“Katie your full name, or is it short for something?”
I nod vaguely, shrugging. “I was named after my grandmother Catarina, Katie’s my version of it.”
“Cool.” He nods, and looks away from me, holding his hands together on his lap.
This is the most awkward conversation I’ve ever been in, and I’m not a social hermit. And it is just me, or does he suddenly seem nervous around me?
Hot for me kind of nervous, or is it something else?
“Uh, want me to grab you some coffee? Maybe a little something to eat?” I give him a look from head to toe and seriously wonder what it would take to feed this guy – probably a quarter of the grocery store. Miiiii.
“Actually,” he says, looking up at me as I’ve stood up. “That sounds really great. Just gimme a sec-”
I place my hand on his thick ass wrist to stop him from going into his back pocket. I shake my head. If his wrist is that thick, I can’t imagine what kind of monster he’s hiding in his jeans.
“I’m going to pay – it’s the very least I can do.”
Dean nods at my wisdom and the offending hand gets put back in his lap, waiting patiently for further instructions.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, and grab my purse and head to the cafeteria.
***
When I get back, there’s another chick talking to him. Well, that was fast.
She’s wearing dark wash jeans that used to be tight on her and a pair of Chuck Taylors that I’m sure aren’t the ones you can buy at Foot Locker; her hair’s down in waves all the way down her back, and she absently starts braiding it while she talks to Dean. She’s got a huge smile on her face, and pushes her glasses up her nose twice as I make my way over to the pair with a tray of coffee in my hands, and three paper bags filled with twenty-dollars-worth of goodies.
“Hey Sera,” I say, coming up to them.
“Here,” I tell Dean, giving him the tray with the caffeine. “I got regular coffee. Sugar, milk and cream are in the tray, just grab whatever you want. Food’s in the bags.”
Sera Delos gets up, a blur as she gets in my face and thank the Virgin Mary I gave the coffee away or else her boobies would have seriously gotten third degree burns and I’m sure that would have made Hunter very sad.
She gives me a tight hug, and I realize how much I’ve missed her these past few weeks. I might even go as far as saying I missed the nerd references, too.
“Hey, buddy,” she says in my ear, then lets me go. “Missed your face. I was keeping Dean company while we waited for you to bring coffee. You neglected to tell me that the dude you hit name’s Dean,” she practically squeals and I hear Dean actually chuckle. Wow, Sera’s here five seconds and he’s laughing, and all I’ve gotten is a smirk.
Are you jealous?
“Hey broski.” I smile at her, taking my seat opposite the pair while she takes hers. She smiles at Dean like she would smile at one of the guys, and they’ve been friends for the past six years. How does she do that?
“I see you’ve met Dean.”
She gives me a toothy grin again at the mention of his name, so much so that her cheek muscles look like they’re straining. I love Sera, really, but sometimes, getting happy over the stupidest things can get a little tiring.
Dean looks at her like he’s known her forever; they’re so comfortable together, just sitting there on the chairs, sort of facing one another. I feel like a third wheel, when I’ve never ever been one. This is very freaking strange and I don’t think I like it.
Sera gives him a quick grin. “Really sorry she hit your giant head, bro. Especially since she was going to be coming over to my place for girls night.”
“Hunter and Matty still out for the night?” I ask, for some reason trying to reinforce the fact that Sera is taken.
She turns to me. “Yeah. They went for frozen yogurt, and a movie. I packed Hunt with an arsenal in case Matty’s sugar goes out of whack. He looked like he was going to war or something,” she laughs, then looks over at Dean. He doesn’t really look any different, but there’s a tightness to his shoulders that I’m sure wasn’t there before I mentioned MacLaine and his kid.
That’s a victory for me.
I listen to them chat for a while, until we all find out we live blocks, literally just blocks, away from one another, and I’ve gone and half-convinced myself that Dean’s in love with my best friend.
I squint at the pair of them, not really listening to the conversation. I’m exhausted, and I hastily slurp some coffee after putting in my customary eight sugars in the inky darkness. I sit more comfortably in the chair, crossing my legs, and when I’m not even a blip on Dean’s radar, well, I’ve come to two conclusions.