Page 53 of Wrapped Around My Heart
CHAPTER 19
Arianna
“If you’reup for it, we should go shopping next week,” Dean says from the driver’s seat.
My face scrunches up in confusion, wondering if I had spaced out badly enough to miss something he was saying that led him to here.
“Shopping…” I parrot back, shaking off the daze I had been in since we left my house.
“Yeah, your mom was asking me if we made a registry list yet and it got me thinking about how we have next to nothing ready.”
“Sorry, she’s been bugging me about the registry and apparently decided I’m not moving fast enough,” I grumble even though I’m not actuallythatbothered by it.
It’s been just over a month since we told my family and the support from my parents has been borderline overbearing. I’m constantly reminding myself that they’re simply excited. They’re ready to help in every way possible, which is exactly what I want. My mom is so over the moon happy, and if I was being completely honest, I’m more surprised she hasn’t gone rogue and started buying whatever she wanted to.
Once again, at the thought of how ecstatic my parents are, my mind immediately jumps to remind me that my brother has been almost radio silent toward me.
The week after we told them, he skipped family dinner night. Something neither of us has done unless he’s at an away game or we’re sick. I’ve never felt awkward being in my parents’ house. However, that night, the tension was thick as everyone avoided talking about the elephant in the room.
Landon showed up the following week, mostly keeping to himself. He barely looked in Dean’s or my direction and gave our parents one- or two-word answers. The most he spoke or interacted with any of us was to Cora.
So for the following few weeks since then, I decided to treat him exactly like he’s treating me. Which is something he makes look ten times easier. Or at least it’s difficult for me since I’m not used to being the one my brother is mad at. And the few times in life that I had pushed his buttons, he never hesitated to call me out on the spot.
Needless to say, the silent treatment is sending me into a spiral.
“I don’t mind,” Dean says, pulling me from my obsessive thoughts. “I just figured we should at least get a start on it in person, then finish the small things online.”
“That’s actually a really good idea.”
Dean smiles brightly at the praise, and I can’t help but match his expression, somehow feeling better even though nothing’s changed. It’s the effect he has on me. No matter what, Dean is steady. He’s a ray of positive light when things get confusing and being around him makes me feel like I can handle anything.
When he told me about his conversation with my brother, one that I’m ninety-nine percent positive he played down the severity of, his confidence that Landon would come around was unwavering. He didn’t tell me in detail what was said, summingit up to my brother being in his feels and not managing them correctly. But I had thought for sure it meant he just needed a day or two. Not over a freaking month.
An audible sigh escapes before I can stop it and Dean doesn’t miss the sound.
“What’s wrong? I thought you loved shopping.”
“It’s not that, because yes, I have a shopping problem.” I hesitate only for a second before deciding that Dean is the type of person who would never tell me that I’m beating a dead horse. “Landon’s still avoiding me.”
If I weren’t looking directly at him, I would have missed the slight tick in his jaw or the way his grip tightened on the steering wheel.
He immediately switches to driving with one hand, reaching over to rest his now free hand on my knee, and starts rubbing a calming pattern.
“I’m sorry, baby, I know how much this hurts you.” He soothes and it’s refreshing not to be placated in this moment. It would be easy for him to place the blame on my brother, even if that’s where it is, or to dismiss what I’m feeling by telling me not to waste my time thinking about him.
“I wish he would just talk to me. I figured he’d be upset, but I don’t think anything we did was worth a month-long silent treatment.”
Dean nods, pulling his hand away so he can turn into the lot at my OB-GYN’s office and park the car. Only then does he say anything.
“You sure you don’t want me to ‘accidentally’ trip him on the ice?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “No, that’s the last thing I want.”
I grab my phone and wallet from the cupholder and am about to open my door when something clicks. The heat leaves my face as I whirl back to Dean.
“Wait, is he giving you a hard time when you’re working?” My breath starts to increase at the thought of Landon taking his butt hurt feelings out on Dean.
“No, he’s being completely professional.”
