Chapter 46 Dean
DEAN
Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)
G. Singh: I’m back again with the hellions. They’re flushing every chemical in my house down the toilet to rid the world of sharks.
Comments:
Robert Colt: You’ve really got to lock those up, man. They could drink them.
G. Singh: They were locked. I have the only key. They broke in.
Ryan Kim: Man, you’ve got problems.
Oliver Brian: Swap the bottles with water.
G. Singh: Kids said it didn’t taste the same and it wasn’t good enough. Not sure if they’re joking or not.
Robert Colt: Do those kids need an exorcism?
Grace had been tired for hours, but I knew she was really hitting a wall when she finally sat.
The baby shower had dwindled to just a core group of people.
Mom, Jade, and Wren had stayed to help clean up so Mollie could go home.
She’d fought, but a meltdown from Jasmine told us all it was time for her and Cain to go.
“That’s your future,” Mom had said to me. “How excited are you?”
“So fucking excited,” I said. “I can’t wait.”
And it was true. Watching Cain with both his son and daughter renewed my excitement for this. I wanted to be a dad. It was the final piece of the puzzle.
“Mollie should be the party planner from now on,” Jade said as she picked up any remaining cups. “That was so smoothly run.”
“She does own a farm,” Grace said from where she lounged on the couch. “She has to be good at planning.”
“Also, we need to talk about how you two got a gift from Hugh.” Jade’s eyes were wide. “You’re miracle workers.”
“I’m as shocked as you are,” Grace said as she tried to fight a yawn. “But it was sweet.”
“We’ll get outta your hair,” Wren said as they collected the last of the trash. “You two need rest.”
“But—”
“Thanks,” I interrupted. “You’re right.”
Grace huffed, but I knew she needed the rest, and it would be nice to have some quiet time.
“My feet are killing me,” Grace muttered when the house was finally empty. As she was nearing the end of the pregnancy, she’d been having more and more aches and pains.
“Here,” I said, moving her legs so I could sit and rub them.
“Thanks.” She let out a sigh of relief. She’d taken all of the changes like a trooper, but I could see it was also taking a toll on her. In the kitchen, Mom was doing more cleaning, which meant there was even less for Grace to do.
I was relieved Grace and Mom got along so well and that Grace had let her stay in Strawberry Springs for a while. It was nice having her close, and even nicer that we had the extra help.
There was a feeling I couldn’t shake that this phase would be ending soon. I hadn’t told Grace because I was sure it was just my nerves talking, but I was mentally preparing for birth any day now.
Our gentle peace was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Grace gave me a shocked look, and I knew that she probably hadn’t locked the front door.
“I’ll take care of it,” I said, gently moving her legs off me. I got up. I thought maybe a party guest had forgotten something and simply didn’t knock.
That was not who I found.
“Brooke,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
Grace had made it a point to not invite her. Why should she have, after everything Brooke had done and said? We should have known she would show up anyway.
“Where’s Grace?”
“She’s resting. What can I help you with?” I asked evenly. I knew nothing good would come of me being an ass to her, no matter how much I disliked her.
“How about you let me walk into my own house without questions?”
“You moved to Nashville,” I said slowly. “This isn’t your house. It’s not even where you live.”
“Brooke?” Grace asked. I crossed my arms, knowing she didn’t need this right now. “What are you doing here?”
Brooke’s arms drew tighter around herself. “I had an agent come to my show. He didn’t sign me.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Grace said as she made her way over to us. “But—”
“He’s an idiot, I know. But my roommates all agreed with him, and when I called them out for also being stupid, they told me to get out for the night. I figured I could come here and show everyone what a real star looks like.”
My jaw tightened. Nowhere in any of Brooke’s words was a lick of self-awareness. She’d ignored Grace when she came to her show, but the second she needed something, she expected Grace to be there.
“That room isn’t available,” I said.
“What, are you staying in it?” Brooke glared and looked back at Grace. “I told you that was my room.”
Her words made my temper flare hotter.
“No, it’s not me.”
“Who else would it be? And why would you let this happen?”
Grace’s shoulders went tight. “You moved out, Brooke.”
“But it’s still my house.”
Grace took a breath and tightened her shoulders. “It’s my house. And I’m not sure if you’re aware, but things are busy here because I’m having a baby soon. Dean’s mom is staying in your room because she’s been helping.”
Brooke blinked, obviously not expecting Grace to say no. “Well, she can get a hotel. Hopefully, for forever.”
“No, you can.” The room went silent. Grace’s fists were tight. I could see she hated this, but she was doing it anyway.
I’d never been prouder of her.
“Excuse me?” she said lowly.
“Virginia was here first. She also asked if she could stay. You haven’t talked to me in weeks, and you showed up here with no warning. That isn’t fair to me or anyone else here.”
“I’m obviously busy. Can’t you see that I have bigger things in my life than you?”
Grace’s voice came out harder. “Watch it, Brooke.”
“No, you watch it—” She stepped toward Grace, and that was when I’d had enough. I didn’t know what Brooke would do, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be good. Grace hadn’t told her no before. There was no telling how Brooke would react.
I used my arm as a barrier. “Get out.”
“What?” Her voice was high-pitched. “Are you fucking kidding? You’re doing this on the worst day of my life?”
Grace looked away.
“We are,” I said. “She’s got enough going on without you making it worse.”
Brooke finally stared at me. “I guess Daddy is protective, huh? You’ll regret this.”
“If it means you stay out of my woman’s hair? Gladly.”
Brooke rolled her eyes and stomped out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
“Did she just threaten you?” Grace asked. “God, what is wrong with her?”
“What’s wrong with who?” Mom came around the corner. “What happened?”
“That was my sister,” Grace said.
“I’ll tell you the whole story later.” I looked back at Grace. “Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah, I’m . . . sorry about her. Her selfishness knows no bounds.”
“It’s okay, Grace.”
She took a breath, but then shook her head. “This isn’t over,” she warned. “This is only the beginning of her tantrum.”
“Tantrum? Isn’t she a grown woman?” Mom asked.
“Physically, yes.” I said it harshly.
“Whatever it is,” Mom said, “we’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry about a thing, Grace.”
“She’s my sister.”
“She is, but you’re not alone in this. You have Dean and me. And we’re making sure nothing happens to you.”
Grace considered it. Normally, she would put up a fight, but this time, I could see that she didn’t have it in her.
But that wouldn’t happen anymore. Not with me around. And not with Mom around either.
“Thank you,” she said. “Seriously, thank you both.”
“It’s no problem,” I said.
It was late that night when I got a call from Mark. I was in bed with Grace and dead to the world, but I always kept my ringer on just in case an emergency happened.
“So,” he began, “I don’t know if you’ll be happy with me waking you up, but I don’t wanna stress Grace out.”
“That’s a good call. What’s going on?”
He let out a sigh. “Brooke is here and she’s . . . she’s wild tonight. More so than usual.”
“I’ll get her,” I replied. “I’ll be there in a little bit.”
“Thanks, Dean. I owe you one.”
He didn’t. But Brooke sure as fuck did.
As I drove, I tried to figure out what to say to get her head out of her ass. I’d never had siblings, so I was out of my element, but I would gladly be there for Grace.
When I walked in, Brooke was dancing on a table, a bottle in hand. Mark was glowering at her.
“She took the whole thing!” Mark yelled when he saw me. “What the hell is wrong with her?”
“I’m having fun!” Brooke yelled as she swayed her hips. Then her eyes landed on me. “Oh. You’re here.” Her distaste for me was obvious.
“Time to go,” I said.
“Everyone gather round! He’s gonna yell at me.”
People did turn, though some seemed to want nothing to do with this. I didn’t blame them. I didn’t want to be here either.
“Brooke, you have to know this is wrong. Your sister simply said to get a hotel.”
“Because she’s pregnant and life is sooooo hard.” Brooke rolled her eyes. “You can stop playing the part now. She’s not here.”
“I’m not playing a part.”
“Oh, you are.” She stumbled off the table, causing more eyes to turn to us.
She made it halfway to the bar before I stopped her by grabbing her arm.
That must have set her off. “Be real. You aren’t attracted to her.
You only care about her because it makes you look good. Because you want everyone to like you.”
I didn’t even want to give her the time of day. It was the best thing to do in a situation like this. “Put the bottle back and go to the hotel. You’re done.”
“Am I? I have a few other things to say.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You’re temporary, Dean. A guy like you doesn’t stick around.”
“You would know a lot about not sticking around, Brooke. Where have you been?”
That only made things worse.
But the truth was going to.
Brooke muttered something under her breath, but I couldn’t hear it. I did, however, hear Grace’s name.
“What was that?” I asked as I leaned in. If she was bad-mouthing Grace of all people, then I would drag her out of here myself.
“Grace’ll dump you when she sees this.”
I didn’t have time to ask what she meant because her lips were on mine. My ears rang, but I could hear gasps ring out across the bar.
I jerked away, mouth on fire. “What the—”
Brooke slapped me before I could finish my sentence. “Did you seriously just kiss me while my pregnant sister is at home asleep?”
“What? No, I—”
“Everyone saw it,” she said. “And everyone knows I would never kiss someone here. But the kind of guy you are?” Now she smiled, and I saw what kind of monster she truly was. “You sure would.”