Page 40 of Wrapped Around My Heart
“So do I,” I grumble.
I love my time with Cora. She’s the perfect companion and the best snuggler. To make it even better, every time Dean comes to pick her up, it usually ends with him staying much longer than planned.
Dean nudges me with his shoulder, and I reluctantly look at him.
“If you want her to stay with you when I’m gone, all you have to do is say so. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you, Freckles. But I also know this pregnancy hasn’t been easy on you and I don’t want you stressing about taking care of her when you should be taking care of yourself.”
Cora picks that moment to return, dropping an even bigger stick at my feet.
“She’s an easy dog to take care of. Especially since my yard is fenced in,” I explain, leaving off the fact that even with a fencedin yard, the dog could still convince me to walk her every day with just one look.
“How about we see how you’re feeling Saturday morning and if you’re up for it, I’ll drop her off. If our little bean is making you feel not so hot, then Lilly gets her.” Dean suggests and some of my guilt for not watching her over the past couple weeks eases.
I know he has plenty of people in his corner who are also volunteering to keep an eye on her, whowantto take care of her. Dean has no shortage of help. But something about her being with me when he’s away makes me feel closer to him.
We hang around for a half hour, letting Cora get out her energy and play with some other dogs that show up before agreeing to head back to his place so he can get ready for tonight’s game.
On the walk back, Dean starts telling me about the latest pregnancy book he’s reading.
“Did you know the baby is the size of a grape?” he says cheerily.
I shake my head and look down at my stomach. Lifting my shirt, I reveal my contraption for holding my pants together.
“You’re telling me a grape has made it so I can’t even button my jeans anymore?”
Dean’s arm flies out, forcing me to stop beside him as he stares down at my stomach. Cora takes the pause in our walking in stride, choosing to investigate everything her nose can reach while not tugging on her leash.
“Holy crap, you can actually tell.” His eyes are wide and shining when he finally peels his gaze away from my stomach. “That’s our little grape.”
Despite my annoyance at my snug clothing, I can’t help but smile at the reverence lining his expression and nod. Letting my shirt drop back into place, hiding the small bump and the hair tie holding my pants up.
He steps forward, tentatively reaching out to cup my cheek in his palm before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“That just made my day.”
For the first time today, I try to see myself through his eyes. Not as a body that’s gaining weight and changing every day, but as the person that Dean looks at with such amazement. My earlier frustration finally seems to simmer, and I soak in the joy at the fact that I’m growing a human who’s going to be half Dean.
I linger in his presence for a few seconds longer before taking a step back.
“Let’s get you back before you’re late for practice.”
He shrugs. “Being late because I got to spend time with you and our grape would be worth it.”
Despite his words, he takes my hand in his and starts walking again.
While we follow Cora’s lead back to his place, I can’t help but sneak glances at Dean. He fills the silence, talking about anything that pops in his mind. He rambles about the extra time he’s been spending with Evan, the Bobcats’ other goalie, to help him improve. Midway through telling me about yesterday’s practice, he cuts off, remembering an article he saw that dropped this morning about his idol.
When I see how he lights up talking about Declan Travers, I don’t have the heart to tell him I’ve never heard of him before. It becomes clear that he was, or maybe is, a hockey player, but other than that, I let him ramble.
Dean is passionate about everything. I’ve always admired the way he lights up every room he walks into. He’s like sunshine after a storm, giving anyone in his presence a space to feel safe and wanted. When Dean is around, he sees everyone and ensures they feel welcome.
Knowing about his past, about the weight he has been carrying his entire life, about the fact that he’s been abandonedby everyone who was supposed to love him unconditionally, only makes Dean more amazing in my eyes.
It takes a strong person to continue having hope when they’ve been knocked down repeatedly. It takes an even more remarkable person to not let the pain and disappointment stain them.
He hides his pain from everyone, even from my own brother, to the best of my knowledge. The fact that he chose to let me in, chose to share some of his most painful memories withme, makes my stomach do all sorts of funny things that are completely unrelated to the baby.
“What’s that look for?” Dean asks, pulling me from my admiration.
