Page 41 of Dean

“I’m fine, Dean. I promise.”

He waits for a moment before sighing and stalking off. I can hear the rev of his engine as he pulls out of the parking lot slowly.

“Now, why did you go and do that?” I huff to myself and run a hand through my hair. I don’t exactly have many friends, and the ones I do have from college have all moved back to their home states.

The only local friend I have is Ben, and well…Dean.

“Tonight is for making friends. And for getting myself out of this funk I’m in.”

My words echo through the warehouse, and I sigh, grabbing thekeys and moving toward the door. As I do, I look down at my outfit and exhale loudly.

“Even if I don’t look as good as I could, I can still maybe get someone to touch my dick.”

What I really should do is go back to the house and change, but if I do…if I see Dean, I’ll end up staying home with him. There’s something about him that’s just cozy. Like home. And I realize that the obsession I have with him runs deep.

It’s not healthy. I need to get out of my comfort zone.

As I step outside, I lock up and order a car to a local gay bar that’s been on my list to visit. I lean against the siding, and when the rideshare pulls up several minutes later, I slip inside and pull up my text messages.

I don’t know what I’m expecting, but I know I kind of want Dean to message and ask me to come home.

I’d probably do it too.

I’m not as committed to this outing as I felt earlier.

As I stare at my phone, I see an unknown number pop up and I swipe at it. It’s a message from Amanda.

She got her new phone.

My mood lifts slightly, and I quickly respond to her message, letting her know that her number is saved and to be very careful about using this phone around my parents.

She just sends me an eye-roll emoji.

“Thank you,” I say when I realize the driver has pulled up outside of the bar. It’s early still and not very crowded, which works for me. It will allow me to chat with people, to have an actual conversation. That’s what I need.

I need to find someone to talk to.

I need to spew my guts to someone who isn’t Dean. I don’t need to rely on him any more than I already have.

This is a dangerous situation we’re both in.

I’m growing more and more obsessed with him, and he’s being far too nice.

This whole thing is going to end with me bawling my eyes out.

“Hey,” I say as I meander in and take a seat at the bar. A woman inher thirties, rocking a septum piercing and short silver hair is bartending, and she smiles at me.

“Hey there,” she says, leaning forward, a large tattoo of a blooming flower stretching from her chest up to her neck. “What can I get you?”

“First, I love the look you’ve got going. It’s totally working for you,” I say, and she grins at me. “But the drink…yes, I’d love something fun. It’s been an un-fun day.”

“Something fun. Right. I can do that. How about a fruity martini? Beachy vacation vibes?”

“Yeah, gimme. I’d love a vacation from my brain.”

“I know how that is. I need a retirement from it.”

“Girl, you have no idea.”

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