Page 41 of Wrapped Around My Heart
Before I can answer him, I notice someone from the corner of my eye, closer than they should be. Just as I’m about to react and lift a foot to step away, they shove into my shoulder. Except, because one foot was already in the air, my already iffy balance is thrown off completely.
Dean’s arm shoots around my waist before I can even think to try to catch myself. He curses but somehow manages to keep me from falling on my ass without letting go of Cora.
“What the fuck, man?” he yells after the guy who bumped into me while I steady myself. Dean doesn’t let me go, and I don’t try to escape his hold.
Still leaning on Dean, I glance over my shoulder and a man in a baggy black hoodie and jeans stopped a few feet behind us. His scrawny shoulders are squared and everything about him looks like he’s shaking.
“You could at least apologize.” Dean seethes and I finally avert my gaze from the guy to look up at him. I pat his hand that’s still around my waist, trying to pull his attention back to me.
“I’m fine,” I assure him and don’t bother turning away when I see the guy start walking away in my peripheral vision.
“Fucking idiot,” Dean mumbles before focusing on helping me stand on my own two feet once more. “Are you okay? Did you hit the ground? What about the baby?”
His wide, panicked eyes drop to my stomach, and I take his hand back in me.
“I’m okay. So is the baby.” I squeeze his hand, trying to convey just how positive I am about that. “You caught me before I could even hit the ground. So I should probably be askingyouif you’re okay.”
Cora’s nose bumps my thigh, and I absentmindedly reach for her head with my free hand. Dean tilts his head, and I assume he’s looking for the guy who bumped into me again.
Dropping his hand, I grab his bicep, reminding myself not to get lost in the muscles that flex beneath my palm. With his eyes back on me, I open my mouth to once again tell him that we’re both perfectly fine, when a familiar voice interrupts us.
“What are you doing here?”
I yank my hand away and back away on reflex. Just as I’m turning to face my brother, I don’t miss the hurt that flashes through Dean’s eyes. My stomach churns with guilt and it takes all my self-restraint not to reach out and comfort the man beside me.
Instead, I force a smile and answer Landon.
“I’m meeting up with Lilly before the game. But I couldn’t resist saying hi when I saw this cutie,” I lie, motioning to Cora.
I had been so caught up in Dean that I didn’t even realize how close we were to his building.
Landon nods, dropping to a squat to say hi to said dog. With my brother distracted, I sneak a glance at Dean, wanting to silently apologize, and find him already watching me. When oureyes meet, his smile is light and reassuring, which only makes my chest ache.
This man is way too good for me.
“Are you coming to the game?” Landon asks me and I nod.
“Yeah, Lilly and I will be in my favorite seats.”
Landon rolls his eyes, but the grin on his face gives him away. He loves when I’m right there, yelling and banging on the glass.
“Try not to throw your beer at anyone tonight,” he taunts.
“It was one time!” I snap back, which makes him laugh before he turns to Dean and offers to wait for him while he runs Cora back upstairs.
Dean spares me a quick glance, his brown eyes glimmering as they briefly drop to my stomach before he takes off with Cora and leaves me alone with Landon.
Standing in front of my brother now, the need to tell him everything sits heavily on my tongue. In all my life, I don’t think I’ve ever kept anything this huge from him.
Growing up, I saw plenty of my friends want nothing to do with their siblings. Something I never understood. Sure, there’s stuff we don’t talk about—you know, like our sex lives. Which is why my thing with Dean has remained a secret for the past two years.
But being pregnant with his niece or nephew, knowing his best friend is the father, is different.
I try reminding myself that I made this decision for a reason, but right now, all my reasons for wanting to keep both the pregnancy and my feelings for Dean a secret a little while longer sound weak.
Clearing my throat, I motion to their building. “I should head up to Lilly’s.”
“See you at the bar after the game?” he asks and I pause.
