Darkness Before Dawn

I'm sure, so you'd enjoy it...Blake would, too. Aub and I will be there," she replies. "My dad won't be, if that's what you're really asking."
    I rub my forehead before resting my elbow on the car door. "All right. And you know for a fact he's not going? What about Mark, does he go? And Brian?"
    She exhales a breath. "There's really no telling, Cole. Sometimes they do, sometimes they just send money. I'm not the right person to ask about the guest list. I can find out and call you back if you want, but I know Mom really...she feels horrible. She's physically sick over this shit. She's...she's leaving my dad," she says, her broken whisper snagging at my heart.
    I close my eyes wishing I had something nice to offer her: a condolence, words of encouragement, anything. "Are you okay?" I ask quietly.
    "I mean, it's just weird, I guess. It's not like we were this big happy family or anything, but still."
    I nod my head in understanding because I think I get it, a dysfunctional family is better than no family at all. And that's when I decide that I'll go to the charity event Colleen is hosting.

 

    I stifle a laugh when I hear Spencer grunt in the seat beside me as I take a sharp turn onto Michigan Avenue.
    "Sorry," I lie with a smile.
    Cole's been using the Escalade lately, even leaving it at the airport when he goes out of town for work, so I get to use the black Audi A5 that we leased when he got his own show. Normally I don't drive any of the cars since I only use them when I'm going someplace in a hurry, and Spencer ends up driving me. I still prefer taking the L to get around, but I have way too many things to get done. It's hot out, so I'd rather sit in air conditioning, even if it means paying an obscene amount of money for parking.
    Once I find a space in a parking garage, I toss the keys over to Spencer before walking across the street as he trails behind me. I scramble through the herd of business suits, looking over my shoulder periodically to make sure I haven't lost him before reaching the large glass doors of the mall. A masculine hand wraps his hand on the metal handle at the same time I do, and the scent of cinnamony-cigarettes wrapping around me startles me to a halt, as the door swings open.
    "Missed you, chick," he murmurs low against my ear, so that only I can hear him.
    My heart runs a mile a minute. I turn to him, wide-eyed, with my mouth hanging open and find him watching me in amusement. He places his forefinger under my chin, as if to playfully close my gaping mouth, and snaps me out of my shock.
    "What the hell are you doing here?" I whisper harshly, snapping my head bewilderedly in all directions, even though I don't know exactly what I'm looking for.
    "It's a public mall, I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to be here," he replies, making me look back toward him.
    I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. "What store are you going to?"
    His smiling hazel eyes scan my face before trailing slowly down my body and back up. I watch his smile waver and his eyebrows pull together as he steps forward and jerks my hand quickly.
    "You got engaged?" he asks in a low voice, looking from my hand to my eyes and back to my hands a couple of times.
    I nod as he drops my hand from his. "Yeah, last week," I reply quietly with a small smile.
    He scratches the back of his neck as he looks around the crowded mall before turning his attention back to me. "Congratulations," he offers with a small smile. "Are you happy?"
    "I am. Very," I reply, smiling as my mind drifts to the moment Cole proposed, the house, my friends.
    "Good. I'm glad, chick. I really am," Dean says, bobbing his head before tilting it to look at me.
    "Thanks," I reply with a shrug. "Do you...do you want to go shopping with me?" I ask awkwardly.
    The side of his mouth twitches. "Why not?"
    "I have to get a dress though. Fair warning," I respond, raising an eyebrow.
    My hand brushes his when we begin to walk beside each other, and I tense when he holds it in his. I turn toward him with probing eyes as I wiggle my hand out of his.
    "Spending time with a friend is always fun," he says, squeezing my hand before I take it back completely.
    "Friend," I confirm seriously.
    Dean shakes his head with a laugh. "Yes, friend. Get over yourself!"
    I roll my eyes at his statement and smile as we continue our walk around the stores. I spot a pair of shoes that I instantly fall in love with, but after searching for a dress to no avail, we take a break and go to the food