Page 123 of Dean

“For the flowers,” I explain, and Avery’s hands move to his mouth, his eyes watering.

“Oh god, you want to marry me, don’t you? This is a proposal. I knew it. I fucking knew it.”

I know he’s joking, but fuck, I mean…yeah? I meant it when I said I want him to stay. I meant that as inforever.

“Oh, oh, put the pots here. I’m going to make this place pop. I’m thinking blue exterior paint and a yellow door. Oh god, they’re beautiful, so gorgeous. Oh yes, right, now the trees…” Avery is off, directing the men to the front and back yard, already knowing where he wants them. He’s thought of this.

He’s had plans and fuck if I’m not grateful.

I turn my gaze to the sky and swear I can feel Elaine smiling down at me. She’d be happy, I think.

She’d be so fucking happy that I met him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AVERY

“Amanda, you need to see this,” I say, as I sink down on a lawn chair and look at the planted trees, their branches arching up toward the darkening sky. I turn my camera so she can see each of them and the beautiful flowers Dean had delivered. I’m so in love with this man. If I thought I was when I first moved in, the goalposts have moved now.

I am head over heels. Like there’s no coming back from this now. Not at all.

He will have to pry me away with a crowbar if he wants me to leave.

I will cling.

“I’m obsessed,” I add.

“I am too. It looks like home, but not the shitty part. The good part.”

“Yeah, agreed.”

“Seems this dude is a keeper. Can’t wait to meet him.”

“I can’t wait either. Oh god, he’s perfect,” I whisper and then hear a throat clear behind me.

Totallybusted.

“You think I’m perfect?” Dean asks, and I roll my eyes, moving the camera so Amanda can see him.

“Oh, he’s hot, dude.” Her voice is loud and carries. I’m sure Ben could hear that if he were home. Dean blushes cutely, and I nudge him.

“I mean, yeah, he is.”

“Oh, you two look cute together. When’s the wedding?”

I peer over at Dean, who is grinning, his arm moving around my waist. “Haven’t gotten that far yet. But it’s nice to meet you, Amanda. Avery’s told me so much about you.”

“And same here. Well, since I got this phone. Mom and Dad are kinda on to me. I think they know I have contraband, so I need to be extra careful.”

“Yes, please do. I love talking to you,” I say.

“I promise I’ll try my best. For as neglectful as they are, they do seem to notice the most annoying shit.”

I agree. They had a knack for that. They would forget to buy groceries but would notice if I stayed up past my bedtime. I think if it affected them then they’d notice. Assholes. They never cared about me.

After a few more minutes of chatting, completely pretending we have better parents and not talking about them at all, I hang up with Amanda and lean into Dean.

“I’m so fucking happy, Dean.”

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