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“There’s another side to the story, Dean. You know how crazy Rosa is,” I say in a voice loud enough for Nina to hear if she’s listening. The neighbors can go fuck themselves. One sleepless night won’t kill them.
“Yes, I know how crazy she is, and I can’t believe you—” his index finger jabs me in my chest “—would be stupid enough to fall into her trap again. I don’t care what you do with your life anymore, but leave my sister out of whatever sick game you and Rosa are playing.”
“That’s what I want to talk about.” I raise my hands to show Dean I’m not jonesing for a fight. In fact, I won’t hit back if he really wants to beat me up. “I swear I didn’t do anything with Rosa. It was all staged. By her. She’s insane, Dean. Ever since she found out I had a fiancée, she—”
“Fiancée?” Dean’s forehead creases, his face turning even more ferocious. He reaches for my collar, but I step back just in time. “What the fuck are you talking about? You have a fiancée, and you’re fooling around with my sister, like she’s some worthless side piece? Fuck, Brock.”
“No, no. You’ve got it all wrong.” I keep my voice calm, reasonable, hoping my tone will be contagious enough to help Dean simmer down. “We, uh, I took Nina to Rosa’s wedding and asked her to pretend to be my fiancée. It’s a long story, but there’s no one else, Dean. There’s no one else. I swear. Nina’s the only girl I care about. I’d never hurt her. Never.”
“Well, you did,” Dean snaps. “You fucking did. Fuck you, Brock. I thought you were a friend. For a minute, I even entertained the idea that you might actually care about her enough to treat her right. But obviously, I was an idiot. And Nina, too. You fooled us. If you think we’re just going to take your word for it that you didn’t do anything with that crazy ex of yours . . .” Dean chuckles wryly, shaking his head, not even bothering to finish his sentence. “Just go home, Brock. Before I do something I regret.”
“Dean, I’m not shitting you. Rosa came up with this sick plan to ambush me just before my meeting. She somehow got Peter to take Nina there, and then she kissed me, no warning. I pushed her away. I swear.”
Dean narrows his eyes at me. “I want to believe you, Brock. I do. But I also know how deeply Rosa’s dug her claws into you. I’ve always thought that you’d go crawling back to her as soon as she gave the slightest indication that she wanted you back.”
“Give me some fucking credit, Dean,” I say, raising my voice in frustration. “Nina! If you’re in there, I want you to hear this. You don’t have to come out or anything—I get that you’re angry with me—but please hear me out.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Dean shoves me so hard I stumble backward, not expecting him to get this aggressive.
“Hear me out, and I’ll walk away after if you still want me gone.” In a louder voice, I say, “Nina, I know you think you know what happened, but you don’t know the full story. You don’t know my side of the story.”
“Shut the fuck up, Brock.” Dean shoves me again, forcing me down the porch steps.
“You’re only going to make me shout louder so she can hear,” I warn him.
“Fuck off and leave us alone.” Dean’s obviously not listening, blinded by rage.
“I have proof!” I yell out so loud even the neighbors will hear. “Nina, I can prove to you that I wasn’t cheating on you!”
Dean grabs me by the elbow now, pulling me down the walkway. Just before he throws me out onto the street, I hear the softest click.
The door. It cracks open.
Then, a voice. The most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.
“Brock?” Nina calls out my name.
She looks exhausted, her eyes red and puffy. Her hair is messy.
But there’s a glimmer of something in her eyes. Hope?
“Nina, thank God. I’ve been looking for you all day. I’m glad you’re okay. I can explain everything,” I say.
All I want to do is rush over there and comfort her. Wrap my arms around her, stroke her hair, whisper soothing words in her ear.
But Dean’s still standing in front of me, blocking my path. “I’ve got this under control, Nina. Go back to sleep.”
Nina’s beautiful eyes dart between Dean and me like she can’t decide who to listen to.
Nina
“I’ve got this under control, Nina. Go back to sleep,” Dean says.
I know Dean’s only trying to protect me, but this is probably as good a time as any to put on my big-girl pants and fight my own battles.
“Dean, I can handle this.”
