Oliver’s eyes flashed to me. “Date?”
“Yes. Date.” I held my breath.
Oliver’s usually sparkling, hazel eyes darkened with jealousy.
“Is that so?” he said, voice like ice as a muscle ticked in his jaw.
Tilting his head back, Dean casually folded his arms across his chest, causing the rolled sleeves of his shirt to grow taut against his tanned, tattooed arms. And Oliver noticed.
Oliver scoffed and took a step back. He barely looked at me again as he hissed, “Excuse me,” and marched inside.
I dropped my face into my hands.
“Ugh, I feel sick,” I mumbled into my palms before dragging my hands down to the sides of my neck, looking up at Dean as I did. “Is this cheating? Are we cheating?”
Dean slid his hands into his pockets again. “Was it specified that you two would be exclusive?”
I winced. “No?”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Then it’s not cheating.”
I chewed my bottom lip, pulling my attention to the garden instead. The anxiety and guilt I felt over the whole situation left my stomach unsettled.
Dean lowered his voice. “Technically, we aren’t together, remember? So, definitely no cheating goin’ on.”
I hummed in agreement, the only response I could muster as my nerves threatened to tip. No matter the excuse, I still felt terrible.
“Breathe, Lily.” His hand slid comfortably into mine, the callouses and scars scratching lightly at my skin as he entwined his fingers between my own and squeezed gently.
Doing as he said was easier said than done when his touch fired an electric shock into my skin. It raced up my arm in goosebumps and fanned out across my body in a way that made me all too aware of any exposed skin my sundress didn’t cover.
I loosed a breath, finally looking at him again. “Did you want a drink?”
“Lead the way.”
Chapter 31
Lily
After some very quick introductions, most in passing, I led Dean to the end of the garden where we could lean against the brick wall that separated our yard from the neighbor’s. At least this far back no one bothered to look or stare. And if they did, it made it blatantly obvious who they were staring at. No one would look that judgingly at a brick wall.
“It’s a nice place,” Dean said after a moment, taking a sip from his soda bottle as he leaned against the wall.
Nearby, Jane and our younger cousins were playing a game of hide-and-go chase, running through garden beds and around the few trees that grew here as they laughed and squealed.
“I could give you a tour if you like. At least it’ll give us some privacy. From the prying eyes, I mean.”
Dean half smiled, the dimple in his cheek returning as he went to answer but he was interrupted by the arrival of my cousin, Grace, and her frilly pink tutu. She was the youngest here at four years old and was trying to keep up with the other kids but fell behind.
“I need help,” she pouted, looking down at her untied laces.
I smiled. “Yeah, of course—”
Grace shook her head quickly, her dark curls bouncing, and I paused mid-step toward her.
“You don’t want my help?”
“I want him to do it,” she said, jabbing a small finger at Dean.
