The Scandal Before the Vows novel · Chapter 8 of 24
Chapter 8: Dean
Dean worked nights at a print shop on the east side, and his shift ended at six.
I took two buses to get there, because I wanted to be able to say I had gone alone.
Elliot had offered to drive me.
I'd told him I needed to do this one on my own feet.
He had looked at my cast, my ribs and my face, and said, "Text me when you're out."
It was the right answer.
It was the first time anyone had given me room to be stubborn.
The loading dock smelled of ink.
I stood at the edge of it in Margo's cardigan, watching a thin man in an apron roll a cart of paper toward the door.
He was five years older than the last time I had seen him, and he looked fifteen years older.
His shoulders had caved in, and his hair was thin at the temples.
He saw me and stopped the cart.
"Corina."
"Dean."
His hands began to shake, and he put them flat on the cart to hide it.
"I heard," he said. "About the roof. Someone told me you were in the hospital, and I..."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"No," I said. "But I'm here."
He wiped his palms on the apron.
"I need to say it," he said. "I've said it to a wall every night for five years, and I need to say it to you. I'm sorry. About the baby, about Brynn, about all of it. I'm sorry I didn't come to the hospital. I thought you'd rather die than see me."
"I almost did," I said. "Both ways."
He flinched.
I let him.
I had not come for his apology, but I noticed that I didn't mind receiving it.
"Dean, I have a question, and I want an honest answer."
Keep reading free with an account. Start The Scandal Before the Vows from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 7 · All chapters · Chapter 9 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend