I bend down to give precious Lottie a couple of rubs.
Quietly, “Hi, ogre.” I glance at the barn when I say, “Guess you couldn’t stay away.” Then look back at him.
Hugemistake.
Dean’s eyes glimmer a shade darker than their usual emerald. “Guess I couldn’t.”
He’s not talking about the barn.
Gabriel looks between us. “Kind of hoping you two end up together.”
Save me from the humiliation, I’m blushing over being with Dean Vuk right now. “That’s what I’m hoping too,” I think Dean says. But I’m not sure considering he looks like he struggled to get the words out of his mouth and I’m too far to hear him clearly. Now. I’m wondering if I misunderstood Dean being here. Maybe he did come for love.
And found me instead.
“Dean, you can put those near Jojo’s shed.”
Gabriel plops the wood down. He then turns back to look at me and smiles warmly when he stares at Lottie. “Now that I know you’re here, I’m gonna go make breakfast for my wife now.” Gabriel squeezes Dean’s shoulder before heading off into the opposite direction.
Lottie follows as I move near the edge of the mountain, soaking in the view.
Taking my phone out, I look at the book I attempted reading last night but ended up looking at the pictures of the birds instead. Every picture of the colourful parrots are usually of them in pairs, their beaks creating a heart-ishshape together. That’s why they’re called lovebirds.
Criss-crossed, eyes closed, I take a deep breath that turns my heart into a galloping mess when Dean lowers himself next to me.
At night, he’s devastating.
In the light, he’s a havoc to my soul. Something tells me if I truly open myself up to Dean, I’ll be headed into new, dangerous territory.
Reminder to self, I’m not built for new things.
Unless it comes in the shape of Dean Vuk.
He should’ve washed the colours off last night. They’re still there. Disoriented, mismatched, and out of the lines.
I’m stuck between wanting to rub it off and grabbing his arm to finish it.
“Thank you for the colouring books,” I say while tucking my legs close to my chest.When did he even get them?
Wind gently caresses over us.
Dean turns to look at me the second I rest my cheek on my knees. “You’re welcome.”
Wind chimes ring somewhere in the distance.
A strand of hair falls over Dean’s forehead.
Dean looks at me through hooded eyes. Before I know it, I’m tucking his hair back.
I touched him.
Swallowing hard, I drop my hand. I don’t know why I did that. “Why haven’t you told your brothers you’re here?.” Lottie huddles closer towards me, a quiet snore. Dampening my thigh with heat.
I don’t expect him to answer.
Dean’s quiet is tense. “It’s easier than telling them the truth.”
“Just like it’s easier avoiding conversation?” I return to a sitting position and look at him. We know I’m talking about last night. He may have had the last word but he’s also the one who left off without letting me talk.
