Page 36 of Chase Our Forever

I look over at him with a smile. “Come up with your own nickname,” I tease. This is only the second time I’ve met Reed,but his easygoing personality makes it impossible to not mess with him.

Reed puts his hands to his chest as if I’ve hurt him. I shake my head before stepping around Dean to give Shirley a hug.

“It’s so good to see you again,” I tell her, welcoming the feeling of her arms wrapped around me. Yesterday, Clara and I spent the morning at Dean’s childhood home, spending time with Shirley. We’d baked cookies, walked around the property, and got our share of puppy snuggles.

Shirley squeezes me tight before pulling away. “What have you guys been up to? Have you been here long?”

I shake my head. “We just got here. Clara immediately ran to climb this. Which makes sense because it’s all she talked about this week.”

Dean clears his throat. “I was just telling Liv how she should enjoy her day off and go wander the festival without me and Clara as deadweight.”

I roll my eyes. “And I was telling Dean that?—”

“I can show you around the festival,” Reed offers, cutting me off with a polite smile.

I tuck my hands into the pockets of my new jeans. I’d used the little bit of money I had left for my travels to get a few new pieces of clothing from the local boutique in town called the Chic Peak. I plan on finding some local thrift stores when I get paid at the end of next week, but until then, these were quick and easy to find while Clara and I were out the other day.

Reed must take my silence for hesitation because he lifts one of his shoulders in a small shrug. “You don’t have to. But I do know where the best stands are with the best food. I practically eat my way through this festival every year.”

I think about his offer. I don’t know him very well, but he’s got a charming smile and calming demeanor that makes me feel safe with him. I really would love to go visit Pippa. Clara and Ivisited Wake and Bake a few times this week, but Pippa told me her fiancé was going to be at the festival with her, and I’d love to meet him. Plus, she mentioned that her brother and his fiancée might hang out at the booth with them for a bit. I might get nervous and make a fool of myself, but I’d love to meet Marigold Evans. She wrote my favorite book and meeting her would be unreal.

“Only if we can stop by Pippa’s booth,” I counter, focusing on Reed even though I can feel Dean’s eyes on me. He’d made it seem like he wanted me to leave him and Clara alone anyway. Maybe having Reed show me around is a good idea.

Reed’s smile gets even bigger. “Of course we’re stopping by her booth first. The pumpkin cinnamon roll is the reason I don’t leave Sutten.”

“You’re in Sutten because you're working here,” Dean deadpans.

Reed rolls his eyes at his brother. “There’s plenty of places one could ski-patrol for. I just happen to live on the best mountain with the best pumpkin cinnamon rolls out there.”

His words make me smile. I like him. I never had a brother, but he’s exactly what I imagined a brother to be. He’s goofy and charismatic, and if Dean would rather spend some alone time with Clara and his family, I’ll take up Reed on his offer.

“Let’s go, then,” I tell Reed, not having the courage to look Dean in the eyes.

“That okay with you?” Reed asks, looking at his brother with a lifted brow. The two of them stare at one another for a moment. It’s as if they talk without saying a word at all.

Finally, Dean rips his eyes from his brother and does one small pass over me with a fire in his eyes before he focuses on Clara once again. “It’s Liv’s day off. She’s free to spend it how she chooses,” he all but growls.

His posture is stiff as he crosses his toned arms over his chest and stares ahead of him. His jaw is clamped so hard it must hurt, but I don’t comment on it at all. If he wanted me to stay with Clara and him, he had the chance to say so.

Reed nods. There’s a small smirk on his lips as he looks from his brother to me. “Let’s go get the world’s best cinnamon roll.” He holds his arm out for me to take, and I gladly do so, excited for him to take me to Pippa.

“I’m ready.” I laugh, letting him take the lead.

Before we get too far, I look back once, unable to resist. I find Dean staring daggers at Reed’s back. Before I can think too deeply about this new heated scowl on Dean’s face, I turn around and let Reed lead me deeper into the festival.

22

DEAN

“You’re quieter than usual,”Mom notes as we wait in line for the hayride to take us to the pumpkin patch.

Clara plays with her cousins, who showed up a little after Liv and Reed left. They all compare the face paint they got at one of the booths. Clara had to get a butterfly—even though her boy cousins all opted for the creepy spiders.

“Dean?” my mom prods, bumping her hip against mine to get my attention.

“Hm?” I ask, pulling my eyes from searching the faces in the crowd around us.

“I said you’re quiet. More than you typically are.” Mom watches me with that look of hers that tells me she isn’t saying everything she wants to say.

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