat down."Your choice, but we only have about five minutes. Tony hold her."I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a hug. I remembered Tami bringing Kelly to my room once and telling me to make her happy, or make her purr or something like. But she’d tried that with Lance. Tried everything she could think of. Nothing got better. Everything, especially his drinking, had gotten worse and worse.Neither of them had come from decent families. Neither had graduated high school. It wasn’t something that had worried either one of them at first, but Lance couldn’t see the future. He could only see the past, and pigeon holed himself into it until he hated himself and wanted everyone else to hate him too.It’d worked. She stayed with him.