"It does, doesn't it?" I said, admiring the lit-up village in front of me. "It's beautiful," I added.
"Almost as beautiful as you," Dean said huskily, placing a quick kiss on my neck before his family joined us.
"You're insane," I whispered, stepping out of his embrace as the girls pointed out each of the houses we had set up.
Sarah and Tim insisted I eat dinner with the family that night. They wound up ordering pizzas that we ate on the living room floor while we watched Christmas cartoons with the girls.
"I had a lot of fun this weekend," I told Dean when he drove me home Sunday evening.
"I did too," Dean said pulling into my driveway. "My family really likes you."
"I feel the same about them," I said truthfully as we got out of the jeep. I didn't try to argue with him as he did his normal walk-through of my house, making sure it was safe.
"No boogeyman hiding?" I asked when he finally joined me in the living room.
"No boogeyman, though I still hate dropping you off at night like this."
"Donna should be home soon," I said, glancing at the old grandfather clock on the far side of the room.
"Well, in that case, I better head out," he said, pulling me close for a kiss. He kept the kiss simple with his hands in the safe zone. "I'm picking you up tomorrow morning," he said, breaking the kiss to look at me sternly."
"What if I want to walk?" I said, not sure I was ready to flaunt our relationship in front of everyone.
"Then I'll drive over and walk to school with you," he said, placing a finger on my lips as I started to argue. "I like you, Madison, a lot, and I want everyone to know it. I know you have some preconceived notion about how everyone will react, but you have to trust me when I say, I won't allow it. They either accept you for who you are, or they're no friend of mine."
"Isn't it supposed to be 'dudes before boobs' or something like that?" I asked. "Is it fair to throw away years of friendships over some girl you've just started dating?" I added, making it clear that I didn't expect him to choose me.
He laughed. "I'm not sure if that's exactly how the saying goes, but it doesn't apply to me anyway. I won't have to choose," he said, placing his lips back on mine.
I sighed slightly as he parted my lips with his tongue. My own tongue tentatively touched his before I became bolder. A key being inserted into the front door interrupted us, and I froze. Dean stepped away from me just as Donna opened the door.
"Madison?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at Dean.
"Dean was just dropping me off," I said with dread, wishing Dean would leave before she said something that I didn't want him to know.
"I'm Dean," he said, sticking out his hand for her to shake.
Donna studied him for a moment before replying.
"Donna," she said, shaking his hand limply. "Madison isn't allowed to have company over when I'm not home," she added, shooting a look in my direction.
"Oh, yes ma'am. I just came in to search the house since I don't feel comfortable dropping her off in a house at night, all by herself," Dean said, emphasizing the alone part.
"I see," Donna said, making it clear she didn't care about his excuse as she headed off to her room without another word.
"Sorry," I said, walking Dean to the door. "It's not you, it's me," I said, trying to explain her behavior.
"No, actually it's not you, it's her," he answered, looking troubled.
"She has her reasons," I said, defending her.
"No reason justifies that," he said, placing a kiss on my lips. "I'll be here in the morning," he said, stepping outside. I knew he would be waiting for me to lock the door behind him.
Chapter nineteen
Dean showed up as promised to pick me up the next morning with homemade biscuit sandwiches. "My mom sent me bearing gifts," he said, holding the napkin-wrapped sandwich for me. "So are we walking or driving?" he asked, shouldering my backpack for me.
"Driving," I answered, taking a bite of my sandwich. "Mmm, this is good," I said, taking a bigger bite.