I shrug. He might as well answer honestly. Dean is Dean. They're going to like him or not.
"I did my apprenticeship at this place downtown with the same guy who taught my older brother. It was a lot of grunt work and I made twenty bucks a day, but I got to learn to do ink. When my brother jumped ship to go to Inked Hearts, he got me a job. We bought the place from the previous owner last year." Dean sucks a noodle from his fork. Chews. Swallows. Smiles that wicked smile of his. Take that, judgmental sister.
"You're an owner? Hmm." Gia stabs a piece of broccoli with her fork. Stares at it like it did her wrong. "That's not what I would have guessed."
"I know. It's not fair. All this beauty and brains too." Dean shrugs with mock humility. "Don't worry. It was ego that got me to buy the shop. Not intellect."
This time, Gia shoots me that what is he getting at look.
This time, I know.
"You're smarter than you let on-" I stumble on my old pet name/insult for Dean. Dick face doesn't work anymore. But what does? "Sweetie." No. Too cute.
It does light up his eyes.
God, he has such nice eyes. That bright, clear, gorgeous blue.
"He's here with you. As far as I'm concerned, he's a genius," Dad says.
Gia laughs. "You're so cheesy."
"You'll be the same way when you have kids," Dad says.
My sister's gaze stays on Dean. "So, you really came with Chloe for her test?"
"Had to beg her, but yeah," he says. "Should have seen me. It was pathetic. I was on my knees."
"I bet." Gia smiles knowingly. "So are you two like… boyfriend girlfriend."
I clear my throat.
Dad shakes his head. "I asked the same thing hours ago. They still haven't worked out an answer."
Dean laughs. "I tried. But Chloe wouldn't hear it."
"We were cooking!" I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Everyone here is on my side. It's too much attention, yes, but I can handle it.
"What do you think, sunshine, you want to be my girlfriend?" he asks.
My chest warms. "Yeah. Definitely."
"There you go." Dean shrugs like it's no big deal, but his expression betrays him. His eyes are even brighter. He's beaming like the sun.
"You call her sunshine when you're—" Gia motions to my bedroom upstairs.
God. I hide behind my hands.
Dean chuckles. "Pretty sure Chlo' will kill me if I offer that information."
"Could you not bring up my sex life in front of our father?" I try to ignore them in favor of my spaghetti marinara, but the rich, tomato flavor does nothing to distract me.
"You're too uptight, baby girl," Dad says. "This is the time in your life where you should be having fun."
My cheeks flame red.
This conversation needs to go away. Now. "Can you berate Gia for sticking with Mark then?"
"I tried for a long time," Dad says. "But she loves the guy."
Gia's eyes get soft. Dreamy. It's sweet. All this time and she's still the high school girl who giggled over their first kiss. She's still innocent. Cheery. Optimistic about the world.
Right now…
No, I'm not thinking about the test results.
I'm borrowing my sister's optimism.
And Dean's… well, I'm not sure how to describe Dean's outlook on life.
But I'm borrowing it.
"What was it that happened between the two of you? I think it was Chloe's junior year. One day, she went from going on and on about how much she hated you, to moping around the house in all black, hugging her sketchbook like it was her best friend." Gia's nose scrunches and she chews and swallows another broccoli floret. "I mean, it was barely different than normal. But it was noticeable."
I flip my sister off.
She returns the gesture with a hearty laugh. "See? She's always been kinda pissed. Not that I blame her. I was pissed at the universe after Mom."
Dean's eyes find mine. He raises a brow. You want to take this, or should I?
I nod go ahead.
He turns to Gia. "I was a stupid kid. Didn't realize what I had."
"So, you were always into Chloe?" she asks.
He looks to me. "I don't know what it is about you, sunshine, but you've always been under my skin."
"You know I'll kill you if you hurt her," Gia says.
Dean nods. "Wouldn't expect anything less."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chloe
Dad and Gia revel in the chance to embarrass me. They spill every mortifying story—the first time I gushed about Dean, the first time I ranted about him, the sex dream I shared with Gia in confidence (she pinkie swore!), the time I wore my lap suit to a pool party, the day my kindergarten teacher called my parents because she was worried my drawings were too downer.
When we leave, Gia says goodbye with a tight hug and a quiet whisper. "Call me as soon as you know the results."
I nod like I'll tell her.
I will. Eventually.
After I process this without everyone else's feelings hanging over me.
I let Dean drive. Let my thoughts wander as the city whizzes by the windows. Los Angeles may not have much of a skyline compared to New York or Seattle, but the tall buildings are beautiful in the dark.
There's something about Southern California. The fluorescent yellow of street and city lights turns the sky a soft blue. Casts a cream glow over the grey tree trunks, the green leaves, the off-white pavement, the charcoal roads.
The sounds of grunge fill the car. Dean doesn't ask what I'm thinking and I don't offer. I just rest my head on the window, press my eyelids together, and let the stress of the day roll around my head.
I stir as he pulls off the freeway.
It's three turns to his place.
He finds a spot on the street. Of course. Lucky bastard.
The music ceases as he turns the car off. He spins the keys around his forefinger. "It's a long drive."
"It goes fast."
"You have to come back tomorrow morning. We have a ten o'clock."
I nod.
His lips curl into a half-smile. "Sunshine, I'm asking if you want to spend the night."
"Oh."
"Indirect isn't my strong suit."
"It was confusing, yeah."
"Let's try this again." He undoes his seatbelt and offers his hand. "You want to come in and fuck me?"
"Yes, please."
The second the lock clicks, I pounce.
My hand goes to Dean's bright blue t-shirt. I grab the soft fabric and tug him closer.
He presses his palm to my lower back.
Brings the other to the back of my head.
Plants a long, soft kiss on my lips.
My stomach flutters. My heart thuds. My veins buzz with desire.
God, he's a good kisser.
But that isn't enough.
I slip my hand under his t-shirt. Press my palm against his soft skin. "Bedroom. Now."
He nods as he brings both hands to my ass.
In one swift motion, he lifts me into his arms.
I squeal as I wrap my legs around him.
"I can bench three hundred pounds, sunshine. You're nothing."
"I'm deceptively heavy." My fingers curl into his skin. "All muscle."
"Yeah. But still tiny." He kicks the bedroom door open. Takes three steps. Lays me down on the bed.
I stare up at him as he pulls off his t-shirt.
The moon streams through the windows, casting highlights over the lines of his body. God, those lines run deep. The man is built.
"Clothes off." He moves to the bedside table and pulls a condom from the drawer.
"You first." I push myself up. Crawl across the bed to his spot. Move onto my knees.
I run my fingers over his torso as I press my lips to his chest.
Fuck, he's so incredibly yummy. It defies logic.
This is what I need.
His body and mine and nothing else.
I was wrong before. I didn't need to rediscover my body before my test. The test itself is nothing. It's the results.
I need to find bliss now.
If I'm sick again, that's it. No more trying to forgive my body. No more waiting around while everyone watches me disappear. No more waiting, period.
This is my time.
I have to seize it.
Carpe fucking diem.
I'm a cliché, but I don't care.
Not right now. Not when I'm here.
I drag my fingertips down Dean's sculpted torso. Below his belly button. To that soft tuft of hairs.
My fingers curl into the waistband of his jeans.