Chapter 20

I knew I didn’t like Dean’s garage and my decision was only further proven when I entered the building only to be greeted with catcalls. My skin crawled and bile quickly rose up. I scurried along as fast as I could towards the back of the garage where I remembered Dean mentioning his office stood.

I soon found a tiny square room with the door closed. I knocked, secretly terrified of Dean’s reaction. A large burly looking Afrikaans man opened the door. The man stood as tall as the door frame in a pair of brown khaki pants and a matching shirt. He seemed somewhat out of place in the dirty grease filled room. He seemed more prepared for a safari than a look under the hood of a car.

“What you doing here pretty lady?” His Afrikaans accent was thick causing many of his words to run into each other. The man sported a bald head that blended in with his large round face. His chin disappeared into his neck and his eyebrows furrowed as he spoke.

“I’m looking for Dean Callas. Is he around?” I asked nervously. The man intimidated me.

“What you want Dean for?” He asked folding his arms against his chest. His weight made it difficult for his arms to close completely causing him to leave his arms hanging in the air. It looked uncomfortable but the gesture worked if his goal was to frighten me.

“I’m a friend of his. I was just hoping to talk to him.” He grunted and shoved his head to the left. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion which made him sigh.

He pointed to the left. “See that black car?” I nodded. “He’s under it.”

I smiled stiffly. “Thank you.” I turned to leave but was stopped when his hand touched my arm gently.

“I don’t suggest you come around here alone again you hear? This place isn’t safe for a little lady like you.” I gulped and nodded. He gave me some weird chin tip in return and I quickly rushed towards the black car. I could feel eyes on me as I walked and the silence that followed made me feel like I was walking towards my death. Before, the place was alive with activity but, the further into the building I ventured, the quieter it got.

I was really scared. Maybe I was making a mistake coming here. Though it occured to me that I probably should have called Dean before I arrived. The car reached closer to me and I decided to ignore my doubts. There was no use turning back now. As I reached the sleek car I could see slight movement underneath. The garage was built so that cars could park on a machine that would lift it above a ditch where the men would then stand in and reach up to work underneath the car. Gone were the days where they used those flatbeds with wheels.

“Dean.” I called out hesitantly, apart of me still afraid that I was sent towards my doom. Since my appearance somehow caused the men to stop their work, it was easy for the person to hear me. I could see the legs and elbows of a body stop moving and then walk towards the stairs. Dean ascended the stairs and carefully stood before me.

“Tori?” He questioned, uncertain of my presence.

I laughed awkwardly, “who else?” He scratched his head with a black hand.

“What are you doing here?” He didn’t sound mad which was a relief. He did sound confused though which made sense. I hadn’t spoken to him since the last message he sent about having a question he wanted to ask me.

“I wanted to see you.”

He strolled forward until we were a foot apart. “Why? I thought you didn’t like my garage?”

I laughed bitterly, “I don’t, but I needed to see you.” I repeated.

“Needed, not just wanted?” He asked with a tinge of hope riding his voice. I nodded with a grin. “Why?” He asked again.

“Why not?” I answered. I was beginning to sound like Kevin with my questions for answers. I was starting to get annoyed with his questions though. “I needed something from you!” I shouted. Loud gasps and few whistles broke loose and I hid my face. That was not my brightest move.

“What are you talking about?” He whispered stepping closer to me so that the others didn’t hear our conversation.

“Oh for goodness sake!” I moaned and threw my hands up. “Hug me already.” I demanded.

He was silent and then he slowly asked, “what?” I grumbled in response. He could be infuriating especially with the kind of mood I was in. I closed the small gap between us and threw my arms around his waist. Dean made a choking sound and I realised how hard I must have hit him when I threw my body at his. He was still for a long time while I rested my head on his chest. I hugged him tight to me.

I already felt better than I had all day. I sighed happily and Dean’s arms followed. His long arms wrapped around me slowly and then they tightened. It was amazing. Despite his dirty clothes and hands and faint smell of grease, he was warm and comfortable like a large teddy bear.

He ran a hand up and down my back as he stroked me and I tried not to let the tears fall. He nuzzled his head in my shoulder and then whispered in my ear, “Tori please tell me what happened.”

I sighed and pulled away enough to see his face. “Why does something have to be wrong for me to see you?”

He held my face in his hands and I could feel the hardness of the now dried black substance on his hands. “In my experience, people don’t generally steal a hug for no reason. You needed comfort and though I’m honoured you chose me, I’m curious as to why you need comfort in the first place?”

I pouted and bit my lip in an attempt to stop my tears. I was overtired and emotional after what happened last night with Kevin. I was a mess. Dean ran a tender finger under my eyes and I guessed I wasn’t as successful at stopping my tears as I thought. Without a word, Dean reached for my hand and pulled me towards the same room I found the scary big man in. I slowed my steps in apprehension and Dean smiled encouragingly.

“We need to talk in private. It’s okay.” I nodded and let him pull me. We reached the door and Dean walked right in. The large man stood threateningly but relaxed once he saw Dean. “Dad I need the office.” Dean nodded in my direction and his dad nodded in understanding. He left us alone and Dean pulled me to a small couch in the corner.

As I sat on the couch, Dean quickly covered me in his arms. “So, tell me what’s got such a gorgeous person down.” I was too sad to be embarrassed by his words. I sniffled and leaned further into him.

“Kevin and I had a fight; I guess you could call it that.”

“That can’t possibly be all.”

I sighed, “it isn’t. My ex bombarded our study session last night and it wasn’t pretty.”

Dean rubbed my arms and in a low, soft voice said, “tell me what happened.”

I grunted. “Matt came in drunk demanding he speak to me. He was mean and forceful. Kevin didn’t like it and stood up for me which was great except, Kevin couldn’t stop the words leaving Matt’s mouth. He thought Tommy was his child. I never even slept with him in the two years we dated.” I mused silently before continuing.

“Once I told him that Tommy was Maggie’s, he called her a really bad word that I refuse to repeat.” Dean chuckled. “Anyway, he basically said that he knew Maggie would always leave me to clean her messes and it hurt me. I loved Maggie so much and here he was, the man I once thought I loved, telling me what a selfish person she was. He made it seem like Tommy was a burden.” I started sobbing. “How could anyone think that of Tommy?” I choked. My voice was hoarse and my hands were wet from the tears that had fallen on them. I still couldn’t believe the things Matt had said.

They cut me.

“Tommy could never be a burden.” Dean commented and I hugged him.

“Exactly!” I groaned, “it didn’t make things any better with the way Kevin reacted.”

“What did Kevin do?” Dean grunted and his body tensed beside me.

“We kissed and he ran away like a coward.” Dean had gone still next to me. Even his breathing seemed to stop.

“You kissed?” he wheezed, sounding bewildered with the idea.

I nodded cautiously, “yes but then he apologised and left. Now I’m just confused. I don’t know what to think when it comes to him.” Dean shifted next to me with a pained expression on his face.

“Did you want to kiss him?” He asked, not looking at me.

“Yes but now I’m not sure. It was a moment thing you know but, now I feel it’s ruined everything and we still have the project to finish.”

“Would you want to be with him?” I knew the answer but it felt wrong to tell Dean. After all, he could tell Kevin and at that moment, I wasn’t sure where I stood with Kevin.

“I don’t know.” I answered vaguely.

Dean sighed as though he saw right through my crap. “Have you thought about a relationship?”

I gave him a perplexed look, “depends with whom. I have thought of dating Channing Tatum a lot.” I teased but Dean didn’t smile. Instead he grew more and more tense.

“I meant having a relationship. With anyone.” I nodded. He turned to me and rested his forehead on mine. Our breaths mingled and I could feel the increased speed of his breathing on my lips. “I want one.” He whispered right before his lips fell on mine.

His kiss was tentative at first as he sought out my mouth but when I leaned into him, his kiss grew fervent. He kissed ever inch of my sealed lips and I surrendered. I let him kiss me because it felt good, because it was a great distraction to the mess my life had drifted into. His lips pushed at the middle of my mouth hard and I opened for him. His tongue invaded my mouth and my body willingly melted against his.

Kissing him felt splendid and soon I was responding. Dean’s arms wound around my waist when my tongue moved into his mouth. At the feel of our tongues touching, Dean let out a strangled moan. I wrapped my arms around his neck and moved closer to him until our thighs were rubbing together. I moaned when his teeth bit my bottom lip. My body felt alive when he kissed me. Dean explored my mouth with great zealous and I found I enjoyed every moment.

I started running out of breath soon and pulled apart. My breathing was ragged as was Dean’s. He grinned triumphantly at me. “I’ve been dying to do that since I met you.” He leaned forward and brushed my lips quickly with his before pulling away. I sat frozen in my place, still trying to catch my breath and make sense of what just happened.

“I know you said on our date that you didn’t want a relationship but I’m begging you to consider.” He held my hands in his and looked at me earnestly. “Please reconsider. Date me Tori. Take a chance on a relationship with me.”

I grimaced and his face fell. I opened my mouth to speak but he silenced me with a finger on my lips. I wanted to kiss his finger which surprised me. “Think about it please?’ I nodded. Dean abruptly stood up and reached for my hand. “I’ll walk you out.” I frowned but gave him my hand.

“Thank you.” I mumbled. He shrugged and led me in silence safely to my car. After saying goodbye, I drove home in a daze. My fingers automatically reaching for my still damp lips every spare moment. The feeling from his kiss was unexpected. I just wasn’t sure how to handle what he made me feel though. I didn’t want to hurt Dean but I wasn’t sure my feelings would be honest if I dated him. I still felt something strong for Kevin and I was sure dating his best friend was not the way to go to get him to love me.

I didn’t know what to do. What I did know was that I needed to see Kevin.