Nell would have smacked him if they weren't in public. "Stop being a defensive ass," she said instead, her tone much lighter than her mood was turning. "I'm not throwing it back at you and I'm not babysitting you. I've had this day planned ever since we settled on this hotel specifically because we've been so busy lately we haven't been able to spend any real time together; because I miss spending time with you."
Sighing, she put her napkin on the table. It felt like one of their first conversations, back when they honestly hadn't been friends, and she was working hard to keep a lid on her normally quick temper because she didn't want to repeat the mistakes she'd made with Eric. Their friendship had deteriorated and she'd let it because he'd pissed her off and she'd futilely believed maintaining the high road was better than maintaining their friendship...what there had been of it. Derek wasn't Eric. If she pushed him away, he'd just go.
And probably never look back.
"In the grand scheme of things, maybe it is unnecessary. But, we're here. There isn't anything to fight except each other and I don't want to fight with you, Derek. I'm not your minder. I'm your friend. I just want to do something nice because I'm glad I know you and I care about you. And you can be as much of a jerk as you want to, but I'm still going to care and want to spend time with you while I can."
Actually, it didn't even feel like one of their first conversations. Even back then he'd still said things that showed he cared in general, if not about her specifically. Now, it was like he'd just shut down completely.