I take her hand and pull her into me, my arm going around her waist. I lean down to kiss her. "I missed you."
She smiles. "You just saw me an hour ago."
"And I missed you," I say, looking in her eyes. "I'm really going to try, Brook. I'm going to try to make this work."
"You brought me spaghetti so that's a start." She pulls away. "Let's go eat."
I thought she'd be more surprised by what I told her, or excited. I think she's holding back because she doesn't believe me. I wouldn't believe me either. I'm going to have to prove to both of us that I can do this. That I can let her into my life, and into my heart, without pushing her away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Brook
"Okay, you need to stop," I say, smiling as Dean kisses my neck. We're on his couch, and are supposed to be studying, but so far all we've done is have a snack and have sex. Jake is out with a friend so we took advantage of having the house to ourselves.
"I'd stop if you weren't so damn hot," Dean whispers in my ear as his hand moves up my leg.
"If you keep that up, we'll end up doing it again."
"And that's a problem?"
I smile, bringing his face to mine and kissing him. "I would love to do it again but you need to study. You have a test tomorrow."
He sighs. "Yes, Miss Turner."
"Hey, that's a good idea. We could role play. I'll be the naughty teacher and you're my student."
"Shit, now we have to do it," he says, throwing his hands up.
I laugh. "Tomorrow."
"Like I can wait that long? I've already got the naughty teacher image in my head."
"Save it for later." I open my laptop, smiling, because I'm so ridiculously happy.
It's been almost a month since Dean showed up at my door, holding a container of spaghetti and telling me he wanted to talk. Since then, we've spent every day together. I see him at school, then we meet up at his house when he's home from practice. On the weekends, I spend all day with him, or until my mom gets home from work. I haven't told her how much time I've been spending with Dean, or that we're anything more than friends. We still say that's what we are, but it feels like more than that.
My mom's still hoping I'll get back with Chad. When I tell her he hasn't tried to call me, she says he's just giving me time to sort out my thoughts. I don't need time. I'm not going back to him. I'm with Dean now, and even if it doesn't last, he's taught me there are better guys out there. Guys who actually care about me.
I really want my relationship with Dean to last but I'm not counting on it. I'm being realistic and just enjoying the time we have together.
At five-fifteen, Dean's phone rings.
"It's them," he says.
"You can do this. Whatever happens, you can handle it."
He stands up to answer the call. "Hello?" He nods. "Yes, Dean Sanders."
Today is the day we find out if his dad gets parole or not. If he does, it could change everything. Dean's even talked about moving away so his dad couldn't find him and his brother. I don't think he'd actually do that but maybe he would. He still hasn't told me the details of what his dad did to end up in prison, and I don't ask, knowing he'll tell me when he's ready.
The past few weeks Dean's told me more than I ever thought he would. He's talked about his feelings and how hard it is for him to get close to people. I never would've guessed a big tough football player would talk about stuff like that, but he does, which I find kind of amazing. He's not at all the person I thought he was on the first day of school. I'm so glad I didn't give up on him.
"Okay, thanks." Dean pauses to listens to the person on the phone. "And I'll be notified when he's out?"
Out?They're letting him out?
"Okay, bye."
