Chapter 21
Justin
A s I enter the Dunns’ home, I attempt to stop their screen door from slamming.
The damn thing has done it for thirty years.
I’m not sure why I think I can stop it now or why I care.
Turning, I see Janet Dunn. “Hi,” I say, as the door slams. “Sorry.” My stomach rumbles at the delicious aroma filling this kitchen.
Janet waves her hand. “Come on in, Justin. That old door is better than any alarm system. If I didn’t hear it slam ten times a day, I’d think my hearing would need checking.” She comes closer to me.
My pulse speeds, and I’m pretty sure perspiration is forming on my brow.
“I’m glad you could come to dinner.”
She’s acting odd.
Weird.
She knows.
“Have you spoken with Devan?” I ask.
“I have. She’s my daughter.”
Inhaling, I debate about explaining my intentions—that they’re good.
I’d never do anything to hurt her daughter.
Devan is amazing, and I want to spend time with her.
When we’re apart, she’s all I think about.
When we’re together, I think of ways to make her happy.
It’s all new, but I promise I’ll never intentionally hurt her.
Before I can get what would undoubtedly be another session of word-vomit to come forth, Mrs. Dunn speaks again. “You’re a good man, Justin. Jack and I want nothing more than our children’s happiness.”
“I want her to be happy, too.”
We both turn at the pounding of footsteps coming from the back stairs. Ricky’s wingspan allows him to hold both side walls of the stairwell as he stops at the bottom. His eyes are on me, and there’s no doubt in my mind he knows why I’m at dinner.
“The fuck?” my best friend growls.
“Ricky,” Janet scolds.
I steady my voice. “I wanted to tell you.”
Devan appears behind Ricky. If my goal is to make her happy, I can guess by the expression on her face that I’m failing.
“Outside,” Ricky says.
“Really?” Devan yells.
Ricky barely gives her a look as he storms past me through the door, leaving us with a slam.
I turn to Devan and feign a smile. “It seems to be going well so far.” She’s sexy and sweet all rolled into one.
A bra strap is barely showing from beneath her Riverbend tank top.
Her jean shorts accentuate her perfect ass without being too short.
The white tennis shoes she’s wearing fail at giving her extra height.
Her soft brown eyes are stunning, and her hair is braided as it was yesterday.
Devan’s scowl morphs to a smile as she comes toward me. Laying her hand on my arm, she makes eye contact. Oh fuck. She wants to kiss. Right here. In front of her mother.
Bite the bullet.
That’s what I tell myself.
It’s not like kissing Devan is a bad thing.
We both lean forward, our lips touching. The millisecond kiss was not one of our top ten, but that doesn’t mean I don’t return her smile. “Hi.”
“Justin,” Ricky yells from outside.
“I’m going to guess,” I say, “that you told him.”
Devan nods. “I told Mom last night. She told Dad. It didn’t seem right for Ricky to be the only one who was caught off guard.”
I completely understand. I also wish I would have been the one to do it. I turn from Devan to Janet. “If you’ll excuse me.” My smile ramps up. “Maybe one of you should get the nine and one dialed onto your phone to be ready.”
“Dinner will be ready when you and Rick are,” Janet says.
With a sigh and a nod, I push open the door, stuff my hands in my front pockets, and stand on the porch. Ricky is waiting, standing beside his truck, his arms crossed over his chest. When I’m close enough to speak at a normal tone, I say, “Go ahead and hit me.”
“My sister?”
I nod.
“She’s a kid.”
“No, she isn’t. You’re the one who said that. Remember? We were on our way to her apartment, and you were talking about how she’s grown up.”
Ricky kicks the gravel by his bare feet. When he looks up, he asks, “The girl you mentioned, the one you met at the hog roast, the one you kept asking people about” —his expression saddens— “she was Devan?”
“She is Devan,” I correct.
“No, you didn’t describe my sister.”
“I described the way I see her.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t know she was the girl until we showed up at her apartment to help her move.”
His gaze narrows. “The closed bedroom door.”
“I’m the one who closed it.”
Grunting, he looks down at the gravel. When he looks up, he says, “I’m remembering that time Cory and I had to pull you off Richards.”
I nod.
This is not the same thing. Instead of trying to explain the differences, I sigh. “Go ahead. Give me your best shot. I won’t hit you back.”
“I’m not fucking hitting you. You’re my friend. My best friend.” He lowers his arms. “I don’t know what to think.” His expression turns as if he’s eaten something sour. “Fuck, I don’t want to think about you with her. Together. Dating…”
“Yes.”
His grin quirks up on one side. “You haven’t dated in a long time. Do you even remember how?”
A smile lifts my cheeks. “I’m not that fucking old.”
He lifts his hand. “Don’t tell me.”
“Are we good?” I ask.
“No.” His gaze meets mine. “We’re not bad.” He wraps his arm around my neck and pulls my head down, the way we used to do. “I’m not hitting you now, but I reserve the right to do it if you deserve it.”
“Deal.”
We turn as Jack’s truck is approaching the garages.
“Does Dad know?” Ricky asks quietly.
“Devan said Janet told him.” I stand tall, my hands clasped behind me, and wait as Jack Dunn steps out of his truck.
“Justin.” He nods. “Ricky, I think dinner’s waiting.” And he walks past us.
When I let out the breath I am holding, Ricky laughs. “Seems like we’re both going to hold onto that punch option for later.” He turns and looks at me. “Where’s your softball shirt?”
“In the wash.”
Ricky laughs louder. “It was stuffed in your ball bag.”
“No,” I lie. It was in my bag. Even the bag is airing out. I eye Ricky up and down. “I just wanted it less wrinkled, so I wouldn’t look all shitty like you.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be. Making yourself look good for my sister?”
“Yeah,” I say with a nod.
“Good. She deserves that much.” He slaps my shoulder. “Let’s eat.”
Devan’s smile is radiant as Ricky and I enter the kitchen. The seating chart from the other night has changed. Jack is still at one end and Ricky is at the other. This time, Janet is alone, and I’m seated beside Devan.
“Everything good?” Jack asks as he leans back and places a napkin on his lap.
My gaze goes to Devan’s smile and back to Mr. Dunn. “Very good, sir.”
Jack shakes his head. “Don’t be getting all formal on us, Justin. My name’s Jack, same as it was yesterday and the day before.”
“Everything is very good, Jack.”
Soon, everyone is picking up serving dishes filled with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and fruit, each person serving themselves and passing the dish to the next person.
As it was with the chili, the meal is delicious.
Even when Ricky complains about the potatoes having lumps, I’m too busy shoveling food in my mouth to notice.
Watching Devan, I’m again noticing how she’s not afraid to eat in front of me, and I know it’s one of the things I’m starting to love about her.
Like about her.
Definitely like.
“I have cherry pie,” Janet says as we start to slow the intake of dinner.
Shaking my head, I say, “I won’t be able to run the bases if I eat any more.”
“I can send a piece home with you. I picked it up today at Quintessential Treasures. Kandace is opening a section to fresh, home-baked items. It’s supposed to be Thursday through Saturday, but when I stopped by this afternoon, she said she was already almost sold out. I had the choice of cherry or rhubarb.”
I reply, “As long as Kandace didn’t bake them, either one is probably good.”
Everyone laughs.
Tonight, everyone pitches in clearing the table, the way it has always been at my house. Despite the rocky start, the Dunns make me feel comfortable, just like they always have, as if I’m a part of their family.
A quick look at the clock tells me I need to get moving for the game. My first stop is home, hoping Mom moved the shirt from the washer to the dryer.
“I’ll walk you to your truck,” Devan says, reaching for my hand.
After saying good night to her parents, the two of us go outside, hand in hand. When we stop, Devan is absolutely beaming. Her smile takes my breath away, and the gleam in her chocolate eyes makes me not want to look away.
“I’m so happy,” she says.
“Me too. I made it out without bodily injury.”
Devan laughs. “I’ll see you at the game.”
“You could ride with me to the game.”
“Marilyn is picking me up.”
“I told my mom about us,” I confess. “She said to tell you she’s happy and would like to get to know you.”
Devan opens her eyes wide. “This is really happening.”
“It is. And I don’t care how you get to the game. Just be prepared. I’m going to walk up those bleachers and kiss the most beautiful girl I know, in front of all of Riverbend.”
“Why?”
“Because I can.”
My answer seems to satisfy her.
“I’ll see you tonight,” she says, leaning toward me.
Cupping her cheek, I bring our lips together. We’ve had more passionate kisses, but this one says more than our earlier hello kiss did. It says that Devan Dunn is my girl. My woman. My lady. She’s mine, and I don’t mind if the whole damn world knows.