The Sweetest Game(53)

Pouring myself a glass of water, I sat on one of our new barstools and waited for the sound of Dean’s Mustang to pull into the driveway. If it felt like forever to me, I could only imagine how Melissa must have felt.

The rumble of his engine alerted us to his arrival. I opened the large garage door as Dean rushed through it and into the house through another connecting door. I closed the large garage door behind him and stepped back into the kitchen where we had all gathered. His eyes scanned quickly over the three of us, all but skipping Melissa’s face.

“Okay, I’m here,” he huffed out, the smell of his cologne filling the kitchen area as I silently thanked the pregnancy gods for not making it nauseate me. Dean looked hot in his dark blue jeans. He had on a fitted black T-shirt underneath a dark blue and black button-down shirt that wasn’t buttoned. “Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on?”

I waited for Melissa to speak up, move, or do something. Her fingers tapped out a noiseless tune on the rim of her glass as she stared at the floor and refused to look up.

Tired of waiting, I snapped my fingers in front of her face, forcing her to acknowledge me. When her broken eyes met mine, I wanted to take her into my arms and comfort her. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Never in all the years I’d known Melissa had I ever seen her like this before, and I wondered if it were a side of her she’d always kept to herself. She’d obviously clammed up, so I guessed it was up to me to poke her with a sharp stick.

“I called you back here, Dean, because I thought Melissa had something to tell you. But I guess I was wrong.” It was a little harsh and I knew it, but game time was over and I only wanted to help.

Dean’s gaze snapped to Melissa and I saw what looked like hope flash in his eyes. He raised his eyebrows in her direction, but neither spoke a word.

I glanced at Jack, who had leaned against the wall, his arms folded and his feet crossed at the ankle. He kept his mouth shut and pinged his gaze between Dean and Melissa, clearly fascinated by what was unfolding. I had to laugh a little to myself, thinking that he was probably partially thankful that the drama had nothing to do with us for once.

Dean nodded slowly, and said to Melissa, “So, is that true? Do you have something to tell me, or are we just going to stand here all night? Because if it’s the latter, then I have a date to go apologize to.”

Melissa’s face paled and tightened as her stubborn defensive nature took over. She narrowed her reddened eyes and snapped, “Go then. You shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dean shouted. “Is this a joke? Goddammit, woman, if you have something to say to me, just say it already!”

She stomped across the kitchen to stop in front of Dean and glare up at him, her tiny frame dwarfed by his. Then Melissa grabbed his shirtsleeve and dragged him out of the kitchen and into the garage without shutting the door.

Knowing I should grab Jack and walk away to give the couple their privacy, I planted my feet on the kitchen floor and leaned toward the open door instead. Eavesdropping might have been a crappy thing to do, but I had a lot invested in this conversation and was dying to hear it.

My husband obviously felt the same, because he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against his body as he leaned toward the garage as well. “I’m not moving, so don’t even ask. I want to hear this shit,” he whispered against my ear.

I turned my head and planted a kiss on his soft lips. That single peck fanned the embers of lust inside me, causing them to erupt. Instantly, I wanted to drag him to the bedroom and christen it right the fuck now, but I shook my head to douse the flames, and concentrated on what was happening in the garage.

“So, what is this big news you have to tell me?” Dean attempted to sound tough, but I knew he had to be dying inside.

“I need you to stop being so mean right now,” Melissa begged. “Please? This is really hard for me.”

I wished I could see Dean’s face. Or at least his hazel eyes. I imagined them instantly softening with her words.

“I’ll stop,” he replied.

“Thanks.” She sucked in a long breath before letting it out slowly. “First, I just want you to know that I do like you, Dean. I always have.”

“You like me, like me?” he interrupted, his tone surprised, and I had to stop myself from giggling at his word choice.

“So much,” she said, then paused as it sounded like she was pacing across our garage floor.

Jack poked me in the shoulder, his eyes wide with excited shock. I nodded with a tight-lipped grin as Melissa continued, “And I’m so sorry for everything. The way I acted and pretending like I didn’t care.”