FALLING in love

Chapter 22 - Valentine's Day

Kacie

I'm at home drinking tea with Mags as we always do on Sundays when Dean calls me. He usually just texts me, so I'm guessing it's about work. I have a ton of reading to do, and I've been working overtime for almost a week. I can't come in today. I need to study, or I'll fail my classes. I sigh and answer the phone.

"Hi Dean."

"Hi Baby Girl," he says. Huh, maybe this isn't about work after all. But I don't have time for fooling around either. Since the day I walked out on him during oralsex to be with the girls, he's made sure that when we're together it's more about his pleasure than mine. Even when he focuses on me, it's "Come for me, BabyGirl" like even my orgasms are for his pleasure alone.

"I know this is kinda last minute, but do you have any plans for tomorrow?" he asks me.

"I have a of catching up to do with my studies," I begin, but he interrupts me.

"Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, you can't spend your night studying. Go out with me!"

He doesn't even ask me out. He commands me to go out with him.

"Like, on a date? Dean, we agreed that this thing between us would just be casual fun. I don't want any romantic drama involving my boss or my workplace, and neither do you. I think we should keep it casual." I excuse myself to Mags and walk out the kitchen. I don't know where this conversation is going, and I don't need her listening to it.

"Go on a casual date with me then," Dean suggests. There is hurt and annoyance in his voice now.

"Please Dean, let's not go there. Let's just enjoy each other at work when we can, just like we agreed in the summer." Why is he trying to complicate things?!

"Do you already have a date for tomorrow? Is that it?! You've met someone else, haven't you?"

"I don't like it when you raise your voice at me," I say as calmly as I can.

"You've met someone else!"

"No, I haven't!"

"Don't lie to me Kacie, I really don't like it when people lie to me."

"I'm not –"

"Call me later if you change your mind. But don't wait too long," he says and then he hangs up on me.

What the hell just happened?! Dean is really losing his appeal behaving like that. I thought we were clear on what was gonna happen and especially what was not gonna happen between us! I don't need this in my life. I have needs like any other woman, but I don't need a boyfriend. I don't want a boyfriend. Boyfriends equals being hurt and losing people close to you, and I went through all that in high school, like big time, and I won't go through that again. Maybe someday, many years from now I'll find someone who I can trust and love, but to be honest I'm not counting on it. I'm the forever-single friend in the group, and I'm fine with that. I've got better friends now than in high school, or at least I think I do, but I'm not taking any risks.

I'm in my room, looking at the pile of books on my bed. The conversation with Dean has left me restless. Maybe I can talk Luke in to going for a run with me.

***

I start out running way too fast because I just wanna get the tension out of my body, and so I'm burned out before we're even halfway through our usual route. I stop to breathe, hands on knees, sounding like a dying beast.

"When you catch your breath, I really hope you will tell me what's going on. You've been running like crazy!" Luke says not even a little out of breath, he's so annoying, but he sounds so worried. He's such a good friend.