Page 84 of The Grump Next Door
“There’s no—”
“He heard you talking about his arms and came over anyway,” Gloria says. “That’s… interesting.”
“It’s mortifying.”
“It’s foreplay,” Ivy corrects.
“I’m starting to see what all the fuss is about,” Gloria says, her gaze glued to Dean’s tall frame at the bar.
I’m saved from responding by Dean, who hands me a water and Mason, who appears with a handful of darts and the confidence of someone six beers deep.
“LADIES!” He attempts a bow and nearly falls. “Watch this.”
What follows is ten minutes of Mason trying to hit the board blindfolded while Dean stands nearby, radiating disapproval and occasionally stepping in to prevent property damage.
“Your future husband’s an idiot,” I tell Ivy.
“Yeah, but he’smyidiot.” She’s got the dopey love face. “Look how happy he is.”
She’s right. Mason’s grinning like a kid, completely comfortable in his skin. No pretense. No walls.
Must be nice.
Dean catches me watching and raises an eyebrow.
I look away.
“Okay,” Gloria says, checking her phone. “I should head out. Early morning.”
“Quitter,” I say.
“Survivor.” She kisses my head. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“That leaves a lot of options.”
“Exactly.” She winks.
After she leaves, Ivy gets pulled into the dart game, and CeCe goes off to make a phone call. Suddenly, I’m alone in the booth with my questionable decisions and—
“Here.”
Dean slides another glass of water across the table and sits down across from me.
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“You never do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He takes a sip of his beer and studies me. “Having fun?”
“Are you?”
“Watching Mason try to maim tourists? Always a good time.”
“You’re a good brother.”
Something flickers across his face. “Sometimes.”
