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“Sure, Dean, that’s cool,” I say as calmly as I can. “I’ll, uh, leave you guys to it. Nina, you can take the rest of the day off. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nina throws me an apologetic glance and then a wink as I turn to leave. I close the door to my office behind me and let out a deep breath.
I’ve been wondering how to broach the topic of mine and Nina’s relationship with Dean for a while, but I really didn’t want him to find out like this.
I guess things are just going to be awkward as fuck between Dean and me for a little while. I can deal with that as long as he doesn’t turn into some sort of protector over his little sister.
The trouble with Dean is he’s always been a little old-fashioned. And when their parents died, he moved easily into the father-figure role. He’s never really gotten out of that mindset.
I’ll have to tread carefully going forward, or I could risk losing one of my oldest friends.
I make my way to the break room and start to brew some coffee, deep in thought. As I stand there thinking, my phone vibrates. My heart sinks as I see who the text is from.
Rosa.
Hey, Brock. I heard you took your girlfriend away to the lake house with your parents. Moving a little fast there, don’t you think? Anyway, I hope you had a lovely time. Rosa x x x
I put the phone back into my pocket with disgust. I do not have time for Rosa’s bullshit right now.
Nina
Dean marches down the hallway so fast I struggle to follow behind him. I can’t help but notice his tense, angry shoulders. He stops before the row of elevator and jabs at the down button.
I chance a glance at his face. He’s glaring at the closed elevator doors as if they’ve done some unforgivable sin against him.
Is he angry at me? At Brock? At both of us?
I remember Dean’s phone call when I was in my New York hotel room, right after I kicked Brock out. He warned me about Brock. He told me to stay away, and I didn’t. He’s probably disappointed in me.
But he doesn’t know all the facts. Maybe if I can somehow make him understand that this is a real relationship, that Brock and I genuinely care about each other . . .
“Dean, I—”
“Not now.” Dean holds a hand up, cutting me off. Obviously, he’s not in the mood to talk.
The elevator doors open, and he steps inside, still stewing. I can practically see the angry steam rising from the top of his head.
We make our way to the Italian restaurant in the building and take our seats in silence. After we place our orders, I’ve had it with the silence. I can’t bottle everything up anymore.
“Dean, I can explain,” I tell him as the waiter walks away.
He shoots me a glare. “Fine. Try me.”
Okay, so obviously he’s angry at me too. Not just at Brock.
I swallow my nerves. “It’s not what you think. We’re not just—”
“‘It’s not what you think?’ Really? That’s how you want to start? With that cliché?” Dean asks. “I saw what happened with my own eyes, Nina, and it didn’t look good.”
“I know. I know how it looked, and—”
“Do you? Do you know anybody in the office could’ve walked in and seen you doing—” he squirms in discomfort “—whatever it is you were doing with Brock? Do you know what that could’ve done to your reputation? Do you care at all?”
“Dean, please let me talk, and I’ll answer everything, every question you have,” I say, putting my palms together.
“Okay. I’m listening.” He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. He challenges me with his eyes—they’re the same dark brown color as our late dad’s.
Dean has always played the parental role for me, which makes it difficult sometimes for me to remember that he’s my brother, and he’s only five years older than me.
The dynamics of our relationship worked well when we were younger, but I’m a grown-up now, and I’m free to make my own decisions. I don’t even have to explain anything to Dean.
For a split second, I consider just walking away. I hate conflicts.
But no. No, I can’t walk away from this one.
This is important to me. Brock is important to me, and I need Dean to accept our relationship.
“Okay, I know what you want to say,” I start. “You want to tell me Brock is a player, and I should stay away from him, especially now that he’s my boss.”
“And I know what you want to say,” Dean replies. “You want to tell me you’re an adult, and you can do whatever you like.”
My brother does know me. But that’s not all I have to say.
