Page 88 of Chase Our Forever

I pull my eyebrows in on my forehead. “A gift? Forme? We’re celebrating your birthday, not mine,” I say, looking at Dean.

“I couldn’t resist.” He shrugs, already backing up toward the front door with Clara in his arms. Honey excitedly joins, circling his feet as he continues to back toward the door.

My feet stay planted for a moment as I wonder what he could’ve possibly gotten me, but curiosity gets the best of me, and I follow them out. My muscles are still a bit sore from the accident, but not as bad as I expected. Probably because from the moment I returned the other night, he’s pampered me. I can’t tell you how many warm baths I’ve taken and how many massages I’ve had. He even hired a team of professionals to come to the house yesterday and spoil me to help me feel better. I’ve told him countless times I feel fine, but he won’t listen.

I let him dote on me, knowing he needs to feel helpful and in control.

When I walk out the front door, I’m shocked to find a massive SUV parked in the driveway with a big red bow on top of it.

“Surprise!” Dean and Clara yell together, the two of them standing in front of the hood.

I stop on the front porch, my arms crossing my chest as I try to keep warm in my sweater without a coat. “What is this?” I ask slowly.

Clara laughs as if I just asked the most absurd question ever. “It’s your new car, Livvy. Daddy said this one isextrasafe.”

Dean nods. “Your old car was totaled, and the accident made me realize you need the safest SUV out there money can buy.” He pats the black hood of the vehicle. “So here it is, sunshine.”

I shake my head in disbelief as I take a few steps closer to them. I know absolutely nothing about cars. I don’t know what the model is or who even makes it, but I do know the thing is massive and has tires that look like they could drive through just about anything. “You didn’t need to get me a new car. I was fine driving your extra.”

Dean shakes his head, his cheeks turning pink from the cold. “I wanted the safest option and wasn’t going to settle for anything less. If you’re going to drive, it’ll be this. I’m happy to be your taxi driver anytime you want, though.” He winks at me, and despite the chill in the December air, my cheeks heat.

I stop in front of him, lifting on my tiptoes to plant a kiss to his lips. “Thank you. This wasn’t needed at all and feels very overprotective.”

He steals an extra kiss from me before pulling the door open and gesturing for me to get in to look at it. “Nothing’s overprotective when it comes to the woman I’m madly in love with.”

I smile as I shake my head at him. I know even if I tell him the gift is too much and not necessary, he won’t listen. He’s stubborn. It’s one of the things I love most about him, so instead of arguing and telling him the gift is too much, I slide into thepassenger seat and let him show me every unique feature the SUV has to offer.

After Shirley shows up to pick up Clara for their sleepover, he insists on taking the new vehicle to Slopes for his birthday celebration. We end up being fifteen minutes late because we can’t stop making out in the comfortable front seats.

52

DEAN

My friendsand family are gathered around the large table we’d reserved for the night at Slopes when I clear my throat and sit up straight in my chair. “Liv and I have something we want to tell all of you,” I begin, waiting to get their attention.

The table goes quiet as all eyes look at us. I suddenly feel nervous, having everyone’s attention on me. After Liv’s accident, I hadn’t wanted to celebrate my birthday at all. I’d just wanted to spend the day in bed with her, nursing her back to health. She had other plans and conspired with Hattie and Ashton to still give me a birthday celebration, even if it was two weeks late. I’d protested at first, but now, as the people I care about most sit around the table and wait for me to speak, I realize how nice it is to have a night out with them.

I look at Liv for a moment, fully aware everyone is waiting for me to speak. It seems like I went over many different things in my head that I could say to tell them about Liv and me, but I’ve forgotten everything.

“If you’re about to tell us that the two of you are banging, we already know,” Reed shouts from the opposite end of the table.

Pippa lets out a snort.

Jace high-fives Reed.

Hattie and Ashton share a knowing look.

Cade tries to hide his laugh by coughing into his arm.

Liv’s entire face turns pink.

And I stare at my brother in disbelief, not knowing how to even respond to him. “Excuse me?” I ask.

Reed laughs. “It’s obvious, Dean, and we’re very happy for you. It took you long enough to finally admit you were crazy about her. I could tell the first time I saw you two together. It’s why I nudged it along a little.” He winks across the table at Finn.

I can’t help but laugh. I already suspected Reed was trying to make me jealous with his insistence on getting Liv alone and asking her on dates. I shake my head at him, looking to my side at a beaming Liv. I wrap my arm around her and pull her body to mine, planting a kiss on her lips in front of everyone.

“Well, even though it was already apparently so obvious, I just wanted to tell you that this beautiful, incredible woman is my girlfriend. And I love her, and somehow, I’m lucky enough that she loves me, too.”

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