Say Yes (Second Generation 1)

“Thanks.” I take a drink of my water to hopefully give me the minute I need. The man makes me hot just by being sweet.

“So what are you going to do while I’m busy at school all day?”

“I don’t know. Physical therapy for sure. I don’t want to have to rely on a cane for the rest of my days. I’m only twenty-five.”

“You can do it. You’ve come so far in two short months. It’s almost as if nothing happened. Although that’s a day I’ll never forget.”

“Speaking of that day…I never knew who you were supposed to go to prom with,” he asks me as the waiter comes with our food.

I wait until he walks away before I answer Dean. “With Emily.”

I cut a piece, blow on my hot food and bring it to my mouth, avoiding the question in his eyes. He’s adorable when he’s jealous. “Yeah, I know that. But, that’s definitely not what I meant. Who is the asshole who almost met a terrible fate if he tried to kiss you at the end of the night?”

I let him off easy and say, “I never had a date for the prom. I couldn’t do that to you. It felt like I was cheating, and we weren’t even a couple. Hell, I didn’t even know you liked me.”

“Liked is an understatement, but you have no idea how long I’ve been thinking about that.”

“You should have said something.”

“I should have,” he grumbles, taking a bite of his meat ravioli. I do my best to not laugh, but he looks so cute even though he feels silly. I’d feel the same way too.

We make small talk, laughing many times over and I feel like something terrible will happen. We’re having too much of a good time. It’s strange, but then a man I don’t know walks up to us.

“Hey, Evans. It’s so good seeing you.”

“Hello, Detective Ruskin.” A look comes over Dean’s face that concerns me.

“So I heard you’re coming back as one of Boston’s finest. I thought I saw you leaving the station the other day.”

“That’s up in the air at the moment.” As if he reads the tension, the guy excuses himself. I must have my upset written all over my face. The waiter approaches to see if we need anything.

“The check please,” I say. Then, as the waiter leaves, I grab my purse and turn to Dean. “I need to use the ladies room. I’ll be ready to leave the second I get out.”

I stand up and walk to the back without another word. My mind and heart are at war with each other, and I’m not sure how to deal with it. I’ve dealt with enough embarrassment in my life, so I want to hold onto my dignity until we’re alone. I gently wipe away the tears. Another woman enters and hands me a tissue. “It’s going to be okay. Talk it out. I thought he looked familiar. He’s the cop who was hurt on the job, isn’t he?”

“Yes. Dean is.” I remember reading it in the papers and online. The death of the mother and child had been a big story and people wanted the guy caught.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to be nosy. Men don’t always do or say the right things. You’re young and in love. It happens they are idiots, but he looked at you all night like you’re his world.”

“Thank you.” I check my reflection and step out. Dean’s eyes are trained on the bathroom, waiting for me to appear. There’s no relief in his eyes because I’m sure he can read the pain in mine. As I reach our table Dean tosses two hundred dollars down into the black receipt folder.

“Are you ready?” I ask him. He hands it to the man, and I turn on my heel.

“Greta, wait for me.” I walk quickly, but I don’t make a scene. Then, suddenly remembering that he can’t walk as steady, I slow down and wait until he reaches my side.

“We’ll talk when we get to your condo.” He groans but doesn’t respond other than to give the valet his ticket. This night has indeed been ruined. I’m afraid I’d been right. We were rushing it. I want to see what he has to say, but I’m not ready to deal with it.

The car comes and he helps me inside without a word.

We don’t speak the entire ride home because I bite my tongue every time I want to say something.

Chapter Nine

Dean Jr.

I’m going to kill him. It’s all my fault, but I haven’t decided yet because I haven’t told Greta about the offer or ask her what she wants. Now she’s fucking pissed off and I don’t blame her at all, but I’m not letting her ass runaway that quick because she’s scared. I saw that shit all night. She keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. I should have discussed this with her, but I took the coward’s way out.