Chapter 31: A Day at the Pool

It was a warm Saturday in July, and Kris Jenner's house was filled with laughter and conversation as the Kardashian-Jenner family gathered for a family celebration. The atmosphere was relaxed, with all the sisters in attendance: Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, and of course Kylie, who had brought Derek, Stormi, and Aire to enjoy the day with her cousins.

The house was bustling with kids running around the backyard, and the sisters, drinks in hand, lounged around the pool, exchanging stories and laughter. Derek, meanwhile, was in the kitchen with Kris and Corey, exchanging a few words about his time at MARSOC, as well as sharing a bit of his outlook on life now that he was retired.

"So, how's the gym going? It seems to be getting more popular," Kris commented as she picked up a glass of wine.

Derek nodded.

"It's going well. I never thought I'd be training so many celebrities, but it's been a good experience. It's rewarding to see people gain confidence and skills."

"You have a strong presence, Derek. And that definitely helps," Corey added, smiling as he took a sip of his drink.

Derek laughed softly.

"I try my best. Discipline has always been a priority for me, on and off duty."

After the conversation, Derek said goodbye to the two and headed back to the pool area, where the girls' laughter echoed. He watched from afar for a moment, watching Stormi play with her cousins ​​by the pool, while Kylie, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Kendall chatted and relaxed in the water.

As soon as they saw him approaching, Kendall was the first to call out to him.

"Derek! Come in the pool with us, it's so good!" she shouted, waving him over.

The other sisters soon joined in the request, with Khloe joking loudly. "That's right, Gunny, come here! We want to see if you're still in shape!"

Kylie laughed, looking at Derek with an amused smile, encouraging him with a look.

"You heard, right? They want you to join us."

Derek smiled, taking off his shirt and revealing his well-defined body, the result of years of training and discipline in the Marine Corps. The girls stopped talking for a second, impressed by the muscle definition and tattoos that covered his arms and chest.

"Wow," Kim said, blinking and watching him as he got into the water. "You're really ripped. How much time do you spend in the gym?"

Derek shrugged as he dove into the pool, feeling the cool water against his skin.

"I work out almost every day, but not as much as I used to. Now that I'm retired, I try to balance my workout with my personal life a little more."

Kourtney, more curious, looked at the tattoos on Derek's arm.

"Those tattoos are amazing. Do they have any meaning?"

Derek smiled, appreciating Kourtney's genuine curiosity. He pointed to the largest tattoo on his left arm, which featured the globe and anchor, the symbol of the U.S. Marine Corps.

"This one is for the Marine Corps. It's the symbol that every Marine wears with pride. It represents our mission to defend the United States on land, air, and sea."

Kendall, who had heard a bit about Derek's military background, commented as she swam over to him.

"What about the others? That one seems to have a more personal meaning."

Derek glanced at the tattoo on his chest, where a clenched fist wrapped around a dagger with the initials

"MARSOC." He nodded, running his hand over the design. "This one is for MARSOC, the Marine Corps Special Operations Forces. I was a part of that for many years. It's a reminder of the time I spent with my team, and all the missions we did together. It means a lot to me."

Khloe, always playful, swam closer, tilting her head.

"Do you have any more hidden tattoos that we haven't seen yet?"

Derek laughed, shaking his head.

"Those are the main ones. The rest are just little souvenirs, nothing major."

Kylie, sitting by the pool, watched the interaction with a smile on her face. She knew Derek would always be the center of attention wherever he went, but she liked how he handled everything in a relaxed and respectful way, especially with his family.

As they talked, Stormi and Aire joined in the pool, wanting to play with Derek. Stormi, always adventurous, jumped into Derek's arms, who caught her easily, laughing along with her.

"Look who's the swimmer!" Derek said, gently tossing Stormi into the water, where she began to do small strokes under the supervision of Kylie and her sisters.

Kylie looked at Derek with a warm smile, watching how he interacted with Stormi and Aire, showing patience and affection for the children. It was something that made her admire him even more. She knew that finding a partner who would connect with her children was important, and Derek was doing just that.

"You're great with kids," Kim commented, watching the scene. "It's hard to find someone who's that good with them."

Derek smiled modestly, still holding Aire in his arms. "I like kids. They have an energy that makes you forget about the problems of the world for a while."

Kourtney laughed, agreeing. "That's true. And they love you, you can tell."

The afternoon continued peacefully, with Derek integrating perfectly into the family's relaxed atmosphere. He answered more questions about his tattoos and his past, while Stormi, Aire and the other cousins ​​played around. The Kardashian-Jenner sisters, despite having their lives always surrounded by luxury and fame, seemed genuinely interested in Derek's story and admired his simplicity and strength.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, the conversation around the pool began to die down. The laughter and stories now transformed into a more peaceful and serene atmosphere. Kris, watching from afar, smiled with satisfaction at how Derek had integrated into her family.

Corey, at her side, commented quietly,

"He fits right in, doesn't he?"

Kris nodded, still smiling.

"Yes, he's a strong man, but he has a good heart. Kylie made a great choice."

Throughout the evening, the family remained close, and Derek, despite still feeling a little out of his comfort zone amidst all the glitz and glamour, was beginning to realize that perhaps this new chapter of his life with Kylie and the kids was just beginning to unfold. And he was ready for every part of it.