“What? Me?” I was pushed inside my store. “What did I do?”
“You didn’t do anything. It’s your baby daddy we’re talking about.”
“Please don’t call him that,” I said. The only person who could usedaddyto refer to him was ... I wanted to say me, but could I?
“Defensive, are we? You should be. That man was hot enough on the mechanical bull last night, but then he goes and gets even hotter.”
“Jade, are you about to ask me if you can sleep with him?” I rubbed my forehead. “Because I don’t think I can take that.”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s yours through and through. I’m telling you what he did at the bar.”
“I was there. He rode the bull.”
“I mean after Brooke told everyone you’re pregnant.”
“He helped you deal with Brooke, right? And fielded some questions?”
“He did way more than that. He basically whipped the whole town into shape sono onewould bother you.”
“Dean did? The same guy who’s always smiling and would never hurt a fly?”
“Uh, yeah. He went toe-to-toe with Tammy of all people. And got Kerry in line!”
“Wh-what did he say?”
“He told everyone that they need to treat you like a person and not a story, and that neither of you owed them shit.”
I blinked as I tried to picture it in my mind. “I’m sorry ... Dean did all of that? Isthatwhy no one’s brought up the pregnancy?”
“Yeah. Not only did he go into hot and scary dad mode, but he did it for you. That’s kinda romantic.”
For a second, I agreed.No onehad ever stepped up and done all of this before. It went beyond checking in. Dean had protected me.
“I ... that’s really sweet. But I’m not getting any romantic ideas. I can’t.”
She shrugged. “But think about all he’s doing. He’s been here and?—”
“Jade,no. I can barely handle my own life, much less being turned down in the way he’s turned down every other woman. I won’t be like them. He told me what he is, even if I see things that ... don’t match up.”
I was getting worked up, so I let out a long breath instead of continuing. It was hard admitting that he was a great guy, and it was even harder to admit that I was terrified of getting turned down.
“It’s okay to admit you like him, though,” she said. “And if you’re serious about not pursuing anything, then there’s someone better out there.”
I flinched at the words. Was there someone better for me than Dean? I wasn’t so sure.
“You’re right,” I forced myself to say. “One day I’ll believe that.”
“You know what?” Jade said. “We should go get some coffee and open our shops late.”
“I’ve been late way too much,” I said with a shake of my head.
“You can do whatever you want now that Dean yelled at everyone, so live a little. We can get coffee and catch up. The Reserved Bean is slower today, so we won’t have to wait an hour.”
“All right, fine. Only because it’s incredible and I need a pick-me-up.”
“Yes!” she said before linking her arm through mine.
The shop was left closed as we walked to the coffee shop. Even for a slower day, there was still a line and most of the tables were full. Theo was at the front and Kelsey was working too, and she waved when she saw us.