Page 92 of Where We Stay

Fucking menace.

Eighteen

Blair

Ihave no idea what possessed me to tell Dean I’m not drunk tonight.

Actually, that’s a lie.

I know exactly what possessed me.

I want him to kiss me.

Now I’m wondering if I pushed him too far. His hands are wrapped so tightly around the steering wheel that his knuckles have turned white, and he barely says a word for the rest of the drive.

When we pull up outside my cottage, he’s out of the truck and opening my door before I can reach for the handle.

“Such a gentleman,” I tease as I climb out.

Dean walks me to the porch, and when we reach the front door, I turn to face him.

“Wait.” He reaches inside his jacket. “I got you something.”

My brows lift as he pulls out a small box.

Dean bought me a gift?

He holds it toward me, and I carefully open it. A delicate gold necklace rests inside, a tiny sunflower hanging from the chain.

My eyes immediately begin to sting.

“Dean…” I trace my fingertip over the pendant. “You remembered.”

His brows pull together. “Of course I remembered.”

Something about the certainty in his voice tightens my throat.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

His shoulders relax slightly, like he was genuinely worried I wouldn’t.

I lift the necklace from the box and hold it toward him. “Can you put it on for me?”

His eyes meet mine. “Yeah.”

I turn around and sweep my hair over one shoulder. Dean’s fingers brush the back of my neck as he fastens the clasp, sending a shiver down my spine.

Neither of us says anything.

I let my hair fall and turn back around.

He’s closer than I expected.

Much closer.