“No, I was running late,” Mom admits as she stands, wiping the dog hair off her pants. She rolls up her sleeves and nods to the leash that’s hung up by the front door. “Can you take her out just now? Just while I’m making dinner.”
I agree. It’s perfect weather outside, I’m bored, and I could do with visiting a few people. Leaving Mom to prepare the food, I hook Gucci up to her leash and set off through the neighborhood. Gucci tugs at the leash, her body much stronger than mine, and I feel her pulling me along just like she always does. I once tried to take her with me on one of my runs, but I only ended up out of breath and panting after ten minutes, completely unable to keep up with her, so I had to turn around and go home before I dropped dead.
It takes us only ten minutes to reach my first port of call—Dean’s house. Instead of heading inside like I normally do, I try to be creative, so I pull out my phone and dial his number. I stare at his bedroom window while I listen to the monotonous ring.
“Eden,” he answers.
I smile at the sound of his voice. “Come outside. Gucci wants to see you.” When she hears me say her name, her ears perk up and she looks up at me with huge glossy eyes.
Dean laughs gently across the line, and even though I heard that exact same laugh last night when we were at the movies, it feels like I haven’t heard it in days. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it. “On my way,” he says, and hangs up.
I shove my phone back into my pocket and pat Gucci on the top of her head. “Good work, girl.” She sits by my side on Dean’s lawn, her tail wagging as we wait for him to get outside. More sweat tickles my brow.
The front door swings open, and Dean steps out and pats his thighs, yelling “Gucci!” at the top of his lungs. He knows I hate it when he does this, because Gucci always hurls herself at him, her weight almost yanking my arm out of its socket before I get the chance to let go of the leash. When I do, she bounds across the grass and jumps up on him, knocking him back a step or two.
“Who is it you’re dating?” I call, and when he hears me, he shoots me a lopsided smirk and pushes Gucci off him. He grabs her leash and makes his way over to me. “Is it me or the dog?”
“Most definitely you,” Dean says. With his free hand, he clutches my waist and pulls me toward him, pressing his lips to mine. Dean’s always been a gentle, deep kisser, and he’s always been one to smile in between each one, which is exactly what he’s doing now. I can feel his lips twitching into a grin against mine. “You’re a better kisser than the dog, that’s for sure.”
I let out a laugh as he steps back and passes the leash to me. “I’d be worried if you said I wasn’t.”
From behind him, Dean’s dad, Hugh, has popped his head around the door frame and is throwing me a wave. He’s wearing a dark-blue boiler suit covered in grease, which means he just got off work within the past fifteen minutes. Hugh owns a garage, and Dean’s about to start working for him right after graduation. Dean’s referring to it as a gap year before he packs up and heads for college, and I’m glad he’ll still be in Santa Monica while I finish senior year.
“Am I still coming over later?” he asks.
“Of course.” Tuesday nights are when Mom and Jack clear out to give us some space. Mom’s even started calling it “Deansday.”
“Great.” Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he pulls out his wallet and flicks through the notes. “Here,” he says, and passes me the exact same five-dollar bill that we’ve been passing back and forth for a year now. We’ll find any excuse to use it. “Five bucks for letting me see the dog.”
I roll my eyes and stuff the battered bill into my pocket, tightening my grip on Gucci’s leash and glancing down the avenue. “I’m going to go drop by my dad’s place. I’ll see you tonight.”
I bid him farewell by planting a quick kiss on the corner of his lips. Gucci stares after him as he disappears into the house, so I struggle to yank her away to begin with, but then she backs down and soon we’re on our way to Dad’s house.
It’s only five minutes away if I walk fast, which isn’t a problem considering Gucci is pulling me along, quickening my pace. When we near it, I notice that all three cars are there: the Lexus, the Range Rover, the Audi. This tells me that everyone’s here, including Tyler. My stomach flutters.