Page 184 of The Grump Next Door
“Even worse.” He sounds genuinely appalled.
I laugh despite myself. “He was nice—”
“Nice.” He says it like it’s a curse word.
“Stop saying it like that.” I poke him again.
“Like what?” He’s playing innocent, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Like ‘nice’ is code for having the personality of wheat toast.”
“Isn’t it?” He shifts beneath me to get more comfortable.
Okay, maybe. “We dated for two years. He liked that I had everything planned out and called me his little CEO.”
“I already hate him.” Dean’s voice has gone flat, dangerously so.
“Dean.” I try to sound warning, but it comes out fond.
“What kind of condescending—”
“He slept with my roommate.” I say it quickly, ripping off the band-aid.
Dean goes rigid, actually rigid. “What?” His voice is low, concerned.
“I came back from winter break early. They were in my bed. My actual bed, Dean.”
“I just need a name. His full name. I know people.” He’s sitting up now, genuinely angry.
“You’re not having someone murdered.” I pull him back down.
“Just light maiming.”
“Dean.” But I’m laughing; I can’t help it.
“Fine. Heavy maiming.” He settles but keeps me close.
I kiss him to silence him. When I pull back, he’s still frowning.
“In your bed though?” He sounds personally offended on my behalf.
“Right? There was a whole other bed literally six feet away.” The old anger flares briefly.
“Disrespectful.” He’s tracing patterns on my back now, soothing. We lie there, breathing each other’s air, holding these truths between us. “When was this?”
“Seven years ago.”
“And since then?” His hand pauses on my back, waiting.
“Work.” I shrug against him. “It’s easier to plan other people’s happy endings than risk my own.”
“That’s…” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “That actually makes sense.”
“Thanks?” I’m not sure if I should be offended.
“I meant—” He sighs. “I get it. The control thing. If you’re running the show, no one can hurt you.”
“Exactly.” Relief washes through me that he understands.
