Page 96 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

“Hey,” I say, taking up a post next to him.

We don’t say anything for several minutes. It’s tense and awkward and I hate every moment of it.

Then finally, Dean sighs.

“Word on the street is you broke my sister’s heart.”

I swallow thickly, nodding. “I did.”

“You gonna fix it?”

Another nod. “I’m going to give it hell.”

“Good,” he says. “You fucking better.”

19

Holland

“Wait—that’show they end the season? He just gets shot?”

“Yep. We have to wait for the next season to find out what happens.”

“And when is the next season out again?”

“Not until next year.”

“Next year?!” he exclaims. “We have to wait a whole fucking year?”

“Sucks, huh?”

“So much. And I hate that one chick. I bet he isn’t even the baby daddy.”

“That’s where my money’s at too.”

“Can’t believe we gotta wait to find out.” Dean reaches his hand into the popcorn bowl and shoves a handful of it into his mouth. “This is bullshit,” he says around the snack.

I laugh. “Agreed.”

“So what are we watching next?”

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, I hope it has way more action, maybe some blood and guts and a big, strapping man with a lot of shirtless scenes.”

“So something with Henry Cavill?”

“Oh! What a great idea!”

Dean shakes his head and grabs the remote, flipping through the streaming service to find something to watch.

And then that awkwardness that’s been lingering falls around us again.

“So,” he says quietly, still scrolling, “how are you holding up?”

“I’m…here.”

“Have you heard from him at all?”

I don’t tell him about the text Sutton sent me.

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