My walk back was both peaceful and quiet. A few people waved. A few people’s eyes wandered, but I was left alone.
Dean was a miracle worker. Isoowed him one.
When I got to the shop, I messaged him.
Your next five coffees are on me. Thank you for what you said at the bar last night.
Dean
People are leaving you alone?
Yep. They’re all scared of Daddy Dean.
I didn’t think hard about what I said until after I’d flipped the sign and opened the shop. Then I realized he hadn’t answered, and I wondered if I pushed it too far.
Can’t really call you daddy if you’re younger than me. Ignore me.
Dean
You can call me whatever you want.
I stared at the message. This was the first sign of flirting in forever.
But he couldn’t mean it that way. Could he?
Then he messaged again.
Dean
When is your next appointment, by the way? That’s the anatomy scan.
I want to be there for that.
Will you still be in town?
I’ll make sure I am.
You could stay at the house. Brooke is gone.
I think I’ll take you up on that. I still have things to find and fix.
My heart picked up speed as I read his messages. Maybe I was reading way too far into this, but this was close to how we’d been when we first met, before responsibility got to us.
And I liked it more than I could say.
26
DEAN
Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)
Dean Briggs:How do you deal with people you hate asking a ton of questions about your kid?
Comments:
James Marson:In theory, you can tell them nothing. But that never works for me ...
Dean Briggs:It won’t work here either. I have to tell them SOMETHING.