Page 29 of See Through

My phone buzzes as I get up to refill my coffee, and as soon as I see who it is, butterflies race through my stomach.

Dean: Took the weekend off so we can go hunting. Did Maven agree? Cooper is all for it… I think he already ordered some things.

Aubrey: Maven is on board! I’m so excited to finally do this.

Dean: I’m still skeptical, but I’m sure it’ll be okay. Are you coming over after your day with Maven?

Aubrey: I absolutely can.

Dean: Good. I miss my girl.

Aubrey: I saw you this morning.

Dean: And? You know I can never get enough of you.

Dean: I’m headed to the gym. Let yourself in if you beat me home.

Aubrey: Have fun. I’ll see you later.

Dean: Bye, baby.

I can barely hide my red cheeks as I get back to the table. Maven’s so hyper-focused on her needlepoint, she doesn't even see me sit down, so I take advantage of that and try to focus as well.

It doesn’t work, but I couldn't care less, because time spent laughing with my best friend always has its place over the work I could be doing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As soon as she walks in the door to my place, my palms start sweating. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’ve made Aubrey dinner hundreds of times, but this time, it’s different. This time, I’m officially asking her to be my girlfriend.

I know we already talked about what we are to each other, but I figured this was the perfect way to make it official. Plus, it’s more formal, and I’ve always wanted this. I want to do it right. I went to the store and grabbed all the ingredients to make her favorite meal—buffalo chicken pizza with ranch smothered all over it.

“Well, this is a nice surprise,” she says as she sets her stuff down by the door. Sometimes, I still wonder how she never saw right through me. I mean, even the things in my apartment are the way they are because of her. One of the first times she came over after I bought this place, she complained about having nowhere to put her stuff down without feeling like it was in the way. I bought the small table and hooks for my door the next day.

This girl has had me on her leash since the moment I saw her, and while friendship was the only thing I thought I would ever get from her, I’m glad I wasn’t stupid enough to let our lives go by just floating around one another.

“I thought I’d make you dinner.”

“What’s the occasion?” She eyes me with a look I’ve never seen before.

“No occasion.” I lean against the counter. “Well, unless you count you giving me everything I’ve ever wanted in life as an occasion. Then that’s what we’re celebrating.”

Her cheeks start to match her hair, and I can’t stand the distance between us, so I wrap my hand around the small of her back and pull her into me.

“Everything you’ve ever wanted, huh?” She tries wrapping her arms around my neck, but I’m a little too tall for her, so I pick her up and set her on the counter, having forgotten about the food currently cooling on the stove. “That sounds like a really special occasion.”

“Baby, I’m going to spend the rest of our lives giving you everything you want, because when I kissed you for the first time…” I pause, my forehead meeting hers. “There aren't enough words in any language to describe how amazing I felt. Waking up with you in my bed was even fucking better.”

“I’m just one person, Dean. You’re too sweet, saying all this about me.” Her legs cross in front of me, her pink leg warmers grazing against me. I barely registered her outfit when she walked in here. All I felt was happiness as soon as she walked through the door, but she looks phenomenal, as usual. Pink is her color, and not even because it’s the color of her hair.

“You’re everything to me, Aubrey. That’s what you never saw before. I’ve been a goner since I met you. I can’t imagine not knowing you, not touching you, not being near you. If you asked me to get down on my knees and bark, I would.”

She giggles, the sound bouncing off the walls and lighting up my chest. “I don’t need you to do that, Dean.”

I get on my knees anyway, her hand coming to my chin as I settle between her legs.

“I came over here to have dinner. I⁠—”

“Is there something you need from me then? Besides dinner, of course.” My voice drops a few octaves as I realize the pink in her cheeks hasn’t gone away. My hand trails up her soft skin. “You came in here all dressed up, looking at my mouth. Feels like you might want something from me.”