Dean turns his head to look at me and I’m trapped once again in those green eyes. Viridescent darkness remains, but there’s more to them now. It’s glinting and speaking to me. There’s a telepathic connection, or maybe I’m overthinking it. But it’s like he’s asking me if I accept their apology and if I don’t, then he’ll solve the matter himself.
A part of me wonders what that would look like but I’m Nova and this girl accepts apologies like they’re nothing. “It’s okay,” I reply with a smile.
The two men take that as their way out and disappear.
I’m surprised to see that no one is looking at us. Everyone is still enjoying their time, despite the heavy atmosphere swarming aroundme right now.
Dean turns to look at Callahan.
The tension between them expands in size by the second.
Pursing my lips, “I should go,” I say while turning around.
“Wait.” A large hand wraps around my forearm and gently guides me back around.
I look down at Dean’s hold on me. His whole hand engulfs the arm. My body warms even though this is definitely not the right time for it to be warming up like this. I’ve only watched this happen in shows, because that’s usually when the male lead grabs the female lead’s arm and pulls her back into him.
“You deserve an apology from Callahan too,” Dean grumbled.
Callahan narrows his eyes, looks at where his brother holds me. “Tell me, Miss Rivera.” Slowly, almost frighteningly, he bares his teeth in a smile. “What are your thoughts on felons?”
Someone get me a knife. The tension between them is thick.
“Well, I?—”
“Don’t answer the question,” Dean interrupts sternly.
“Please do,” Callahan sounds interested in my answer and because he’s technically more of my boss than Dean is…
“I don’t think about them,”even though Tatay–dad—was one. “As long as they don’t come near me, I don’t really care.”
Dean removes his hand from my arm. His jaw tightens and a darkness flashes through his eyes before walking away without another word.
Soon to follow is awkwardness between me and Callahan Vuk who looks like he wants to shove me aside. “I?—”
He walks away.
What just happened?
I turn around to find Dean, but he’s gone like he was never hereto begin with. I should thank him for defending me.
Sunny’s talking to Azar’s mom who happens to be entranced by whatever storytelling skills my best friend is coming up with.
Dean is still nowhere to be found.
I turn a corner to head inside the building when a body blocks my way.
A pretty, familiar body.
“Irene,” a genuine smile forms. “Hi! I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Her response is warm. “I didn’t know either. But I’m glad to hear that you’ve accepted my proposal.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” I look past her shoulder.Where did he go?
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Kind of?” Then my eyes widen. “No, sorry. Of course not, I’m just… Actually, I need to go to the bathroom.” Making some weird hand movements, trying to explain to her that my body needs to do bodily things.
