Page 32 of Burning for the Truth

Dean’s truck pulls up beside us and Sterling’s smile fades. “Y’all haven’t…I mean are y’all—”

I interrupt him, “No. He’s been the perfect bodyguard since the first night.” Dean gets out of his truck and slings his duffel over his shoulder. It’s his turn to stay with me again. He nods in our direction but stands in front of his truck facing my apartment to give us privacy.

I turn in my seat and face my brother. There’s something I’ve been wondering since he and Tate barged into my apartment after Dean and I slept together. “Why are you so disappointed in him for sleeping with me? Would us being together be such a bad thing?”

He stares at me, and his eyes widen in surprise. “I don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve been so lost after losing Drew.”

“So that’s it? You don’t want to see me get hurt? It has nothing at all to do with you?”

He blows out a puff of air and brushes his hand through his hair. “I guess it feels like a betrayal to me. He’s my best friend and you’re my little sister. If you two dated and things didn’t work out, where does it leave me and him? We’ve had a rocky road…you know that. We just got things back to normal. I don’t want to lose my best friend.”

I look out the window at Dean. His dark hair is wet from a recent shower I assume since he recently got off shift. My chest almost aches knowing he quite possibly holds what’s left of my heart. I glance back at my brother. “I won’t let you lose him; I promise.”

I reach for the door handle and stop when Sterling touches my shoulder. “He’s a good man, Bree. If you think he can make you happy and bring back the sparkle in your eyes, I won’t stand in the way. Don’t let me stop you from chasing happiness again…even if it’s with my best friend.”

He smiles as I get out of his car. Dean turns at the sound of the door shutting. As I walk toward my apartment, Dean and my brother talk quietly. As soon as my door opens, Dean is on my heels and Sterling is waving goodbye as he drives away.

When we’re both inside, I lock the door and head for my bathroom. I make quick work of a shower and come out to find Dean flipping through channels on TV like he belongs here…like he’s always belonged here.

Drew’s voice drifts through my memory.“Why didn’t you and Dean ever date?”I remember my heart almost stopping at the question like I was hiding some forbidden shameful secret. My answer wasn’t the whole truth, but it was enough of it. “We’ve just always been friends.”It was mostly the truth then the same as it is now. Especially now knowing how Sterling feels. I won’t be the reason he loses his best friend, and he’s right…if things ended between us, Sterling would feel obligated to take my side no matter what the cause of the end was.

Dean’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really, but I need to eat,” I answer quickly.

“Let me take you out to dinner, then.” He smiles at me dreamily and my heart slams into my chest.

“Give me a few minutes to make myself look halfway decent and we’ll go. Frank’s Diner maybe?” I offer.

Dean slides his hands in his pockets and puffs his chest out a bit. “You’re beautiful no matter what, Bree.”

I stop in my tracks. “I—uh, thanks.” I turn back for my bathroom and once there I talk myself down. I can’t let these emotions get the best of me. Like he told me so many years ago, he’ll always be my friend, and like I so recently have to keep reminding myself…we’re better off staying just friends.

After a somewhat tense supper filled with small talk, we make our way to Dean’s truck where he opens the door for me. Before I climb in, I turn to thank him, and a familiar voice sounds off.

“Hey, Dean! I thought it was you. Thanks for coming over the other night and checking my smoke detectors.”Chelsea.Of course, it’s Chelsea.

He faces her. “Oh, no problem.” He flashes her a handsome smile. Well, okay, then. Leave it to another woman to slap these feelings down for me.

I go ahead and climb in his truck and shut the door leaving them alone. Here’s the difference between Drew and Dean…he’d never let another woman think she remotely stood a chance. He was set on me, and I was set on him. He’d never send me mixed signals. And nothing about him was forbidden in the first place. But Dean is not Drew, and he’s as forbidden as it gets for me. A fact I’d do well to remember.

I refuse to glance in their direction as they talk, but I see her hug him out of the corner of my eye. I quickly chance a peek and she’s glaring at me. This time I don’t turn away. I refuse to back down when someone is staring at me the way she is. I open the truck door. “Dean, I’m ready to go.” I don’t smile and my tone is clipped.

He turns and faces my direction. “I’ll see you around,” he says.

“I’ll call you so we can plan dinner.” She smiles at him sweetly before pinging me under her jealous stare after he’s no longer looking. I roll my eyes as she turns and walks away.

The ride to my apartment is silent. When we get back, I keep quiet as I get ready for bed.

“Is everything okay?” he finally asks.

“Fine. Why wouldn’t it be?” I clip frostily.

“I don’t know, maybe because you’ve been acting like a spoiled brat since we left the diner.”

I stop what I’m doing and face him with my jaw clenched. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Bree. You’re mad because she talked to me. Admit it.”

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