Page 119 of Dean

“Well, you know you’re always welcome to stay with me.”

“Good to know. I may take you up on that. Oh shit, I have to go. Love you. Talk soon.” She makes a few kissing noises and then the phone goes silent.

I peer over at Avery and he’s blushing.

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I look forward to meeting her. My boyfriend’s sister.”

Avery’s eyes widen and he blinks rapidly. “Boyfriend? Do you mean it?”

“Yeah, I fucking do.”

“Even though I broke the law ages ago?”

“I don’t give a fuck about that.”

“And even though I have Nick after me?”

“We’ll manage.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, I fucking promise.”

I arch an eyebrow at my son, who is currently squirming in his seat in the small greasy spoon we’re grabbing breakfast in. “Thanks for coming. Really glad you could make it.”

“Yeah. Sorry I was late,” he says as he stares at the menu before him. “I was just…I slept in.”

“You okay?” I ask, concern moving through me. I know something is off. He’s not completely himself. “You feeling all right? You can’t stop squirming.”

He nods and peeks up. “Yeah, just tired and a little frazzled, but I’m glad I’m here.”

“I am too.”

Ben glances at Avery, who is currently looking sexy in a pink top and matching lipstick. I want to kiss those lips. I already kissed it off when I saw it this morning. It’s going to be a problem, I think. He’s going to have to keep reapplying it.

“You look really nice today, Avery.”

“So do you.”

Avery smirks at him, and Ben rolls his eyes. When I look a little closer, Ben seems a little off, his hair a little askew and his shirt is inside out.

Before I can ask, the waitress appears, bringing us all coffee and creamer and taking our orders. I swirl my spoon in the coffee mug, the clink of the metal against the ceramic filling the air.

“So, what are your plans today?” Ben asks, looking at both Avery and me. “Something wild and fun?”

I peer over at Avery, and he blushes.

“Yeah, Dean. We doing anythingwild?”The way Avery teases me makes my cheeks flush. Fucking hell.

“Yeah, you know me,” I say, clearing my throat. “Actually, I was going to take Avery to the farmer’s market and then go for a ride. Is that wild enough for you?”

“Sounds about right,” Ben says with a smile.

“What about you? What do you have going on today?” I ask Ben.

He shifts in his seat and bites his lip.

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