Dean had me there.
“How do you do it? How do you just ... not care?”
“I do care,” he replied. “But I also know that I’m a human being. And they’re not gonna like me sometimes.”
“Iwantthem to like me.”
“And how much of yourself have you given up to achieve that?”
A lot. And I knew it. I was exhausted every day from it.
I’d put my all into being perfect. And I still couldn’t. I’d done so much for my sister. I’d put myself second to help her. I’d made her dinner when I was too tired to. I’d listened to her rants about how no one else wanted her around.
And look at what she’d done.
I was so angry with her. I didn’t think I’d ever been this angry at her in my life. She’d betrayed me. And I’d let her.
Dean’s hands migrated from my shoulders up to my neck and cheeks. “Right now, it’s you and me. Don’t think about anyone else.”
It was impossible not to.
But I needed to try.
My hands met his and we breathed together. Every time my mind wandered, I emptied it again.
And eventually, I calmed down.
“Good,” he said. “That’s my girl.”
“I still need to?—”
“Take a minute to yourself. I’ll be right back.”
I didn’t want him to go, but I nodded anyway. When he was gone, my skin felt cold.
24
DEAN
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor:GUYS! Grace!! Pregnant! Dean!!!
Comments:
Marjorie Brown:Is this a puzzle or something?
Wren Hackett: @Jade Clark @Mollie Wilson
Mollie Wilson: Kerry, this is one of those things you should NOT be posting about. Admins, delete this. We’re not doing this again.
Kerry Winsor:You sound like Dean.
Mollie Wilson:Whatever Dean said, I agree with.
Wren Hackett:Same.
Jade Clark:If y’all gossip about my girl, it WILL be over for you all. Leave her ALONE. Admins, please get this trash out of the group.