Page 39 of Wrapped Around My Heart
I frown at my phone, unable to wrap my mind around his logic.
“Have you thought about finding a place for just you? You don’thaveto move in with him, do you?”
“I mean, the whole reason I moved down here was to be with Dylan, so finding my own place, even if temporary, sounds pointless.”
Before I can start explaining why having somewhere just for herself might not be a bad thing, she curses and says she’s got to go to an interview for a potential part-time job.
For a few seconds after she hangs up, I sit in my car, staring at my phone. I remind myself that she’s a grown adult and that shecantake care of herself. But that doesn’t stop the worry from taking hold in my gut. Seeing Vivian hurt is the last thing I ever want, so I cross my fingers that my red-flag radar is going wonky because of all the hormones pumping through my body.
Gathering my keys and wallet, I make a mental note to text Viv later to check in.
The second I open my car door a tiny bit, I’m met with a brown and black snout squeezing through. I laugh as Cora pushes her way in while licking every part of me that she can reach.
I swing my feet out of the car, gently guiding the pup to back up so I can get out and properly greet her.
“Hi, sweetie,” I tell her while sinking to a squat on the sidewalk. “Did you miss me as much as I missed you?”
She drops to her back, showing me her stomach and silently demanding belly rubs. Which I happily provide.
“Never thought I’d be jealous of a dog,” Dean says, and I tilt my head back to find his brown eyes sparkling with amusement as he watches me.
There’s no holding back my grin as I stare up at him while continuing to pet Cora. “Aw, did you need ear scratches and belly rubs too?”
His eyes darken as his smile turns wolfish. “As long as it means your hands are on me, you can touch me any way you want, Freckles.”
The laugh that spills from my lips shocks both myself and Cora, making her twist and jump onto all fours, immediately searching the area for the unknown threat.
“Sorry, baby girl.” With one last rub on her head, I push to my feet, only slightly winded by the time I’m upright again. “Just going out on a walk or coming back?”
“We literally came out as you pulled up,” Dean tells me, glancing at his dog as she sniffs the small patch of grass on the sidewalk before turning back to me.
“Care for some company? I’m not supposed to meet up with Lilly for another hour, but I was feeling antsy.”
“Like I’d ever say no to your company,” Dean responds without hesitating while his eyes slowly trail down my frame. I don’t miss the way they linger on my midsection or the way he doesn’t bother hiding the smug smile. I roll my eyes but tug at the edges of the shirt to make sure it’s flowy and hiding the new bump.
With a playful shove to his shoulder, I tuck my keys into my pocket and finally step away from my car. Cora perks up immediately, ready to follow along and go somewhere else. Dean falls easily into step beside me as we start down the street.
“How are you feeling today?” Dean asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.
“Aside from being tired to the extreme, good. I haven’t gotten sick in like twenty-four hours, so…” I pause and quickly glance around. Once I spot a palm tree a few feet ahead, I pick up my pace to knock on the trunk.
“I really hope I didn’t just jinx myself.” I groan.
Dean’s laughter catches up to me. “Do palm trees count as knocking on wood? I’m pretty sure they’re made of—” He stops his explanation when he spots my unamused glare, raising his hands in surrender. “Nope. You’re totally right. It counts.”
I grin, nodding before spinning on my heel and continuing our walk.
As we head to the dog park, we catch up on how his away games this past week were, even though I watched them. Whenwe make it there and shut the gate behind us, he pulls out his phone to show me the picture of Cora all dressed up in a frilly pink tutu beside Greyson’s daughter, Harper.
“It’s a good thing Lilly said she can watch her this weekend because I think Stella needs a doggy break for a while. There was dog hair and bow ties everywhere when I went to pick her up yesterday.”
Guilt settles in my stomach as I watch Cora run back to me with a stick. She drops it at my feet, immediately sitting and waiting for me to throw it for her.
“I can watch her,” I tell him, chucking the stick as far as I can and laughing as Cora darts off without a second glance.
Dean shrugs in my periphery and tucks his phone back in the fanny pack.
“It’s no big deal. No need to add to your plate with everything else. Plus, Lilly loves having company when Dominik’s away.”
