"You got it, pretty girl." Relief flooded him. Derek exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She could have said no. He'd given her an out. And he realized she had given him an out too. Neither of them had taken it. That had to say something, didn't it?

He stood up an held out a hand to her that she could take or not. He wouldn't be offended if she didn't. It might sting a little but that's okay. He could handle sting if she was willing to still hang out with him. Coffee was just coffee. No label on it like date or anything else that could make either of them uncomfortable. Hopefully he was on the right track now.