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We sat in silence for a minute. Finally, I said, “Did you hear? They’re holding a bachelor/bachelorette auction in one of the tents over there. Wanna join?"
He looked at me a little surprised, then checked on Ada who wasn’t paying any attention to us. She was having too much fun with the whipped cream and chocolate syrup on the hot cocoa and making a little mess. “Um… no… no bachelor auction for me.”
“I was only kidding. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.” He nudged his head towards Ada. “You know who has never known me to be with anyone. I’m careful. What about you?”
Looking down at my hot chocolate, I hesitated because I hated admitting that I had a boyfriend. “Well… it’s complicated. Short answer, I have a boyfriend. Long answer, he’s a dipssshh…” I quickly stopped myself from cursing in front of Ada. “He’s not a great one. I’ve been wanting to break up with him for a while.”
I thought I saw a slight grin tug at his mouth but convinced myself that I imagined it. “Why haven’t you?” he asked.
Shrugging my shoulders, I said, “I don’t know. Our fathers work together. It’s one of those things. He’s obnoxious and rude, extremely self-centered…” I looked down at Ada again. She was still slowly sipping her drink when another little girl sat next to her. They were giggling and chatting. Looking up, I saw her parents and smiled at them. Turning back to Dean, I said, “They’re so cute, aren’t they?”
Nodding, he agreed, “They are. Finish what you were saying, if you don’t mind.”
“Hmmm… I deserve better. More. I deserve more. I know this. He makes me mad more than happy.”
“You deserve someone who brings out the good, the easy… the soft in you.” He took the breath from my lungs; it almost made me cry because in a day, he knew what I needed more than my boyfriend, who I’d been with for six months. Dean went on, “I mean, I see how you are with Ada. I’ve known you for like a day… and you’re always… smiling. Nothing should take that away.” He shrugged.
“Thank you, Dean. That means so much to me.” As I scanned the crowd, someone caught my eye. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. TJ was standing at one of the Food Trucks with his arms around another girl. He had just texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to the Fall Fest. “Dean… I…”
“Elly? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
My eyes were starting to water. “That guy over there…” I pointed so Dean could follow my gaze. “That’s my boyfriend. That’s my boyfriend…with his arms around another girl.”
Dean looked disturbed. “What do you want to do? Do you want to stay? Do you want to go? Do you want me and Ada to stay here, and you go handle your business? I’ll understand whatever you decide.”
What did I want? was the million-dollar question. I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I also couldn’t let it slide. The universe was giving me an out and I would’ve been a fool to ignore it. Dean was looking at me with soft eyes, waiting for a response. Finally, I said, “I don’t want to make a scene, but I want him to know I’ve seen him and it’s over.” Dean nodded and watched me get up. I nodded towards Ada and assured him, “I’ll be right back. Please don’t let her see this.” Dean didn’t say anything, but he scootched over from where he was sitting so he was blocking Ada’s view of me.
Marching over to where TJ and his new woman were cuddled up, I stood behind them and said, in the most sarcastically cheerful voice, “OH EM GEEE… TJ is that you? I haven’t seen you… how long has it been?” I looked down at my watch. “Oh, that’s right. Since last night when we were making out in your car. How are you?”
TJ and mystery woman turned around. He went pale, dropped his arms and said, “El, what are you doing here?”
“Ya know, I’m with the family I work for. We brought the little girl here. I’d ask what you’re doing here but…” I gestured to his guest. “I can see. Hi, I’m Eliana, TJ’s girlfriend…well, ex-girlfriend now.” The girl’s mouth opened but she wisely stayed quiet. I turned back to shithead. “We’re over, TJ.”
He offered a sorry ass, “El…,” but I didn’t look back as I returned to Dean. Before I knew it, TJ was grabbing my arm. “El…”
In a low tone, so not to cause a scene, I said, “Get your fucking hands off of me.”
“We need to talk about this.” He hadn’t let go of my arm and it was starting to hurt.
“We don’t need to talk about anything, now, let go of me.”
When he still refused, a voiced sounded from behind me. “I’d suggest you let her arm go, now.”
TJ looked up and said, “Who the hell are you? Mind your own business, man. This is my girlfriend.”
I interrupted, “I was your girlfriend. I’m not anymore. Let go!”
Just then, Dean reached around me and grabbed TJ by the throat. “She asked you to let go.” TJ’s grip released instantly and when it did, Dean let him go with a push.
“What the fuck, man?” TJ pawed at his own neck like a wounded animal.
Dean leaned into TJ, looking him in the eyes and said, “There are kids around, so how about you watch your mouth. Next time, when a woman tells you to let go, you fucking let go. In fact, don’t ever grab Elly, or any woman, like that ever again.”
“Fuck you!” TJ squawked, and then he did the unthinkable. He spit in Dean’s face.
Before anyone could register what was happening, Dean punched TJ in the jaw with a quick uppercut from below, sending him stumbling backwards and falling to the ground. “Keep your hands off Eliana. She’s not yours anymore.”
