And with those parting words, Dad saunters back to the kitchen, whistling a tune I don’t recognise, leaving me gobsmacked and half-laughing to myself, wondering how on earth he managed to piece all that together from one brief exchange.
Of course. He’s Jim fucking Hawkins—ex-top Sergeant, that’s how.
CHAPTER 22
Mila
It’s been four weeks since that night of the incident with Dean, and I’m glad to say he’s kept his word so far about getting help for his anger. He started anger management therapy two weeks ago, and while it’s still early days, the fact that he took the initiative to seek help is a huge step on his part.
After our long talk, where he apologised for what had happened and promised to work on himself, I told Dean I wanted to take things slow. We needed to give each other some space now and then—to reset, breathe, and actually spend time missing each other.
I could tell he wasn’t too thrilled with the idea, but since he was already in hot water, he had no other option than to agree. We still called and texted each other everyday, but we limited our time together to only once or twice a week. And I have to say, things are slowly but steadily improving between us.
We just got back to my apartment after celebrating his recent promotion to Chief Operating Officer at his family’s company—the youngest ever to hold the position at twenty-five. With his older brother, Derrick, poised to become Chief Executive Officer when their father retires next year, it was time for Dean to step up as well.
I decided to let him stay the night, bending my rule just this once. Dean had been in such high spirits all week, and I didn’t want to dampen his mood by sending him home right after an incredible day.
We’re now cuddled up on my couch, watching a movie, just before I have to head out to babysit Jake again. I asked Jason if I could start work a couple of hours late tonight because of Dean’s celebratory lunch. He hesitated at first but finally told me to come by at six instead of the usual four. Dean preferred I take the night off, but I’m not in the habit of skipping work if it’s not a real emergency.
“Thanks for inviting me today. I really had a lot of fun,” I say sincerely.
“Babe, of course. It wouldn’t be a celebration without my girl by my side.” He kisses me on the temple, and I instantly melt into him.
An hour into the movie, I pick up my phone next to me to check on the time. “I need to leave in thirty minutes. Will you be okay while I’m at Jason’s?”
The hand that had been playing with the tip of my hair for the past ten minutes suddenly halts. When I pull away to meet his gaze, tension hardens his jaw and sharpens his eyes, but he’s quick to smooth it over with a composed smile and a slow nod.
“I seriously don’t know why you chose to work tonight, when we could’ve continued celebrating.”
“Well, I can’t just cancel on Jason when he’s relying on me to look after Jake.”
“Why can’t he get someone else to take care of him?”
“Because I’m the person he’s hired to babysit his son. And you know how much I need the money.”
“Then quit and come work for me. You can do some part-time hours at the office.”
“I need to work nights and weekends because of uni. You know that already.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mila! Then I’ll give you money if you need it that bad!”
My mouth parts, caught between disbelief and irritation at how fast the conversation has turned. I shift back, leaving an arm’s length of space between us on the couch. “Are you fucking kidding right now? I’m not quitting babysitting, Dean, and that’s final!” I finally snap.
He lets out a low, cold chuckle, enough to make the hairs on my neck rise. “I see,” he says, his head angling just enough to read me, eyes narrowing. “You just can’t stand the thought of not seeing Jason. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it?”
“This again,” I say, shaking my head.
Dean closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself down. I give him a moment to cool his jets and to keep his temper in check before speaking again, this time a little calmer. “Why are you so against me babysitting for Jason? I’ve told you a hundred times—there was never anything between us. Why can’t you believe that?”
“I don’t trust the guy at all. He gives me this weird vibe—like he thinks you’re his to protect or something. I know he wants you all to himself.”
I roll my eyes and scoff. “That’s ridiculous, Dean. Now you’re just overthinking things. He’s been a close friend to my sister for ten years, so it’s natural that he’s a little overprotective at times. I’m practically family to him.”
“You sure about that? Because it didn’t seem that way when he decided to attack me in his restaurant a few weeks ago,” he says with a sharp, bitter tone. “I hurt you, so the first thing you do is run straight to your fucking hero!”
My jaw drops for the second time tonight. The sheer audacity of him—after everything he’s done. And now he has the gall to accuse me of betraying him?What a delusional prick!
“Is that what you think happened? You think I narked on you?”
