Page 37 of Ablaze

As soon as the credits roll, everyone seems to gather themselves, getting up from their spots. Rohan gives me a squeeze, reminding me to check the locks and to make sure the stove is turned off, before clasping Samantha’s hand in his.

Samantha and I exchange a hug before the two of them leave, with Malcolm trailing behind them a minute later. Before he leaves, he tells me I’m never allowed to pick a movie again, and of course, that has me in another fit of giggles.

As soon as they’re all out, I find Dean in my kitchen, rinsing the dishes we’d used for popcorn and drinks. “You don’t have to do that, you know. I could have just put them in the dishwasher.”

He shrugs. “I didn’t want you to have to worry about it.”

I lean my hip against the counter next to him, studying him. If the short exchange he had with Warren yesterday has played inside my mind a few times, I can only imagine he’s thought about it, too. “Dean . . .?”

He clears his throat, his eyes lacking the luster they usually have. He wipes his hands on a kitchen towel. “Yeah?”

“I know that was sort of an awkward meeting with Warren yesterday . . .” I’m stating the obvious, but it’s in an attempt to clear the air and feel out what he’s thinking.

He shrugs. “It was fine. Nothing either of us couldn’t handle.” He pauses. “He seems to like you a lot.”

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ears, and Dean watches the movement, his eyes lingering on my hand. “Yeah . . .” I nod. “Yeah, I like him, too. It’s just really new.”

“Good,” he agrees, though it sounds forced. “Good. Yeah, I’m happy for you.”

Is he, though? It doesn’t feel like it.

I play with my fingernails. “Are you sure? It’s just that yesterday, I felt like–”

“Yesterday was me being a dick, and I’m sorry about that. I’ll try to do better.” He takes a long breath. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

I look down at my feet, nodding, when a whispered question makes its way out of my mouth unbidden. “Are you happy?”

Because you don’t look happy.

You haven’t been acting like yourself.

Why does everything feel forced?

Dean’s lips part to answer when a sharp knock at my door jolts us both out of our moment. My brows furrow as I check the clock. Who could it be at this hour?

Walking to the door, I look through the peephole before pulling the door open. “Hey! What are you doing here?”

Warren steps into my foyer, enveloping me in a hug so I almost disappear inside of him. Placing a kiss on my temple, his mouth slides to my ear. “I got done with dinner with my dad and . . . I missed you.”

I smile, looking up at him. “I’m glad you’re here.”

He nuzzles my nose with his. “Good, because I’m planning on staying the ni–”

Dean’s throat being cleared behind us has my arms dropping off Warren’s back. “I’m, uh . . . going to head out, Mala. Thanks for hosting movie night.”

I walk over to him, pulling him into a hug. He’s unusually stiff in my arms, but finally relents. “I’ll see you soon?”

He nods before looking at Warren. “Take care of her.”

And as soon as the door shuts behind him, my mind is a tangle of thoughts and emotions battling against each other. Except, I can’t grab hold of any.

The only thing that lingers well into the next few days and months is a dull ache. An ache that developed so long ago and one that refuses to subside.

An ache I’m beginning to believe will just become a permanent part of me . . . like the cracked heart it’s a result of.

Chapter Eleven

MALA

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