He pins me down with a glare.
Just as I’m about to argue, Hina pulls me down on a barstool next to hers. “Nova, babe.Shh.”
In the next couple of minutes, Dean hands me a clean towel to press against the cut and goes back to working in silence. Hina yaps about her expectations in love with men. Which I learn has a lot to do with physical intimacy and very little with emotional intelligence because she says, and I quote, “Men are as stupid as the shit that comes out of my ass.”
When that makes me laugh, Dean is staring at me and doesn’t look away.
I’m still mad at him. Especially for the anniversary party. I haven’t forgotten how easily he talked negatively about me to one of my best friends. However, what kind of person would I be if I let that singlemoment define him? Yes, Vuk Securities has been my client for two years, and I owe him the benefit of the doubt. At least, that’s what my heart thinks.
Hina’s scrolling on her emails when she asks, “Why’d you guys come onLove? Check!? Is it for fun, to build a platform, for love, or is it something else?”
My ears perk up. I’ve been waiting to ask this question but I’m glad Hina beat me to it.
Dean turns the stove off and covers the steaks with the cover.
He then turns around to face us, leaning back against the opposite counter.
There’s a moment where he glances over at me, and it stays there. It doesn’t move and when I blink, it’s like I imagined it.
“It was on my bucket list,” he says.
“How’d you hear about it?” I want him to tell me a truthful answer.
“From an acquaintance,” he doesn’t back away from my glare.
“Who was this friend? Are they on the show?”Be honest, Dean. You heard it from me.Though, I don’t take it being on his bucket list as a proper answer. If it was, he would’ve mentioned it that day in his office.
“Irene,” his lips quirk up. “I heard it from her. Last I know, she pitched this season to me and said they were looking for two more contestants and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. I thought about it and said yes.”
Oh. Why hide it then? Why not mention that you’re going to be here when I told you about it two days ago?
“You don’t need to tell us that,” Hina looks between us. At the sudden tension.
There’s an odd curve to his lips. An anomaly in his tongue.
Dean’s not telling the truth.
He’s too carefree.
Whatever it is that you’re here for, Dean Vuk, I promise I will figure it out.
CHAPTER 14
“Dinner is served,” I wait behind Hina. Arms warped behind my back and actively swallowing my saliva.
They’re all waiting around the table like starved leeches when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Ma.
“You can take calls,” Katarina says behind me. She pulls her hair up in a ponytail. “Just not have access to social media while you’re here.”
In high school, the popular girls never talked to me. They didn’t hate me, but I was usually ignored by them. Imagine this, big frizzy hair, oversized glasses, an extremely dark moustache, and sweat pits that continue haunting me to this day. Definitely wasn’t the eye of the tiger during everyone else’s peak year.
“But then again,” she looks back with what I can only describe as a sterile smile. “Maybe don’t take calls if you’re not okay with them cutting it to fit their narrative.”
“Do they do that?” I ask, appalled.
Katarina eyes the table, “You’d be surprised at what theydon’tdo.”
