“Just take care of yourself, kid. I wouldn’t want any of you gals to get your heart broken.”
And then she was gone into Bell’s Brews. I took a deep breath, hoping it would calm me down. But I was quickly learning that I didn’t like people bringing up Dean’s reputation. Especially when I knew there was more to him.
A headache brewed behind my eyes, and Brooke hadn’t even gotten here yet.
That didn’t mean anything good.
When I walked in, I expected the makeshift stage to be set up from the year before and to hear someone I knew ruining a song they loved.
Instead, there was no singing. Only a crowd in the center of the room.
“Oh, you outdid yourself, Mark!” Tammy’s voice was the loudest as she approached him. “Where did you even find this?”
“Facebook Marketplace.” Mark sounded proud of himself, and I ventured closer to see what everyone was having a cow about.
In the middle of the dance floor, a mechanical bull was waiting to break someone’s face.
Who in their right mind was stupid enough to ride that thing?
“I haven’t seen one of these in years!” Dean said with a laugh. He was across the room looking like a kid at Christmas. I’d never seen him like this. The only person with a wider smile was Mark.
I rubbed my temple. Of course there would be a bull. Of course my baby daddy was going to wind up in the hospital. And if I stepped in, it would look suspicious.
I needed a damn drink. But I couldn’t fucking have one.
Instead of completely losing my mind, I walked to the bar, ordered a Shirley Temple, and found a corner to wallow in. I had to get my mood in check before Brooke got here.
But things seemed towantto go wrong.
Once Mark promised to get the bull going, people filtered to the bar. Atticus spilled his drink next to me, and the smell of alcohol hit my nose like a train. I turned away, trying not to seem obviously grossed out by it.
I was always the designated driver. I dealt with my drunk friends all the time, but I hadn’t done that while pregnant.
Thankfully, I managed to keep it together until the smell of beer hit my nose and I turned to glare at whoever was stupid enough to bring that in my presence.
That was when I was met with Dean.
“Everything okay?” His voice was low, and he sounded like the man from my house who cared enough to check on me.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” It came out sharp, but I meant it. We didn’t need to get caught, and I needed to get my shit together.
“You say that as if it’s possible for me to not worry about you.” He stepped closer and I took one step back.
“Can you not ...” I trailed off and took a breath. I only smelledmore.
“Can I not what?”
“The beer,” I managed. “It fucking?—”
“Grace, are you okay?”
Dean took a healthy step away from me as we both looked up to see Mark looking in between us suspiciously. He must have seen me shying away from Dean, but it wasn’t him that was the problem. It was what was in his hand.
“S-sorry,” I stuttered. “I’m just a little ... overwhelmed.”
My excuse was weak to my own ears, but Mark seemed to take it. “Kinda like Henry gets sometimes?”
“Yeah, exactly.”