Chapter 23 Grace
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Henrietta Brown: Single and ready to mingle, folks! I will not be taking questions unless it’s asking me out on a date!
Comments:
Jade Clark: Wait, seriously? Are you and Marjorie done?
Tammy Jane: Well, things will finally be quieter.
Dale Garrett: I always thought she could do better.
Henrietta Brown: I am NOT single! Marj took my phone because I said she was getting soft since we went back to work. Ignore everything from her!
Marjorie Brown: Wait, what do you mean she could do better???
“You better be heading to Bell’s Brews!” Tammy called when she saw me. I’d parked next to Dean’s truck on the opposite side of the square. He must have been waiting because he fell into step beside me.
I was trying to play it cool—people were everywhere. I shouldn’t have been surprised Tammy said anything.
She had on her cowboy boots and sparkly eyeshadow, which meant she was bartending. I’d partaken once or twice. Obviously, I couldn’t tonight.
“I am. Don’t worry.”
“You too, Cowboy?” Tammy’s eyes flicked to Dean and she raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, ma’am. I was invited.”
“I’m sure you were. Mark has a habit of inviting everyone he sees to this thing.” She rolled her eyes and shoved her hand at him. “I’m Tammy. I’ll be getting you drunk tonight.”
“Dean,” he said slowly. His voice was slower than I was used to hearing it, and I wondered if he was unsure about her. “Cowboy kinda works, but I only wear the hat. I don’t do the work.”
“Well, at least you’re honest.” Tammy laughed and then her gaze flicked between the two of us. “You two know each other?”
“I just happened to be next to her.” Dean was quick on the draw with an explanation.
“I do know his name, though.”
Tammy hummed and Dean took the chance to go on ahead of us. I had to resist the urge to sigh.
“So, what do you think of him?” Tammy asked.
“Of Dean? Nothing. Why would I think anything about him?”
“It seems like every woman in town has thoughts about him.” She looked between the door—which Dean had disappeared through—and me. “You know, I’d be careful if I were you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “About what?”
“I heard he’s one of those guys. A use ’em and leave ’em kind of thing. None of us want that for any of the women here. But especially not you.”
“Who said that?” I asked, my voice harsher than usual. When Tammy’s brow lowered, I corrected. “I mean, was he really here long enough for anyone to pass judgment?”
“He told people how he was the first time he went to the bar, and Wren confirmed it. He’s not the kind of guy you should be spending time with. Not romantically, at least. I hear he does good work, though.”
“Right,” I said. “At least there’s that.”
“Just take care of yourself, kid. I wouldn’t want any of you gals to get your heart broken.”
And then she was gone into Bell’s Brews. I took a deep breath, hoping it would calm me down. But I was quickly learning that I didn’t like people bringing up Dean’s reputation. Especially when I knew there was more to him.
A headache brewed behind my eyes, and Brooke hadn’t even gotten here yet.
That didn’t mean anything good.
When I walked in, I expected the makeshift stage to be set up from the year before and to hear someone I knew ruining a song they loved.
Instead, there was no singing. Only a crowd in the center of the room.
“Oh, you outdid yourself, Mark!” Tammy’s voice was the loudest as she approached him. “Where did you even find this?”
“Facebook Marketplace.” Mark sounded proud of himself, and I ventured closer to see what everyone was having a cow about.
In the middle of the dance floor, a mechanical bull was waiting to break someone’s face.
Who in their right mind was stupid enough to ride that thing?
“I haven’t seen one of these in years!” Dean said with a laugh. He was across the room looking like a kid at Christmas. I’d never seen him like this. The only person with a wider smile was Mark.
I rubbed my temple. Of course there would be a bull. Of course my baby daddy was going to wind up in the hospital. And if I stepped in, it would look suspicious.
I needed a damn drink. But I couldn’t fucking have one.
Instead of completely losing my mind, I walked to the bar, ordered a Shirley Temple, and found a corner to wallow in. I had to get my mood in check before Brooke got here.
But things seemed to want to go wrong.
Once Mark promised to get the bull going, people filtered to the bar. Atticus spilled his drink next to me, and the smell of alcohol hit my nose like a train. I turned away, trying not to seem obviously grossed out by it.
I was always the designated driver. I dealt with my drunk friends all the time, but I hadn’t done that while pregnant.
Thankfully, I managed to keep it together until the smell of beer hit my nose and I turned to glare at whoever was stupid enough to bring that in my presence.
That was when I was met with Dean.
“Everything okay?” His voice was low, and he sounded like the man from my house who cared enough to check on me.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” It came out sharp, but I meant it. We didn’t need to get caught, and I needed to get my shit together.
“You say that as if it’s possible for me to not worry about you.” He stepped closer and I took one step back.
“Can you not . . .” I trailed off and took a breath. I only smelled more.
“Can I not what?”
“The beer,” I managed. “It fucking—”
“Grace, are you okay?”
Dean took a healthy step away from me as we both looked up to see Mark looking in between us suspiciously. He must have seen me shying away from Dean, but it wasn’t him that was the problem. It was what was in his hand.
“S-sorry,” I stuttered. “I’m just a little . . . overwhelmed.”
My excuse was weak to my own ears, but Mark seemed to take it. “Kinda like Henry gets sometimes?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
His eyes darted between Dean and me. “And you . . . Why were you getting in her space?”
Dean’s eyes went wide. “I-I was just trying to talk to her.”
“She didn’t seem interested.”
“Mark, he’s fine.” I said it before I could think. “Seriously. I just didn’t like the smell of his beer.”
Dean nodded. “The beer. Shit, that would do it. Could I get a water instead?”
“Only if you give Grace some space,” Mark said. “Head to the bar and don’t distract Tammy. I’ll get you water in a second.”
Dean looked at me, but I knew that it would look worse if he insisted on staying with me.
“Yeah, of course.”
“Now for you,” Mark said. “You can use my BBC if you need it.”
My eyes widened. Had I heard him right? “Your what?”
“The Bell’s Brews Closet.”
“Oh,” I said. “That makes a lot more sense.”
“And I know you won’t violate it. Let me tell you the code.”
As much as I didn’t want to need it, I had no idea how the night would go. Being the good girl had its benefits. I would use them as long as it lasted. “That would be great.”
Mark told me the number and I committed it to memory. Then Mark went to meet Dean at the bar.
I moved to a different spot, one that didn’t smell offensive, and texted Dean.
I really am fine. I just discovered I hate the smell of alcohol. Who knew?
That looked bad, though. I’ll get it together.
Dean
Don’t worry about how it looked. Take Mark up on his offer if you need to. I’m sorry for getting in your space. I should have seen you were trying to get away from me.
It was just the beer. I promise. Enjoy the party.
I’ll be enjoying the bull.
Just don’t die before you meet our baby.
Promise I won’t.
I was tempted to text him even more, but I was tackled into a tight hug.
“You’re here! You made it!” Jade clung to me like an octopus. I could smell one of Tammy’s cocktails on her, but it wasn’t as offensive as Dean’s beer or Atticus’s spilled drink.
“I did make it. Are you having fun?”
“I love it when Tammy bartends. I got here early to scope out the crowd, but it’s all locals.”
“It’s Mark’s birthday. It’s always locals.”
She groaned. “I need a hot man to stick his wang in me.”
“Jade,” I whispered with a laugh. “Mark will pass out if he hears you talk like that.”
“You do know I’m the reason he’s so protective of his closet, right? He caught me in it and couldn’t look me in the eye.”
“He caught you? Did he give you the lecture about waiting for the one?” Many had tried. It was why she kept her affairs out of the news.
“He knows I’m too fucked up and will do it anyway. He just doesn’t want it in his BBC.”
“So, you heard the name too?”
“Oh, I heard it. And I told him to announce it to the Facebook group.”
I snickered. “You’re evil.”
“Don’t blow this for me.”
“You know I’d never.” I looked around the bar, which was filling up. Atticus was at the bar talking to Dean and Mark. One of the guys we’d grown up with, Lucas, was here, which was a rare sighting since his move to Nashville.
“So, be real with me.” Jade leaned in. “Should I ride the bull?”
“No,” I said. “God, you’re as bad as Dean.”
“Well, it’s the only thing I can ride,” she said with a sigh. “It’ll be some action.”
“Don’t ride a bull just because you need dick, okay?”
“I’m riding for the thrill of it.”
I shook my head and caught Dean glancing at me. I could see he was still worried, so I gave him a thumbs-up.
“Speaking of a good ride, have you gotten any lately?”
I gave Jade a flat look. “You know the answer to that.”
“Do I? Because you went super quiet and Dean keeps looking over here.”
I wished I’d gone quiet for that reason. There was something about him being in pajamas that made heat rise within me. I’d had to go back to my room and take care of things.
And it still lingered.
I needed to Google pierced vibrators when I got home. That was what I was craving.
“Nothing’s happening,” I said. “I would tell you if it was.”
“Just like you’d tell me if you had a new roommate?”
“What?” I asked. “How did you—”
“I have a habit of checking on your house when I go in and out of town. I saw his truck.”