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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I’mfinishingashiftat the café when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and smile.
Dean:“Hey, you. End of the quarter party tonight, my house, bring your friends.”
Ooh yay! Finally an invitation to one of his parties.
Maci:“Only the single ones?”I joke, knowing every time we are at the bar he tries to push Marcus and Aden toward girls.
Dean:“You know it.”He adds a wink emoji.
I group text Kylie, Taylor and Alexis and let them know we have plans tonight. I don’t include Avery because she and Miller took off to his parents’ cabin for winter break vacation right after she finished her last final yesterday.
Thirty minutes later, shortly after I get home from work, someone bangs on my front door. Taylor yells at me through it. “The car is running, let's gooooooo!”
I run to my room, unzipping my work jeans as I go and pull my favorite long sleeve maroon dress off the hanger. I know it's December and freezing outside, but this dress cinches perfectly at my waist and makes my boobs look great. Plus, I’m betting Dean will have a bonfire out back since there will probably be way too many people to be inside. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I grab a school sweatshirt on my way out in case I need it and hear Alexis honking her horn as I lock the door.
It's clear they are ready to party because before I can buckle my seatbelt, Taylor wiggles a flask in my face. “No thanks.” I laugh.
I’ve seen pictures on social media of the parties Dean throws. It’s why I’m making assumptions about the bonfire. I’ve still never been invited to one, so I’m curious why now. I’ll take what I can get, though. I wonder if this is a sign he wants to make us official.
The bonfire flames are so high I can see them from where we’ve parked on the street. Since Dean always comes to my apartment, I’ve only been to his house the one other time. I don’t know my way around yet, but it’s easy enough to follow the light. Heading around the back of his house, Taylor and Kylie are already giggling as they pass the flask back and forth between them. As soon as we get to the edge of the yard where the fire blazes, I spot Aden and Marcus, along with a bunch of other people I’ve never met.
Marcus comes over right away, pulling me into a side hug, his sandalwood aftershave making me linger an extra second. He’s easily my favorite friend of Dean’s that I’ve met. He’s about to offer me his own drink when another red Solo cup appears in front of me, attached to Dean’s hand.
“Hi,” he says, waiting for me to take the drink from him, not offering any affection along with it.
“Thanks,” I sigh, gazing into the fire. He’s been so good lately about giving me attention, I wonder if something is wrong. It’s only been a minute though, so I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Dean starts talking to Marcus about something, but even though I'm standing between the two of them, I’ve already zoned out.
Besides the moment when we first got here, I haven’t seen Dean. He wandered off a few minutes after he brought me a whiskey. My cup is empty now as I spin in a slow circle, my eyes searching for his sandy blond hair and his flannel that doesn't match his cargo shorts at all. I finally spot him standing under the porch light with a blonde girl I’ve never seen before. She’s cute. How the hell is she not freezing in that skimpy skirt and tank top she’s wearing? She’s practically flashing him.
“That’s Cassie,” Marcus’ voice breaks through my thoughts. “We’ve known her forever, and she is Dean’s ex-whatever you want to call her, from last year. Be careful around her. She acts sweet and like she’s your friend but swoops in the second she sees him near you. She’s been trying to get his attention again for months.”
“Oh, okay, thanks for the heads up.” I feel like Marcus has been on my side since I started seeing Dean, whatever that means in our situation. It’s nice having someone in my corner.
“Not that you have anything to worry about though. Not about him wanting another girl anyway.”
I want to question if there’s more meaning to that second statement, but Taylor stumbles up to me. “Maaciiiii, let’s get out of here, I’m hungryyyy,” she wails. I put my hands on her shoulders to steady her as she falls slightly into me. I don’t want to leave, but I’m also not having much fun either. Not to mention it seems like Alexis started drinking and someone has to make sure my friends get home safely. I give Marcus a hug and wave goodbye to Aden as I round up my friends and get them into Alexis’ car. I’m not in the mood to stop and wait for a pizza, so I order one to be delivered to their apartment before we leave.
As we pull up to the complex, a text pops up on my phone.
Dean:Where are you? I miss you.
My stomach drops seeing the words he’s never said to me. I go to grab it, but somehow I’m not as quick as Alexis, who rips it off the phone mount. “Awwwwww how sweet is thiiiiis,” she says in her high pitched drunk voice, showing the screen to our friends in the back seat. She’s shaking it far too much and they are way too drunk to read it.
I roll my eyes, but no one sees.
“Be back soon, babe,”Alexis sends back with a kissy face emoji before I’m able to process what she’s doing and grab my phone back.
“Ugh, whyyyyyy, Alexis?!” I practically scream at her.
“‘Most beautiful man I’ve ever laid my eyes on.’ You said that, remember? Don’t act like you don’t want to go back. Take my car and get out of here. There’s not enough pizza coming for you anyway.” She winks dramatically.
I’m more worried about the girlfriend-y word she attached to the end of the text than admitting I want to go back in the first place. Before I can figure out what to do, my phone buzzes again. I hesitate, nervous to see his reply.
Dean:Hurry, please.
