As I go out the door, a tear slides down my cheek. More follow as I hurry down the street.
I might've just ended things with Dean. I didn't expect to say all that. I just wanted to know if we'd be having sex again, because that was amazing. But then my thoughts shifted to earlier today and how I felt when Dean wouldn't even look at me in the hall. I didn't deserve that. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not going to be treated that way. I put up with more than I should've with Chad and I'm not going to do it again with Dean. I'm either in his life or not. He can't be nice to me one day and bully me the next.
If he decides he doesn't want me in his life, I'll just have to accept that.
But it's not what I want. I'm not ready to lose him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dean
What the hell just happened? I just had the best sex of my life with the girl I can't get out of my head and then she leaves? After telling me we're over if I don't agree to what she wants? I'm not even sure what she wants. She wants to be friends, but what does that mean? That I have to tell her all my deep dark secrets? I know she gets angry when I push her away but I do it to protect her. To keep her out of the shit storm that's my life.
Why is she pressuring me like this? We agreed we'd keep it casual and then we have sex and she wants to get all serious on me. She's just proving my point that girls can't have sex without wanting more.
I knew this would happen. I shouldn't have had sex with her.
Someone knocks on the door. Maybe it's Brook. Maybe she came back.
When I open the door, Danny is standing there.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too," he says, going around me into the house. "I told you I was coming over. Didn't you get my text?"
I check my phone. "It's there. I just didn't see it."
Danny sits down on the couch, spreading his arms along the back. "I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"Coach send you over?" I ask, taking the chair next to the couch. It's an old blue recliner my grandma always sat in. It's covered in cigarette burns because she'd fall asleep, smoking. Hard to believe she never burned the place down.
"Coach might've asked me to stop by. But I would've done it anyway. So what's going on? I know you're not sick. Is it Jake? Did he do something?"
"No, and stop always assuming it's Jake. He may not make the best decisions but he's a good kid."
"Then what is it? What's going on?"
"Take a guess."
"Your dad?"
I nod. "He might getting out. He's up for parole."
"No shit? How'd you find out?"
"Uncle Larry."
"The drunk guy who used to come to your house?"
"Yeah. He called last night and told me. I panicked, thinking my dad was going to show up here but he hasn't even had his parole hearing yet."
"Did Larry tell you that? Because I'm not sure I'd believe a drunk guy."
"Brook showed me how to look it up. The hearing is in October.”
"Wait—you told Brook this? You don't tell anyone shit like this, and you tellherbut notme?"
"I was going to tell you. I just hadn't gotten around to it."
