“Finally,” Stephie cut in. “You’re dating! Took you long enough.”
Mom was beaming, and Brynn gave me a wink. Jessi, clearly eavesdropping, flashed a thumbs up from behind the counter.
Hadeveryoneknown how I felt for Dean all this time?
“It’s a little more than that,” Dean added. “I asked Keira to move in with me. I know it’s fast, but?—”
“It’s so exciting!” Mom gushed, hands waving in front of her. “I should probably tell you two not to rush this, but you’ve been waiting so long already. And with the attack on Keira, well…” She nodded, getting choked up. “This is a good thing.”
“You mentioned you’d been staying with Dean,” Brynn asked. “Where is that, exactly?”
Dean shifted around on the bench, making the vinyl creak. “I have a house I’ve been fixing up.”
Stephie clapped her hands. “When can we see your new place? After this? I can’t wait!”
“Hold on. No. We’re not ready for that.” I had to get them to calm down. I’d figured they wouldn’t fight us too much on our relationship story, butreally? They sounded ready to marry Dean and me off.
Once again, Dean swooped in to explain. “The house needs a lot of work. We’re just trying to keep things low key. No visitors for now, not until we’re sure the people who attacked Keira aren’t going to bother her again.”
“You’re taking care of her.” Mom’s eyes teared up.
“I’m also capable of taking care of myself,” I muttered. Not that anyone was listening.
“Dean, I need to give you a better hug. A momma hug.” Mom shooed Stephie and Brynn out of the way, making them get up so she could bear-hug Dean in the middle of the diner. People were staring.
“I’m just so glad you came back for her,” Mom said, voice thick. “You’ve always been welcome in my house, but now you’re really family. You two were meant to be.”
Dean smiled patiently. No dimples.
This was excruciating.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Keira
After breakfast,Mom and Stephie insisted on dragging us down Main Street to buy us a housewarming gift. They were on either side of Dean, talking both his ears off.
Brynn hung back with me. “Moving in.” She whistled. “That’s a big step.”
Thank you, I thought with relief. Someone was going to point out how ridiculous this was.
“Do your worst, B. Tell me what you’re really thinking. Brutal honesty.”
She laughed. “You sure?”
I made a beckoning gesture with my hand.
“I’m thinking… I didn’t actually expect Dean to get his shit together. But he did. You’ve been inseparable since he showed up at your place with that groveling basket. It’s clear a lot has happened in the last few days since I saw you.”
“You don’t think I forgave him too easily?”
“That’s not my call. If you think the timing’s right, then it’s right.”
“But in just over a month, I went from telling him to get out of my hospital room to moving in with him.”
“Do youwantme to have an issue with this?”
Yes. Yes, I do.
