Page 63 of Chase Our Forever

“Daddy, look, it’s you. And you’re a prince!” Clara’s words catch my attention. I look down and find the picture of Dean and Selena from their high school prom. Shirley told me all about how Dean and Selena won prom king and queen their senior year.

“That seems like so long ago,” Dean mutters. He seems to say it more for himself than anyone else. No more tears have fallen down his cheek, but the wistful look of what I hope is happiness is still apparent in his eyes. They seem softer as he looks at the picture in front of him. Even his jaw seems to be relaxed for once.

It allows me to take my own sigh of relief. He isn’t the same grumpy man I first met. The warnings I got from those in this town were right. He’s closed off, but behind all the walls he puts up is a man deserving of so much happiness.

I force myself to pull my eyes from him. When he smiles at me with his guard down, I almost feel like I can’t breathe. I thought the knowledge that we can’t ever kiss again would stop me from crushing on him, but it hasn’t. I’ve developed real, raw feelings for Dean, and it’s terrifying because he’s made it very clear that nothing can ever happen between us.

I understand his reasoning; my heart apparently just doesn’t care.

Clara still stares at the picture of her parents at their high school prom. She’s decorated this page by tearing little pieces of paper and gluing them everywhere. There are also a few star stickers and a random leaf she found outside that she insisted had to go in the book. I stare at the photo, too, wondering what it was like to know a Dean who hadn’t endured tragedy yet.

“She’s beautiful,” I whisper, admiring the stunning woman Selena was. She had brown hair that was about shoulder length in the photos. It’s thick and curly, making me wonder if that’s where Clara gets her little curls from. Her smile reminds me a lot of Clara’s.

“Yeah.” Dean nods his head, his fingers running over the photo. He lets out a little laugh as he continues to stare at the two of them captured in time. “I remember she had her makeup professionally done that day. She hated it so much that she wiped it all off during the limo ride to the event and used whatever she had in her purse to do her makeup the way she liked.”

The story makes me smile. I like hearing about her personality. She seemed to be fiery and carefree, just like Clara. It’s fun to put together the pieces and discover what quirks of Clara’s might be from Dean and what might be from Selena.

“Clara looks so much like her,” I whisper, reaching across the island and playing with the end of Clara’s braid.

Clara smiles at me, completely entranced at looking at the photo of her mom. “Mama very pretty, and I’m very pretty.”

Dean and I both laugh. “Yes. Absolutely, sweetie,” Dean speaks up, looking at his daughter with so much love that it makes my heart feel like it could burst.

“I wish I could’ve met her,” I admit, looking back at the photo of Selena and Dean. The moment the words leave my mouth, I wonder if they were better left unsaid.

Dean’s wide eyes immediately find mine. Time seems to slow in the moment as he stares at me with an unreadable look in his eyes. My heart begins to race, and my stomach sinks as I wonder if I shouldn’t have said that.

The corners of his mouth begin to turn up ever so slowly until a smile graces his full lips. “She would’ve loved you.”

I swallow as I let his words sink in. I can’t explain why, but they mean so much to me. The little pieces I’ve learned about Selena over the last month tell me how great of a person she was. I know I would’ve loved her, and for Dean to think we would’ve gotten along, it means more than I can even put into words.

“Can we have cake now?” Clara blurts.

Dean continues to look at me for a few more seconds before he gently shuts the book and focuses on his daughter. “Have you had dinner yet?”

Clara grins at him as she lifts her shoulder in a small shrug. “I had a snack,” she counters.

Dean looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “I guess it is a special occasion. Maybe just this once, we can do cake before dinner…”

“Really?” Clara almost falls off the island as she waves her hands in the air with glee. Dean reaches out and places his hand on her back to steady her, a wide smile on his face the entire time.

Happy looks so freaking good on Dean. When his entire face is lit up with pure joy, it’s hard not to develop strong feelings for him. Feelings I know I shouldn’t have but ones I have regardless.

“What do you say, sunshine,” Dean begins, his warm brown eyes aimed right at me. The smile on his face sends my pulse racing. “Should we have some cake before dinner?”

“That’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

38

DEAN

It’sbeautiful tonight for November, so when I walk downstairs after putting Clara to bed, I’m not shocked to find Liv outside with Honey. I bought an outdoor space heater last week and put it on the porch because Liv has been so insistent on sitting outside every night despite some nights being colder than others.

I don’t think twice about joining her outside. It’s become our tradition. Honey’s tail thumps against the wood porch, but she doesn’t bother moving. She’s too comfortable lying in front of the heater.

“Mind if I join you?” I ask, holding up the bottle of wine.

Liv smiles because of course she does. It’s her. She lifts her blanket and pats the spot next to her. “Of course not.”

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