Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Dean and the mysterious stranger start chatting, and she tells him all about the music she’s been making. She sings, plays guitar, and writes her own songs. Wish I was that talented. My singing voice is best confined to the car or shower. Though my rendition of “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish is solid. Just take my word. I can’t catch much of the conversation due to the noise, but Dean seems totally engrossed. He doesn’t even spare me a glance. It appears that these two have a lot in common. Not to mention, the woman who is slipping him all of her contact details is gorgeous. Her head is shaved, and her cleavage is spectacular. She even has a cool neck tattoo. As if Frankie the supermodel wasn’t a big enough hit to my ego.
No. Enough of this negative self-talk. I am great in my own way. As for my chest, I’ll never have to worry about developing lower back pain. I can get around sans a bra with little to no visible boob bouncing. There are positives to everything. Maybe. But right now, I could do with a break from this anxiety-inducing situation.
“Back in a minute,” I say to a still frowning Lena. How Dean is failing to feel her eyes boring a hole into the side of his skull, I have no idea. But the woman has my back, which is nice to know. Meeting great people through my position with the Ferris family has been a boon that I hugely appreciate.
I head down a hallway to the bathrooms and see to business before washing my hands. It is nice to be out of sight of anyone for a moment. The muffled music thrums through the walls, but it’s quieter back here. I can collect my thoughts and put things into perspective. And the fact is, I still feel weird about the way Dean gave me the cold shoulder and dismissed me. Without even so much as an excuse me or whatever. I don’t want to be treated that way. My mother raised me to believe that manners matter. My father taught me that some people will behave as badly as they can get away with. Sad but true.
Am I also letting my jealousy get the better of me? I don’t know. It’s not as if I have any claim over Dean. Though other people looking at him with bedroom eyes does not make me happy. Jealousy hasn’t been a huge issue in any of my previous dating attempts. At least, I don’t think it has.
When I walk out of the bathroom, it’s to find Dean waiting for me. The man remains every bit as built and handsome as before. He leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets and his foot tapping to the music. He lifts his head and gives me a warm smile. But I’m not quite feeling the magic.
He takes a step closer. “Hey.”
I give him a pleasant smile. “Hi.”
At which point, he stops and stares at me. Then his dark brows descend. The man is no longer happy. “Lena was right.”
“About what?”
He nods to the far end of the hallway, farther away from the music and anyone who might wander this way. The light is also dimmer down here. If this isn’t prime make-out territory, then I don’t know what is. Not that I’m here for those reasons. For the first time since I met Dean my libido has shut down. The needy beast sleeps once more. Which is probably for the best.
“Lena said I was a dick to turn my back on you to talk to that woman the way I did,” he says. “That I wasn’t treating you with respect.”
I say nothing.
His frown increases tenfold. It’s quite a sight to see. Then he walks forward, not stopping until I am backed up against the nearest wall. They way he looms over me is a lot.
“Dean.” I put a hand to his chest. “That’s enough.”
“I’m sorry you thought I was being dismissive. That was not my intent.”
“What was your intent?”
“I don’t get approached a lot like Jimmy or the guys. But it does happen now and then,” he says. “I put you behind me and out of her line of vision because I didn’t want her attention on you. She’s a complete stranger. I don’t know if she’s going to be cool or not. There’s always a small chance she might be dangerous if I don’t give her what she wants. People can be wild when it comes to something they feel possibly entitled to.”
“Oh,” I say, starting to understand that things might not have been what they seemed.
“Did you know someone pushed Anne once to try and get to Mal? Just about shoved her off the sidewalk into traffic. Another reason why I can do without being a rock star.” He sets his hands on either side of my head. “But I am known in certain circles. Like tonight, people occasionally want to say hi or compliment me on my work or see if I can aid their rise in the industry.”