Page 27 (1/2)

I hear someone mutter a "sorry" behindh

"Holy shit" Dean stopshis forehead "What happened to your face?"

The person standing just behind Dean turns at his words and now stares atatat e to yank rasp and swipe my hair forward to cover the scar

That’s when Jesse appears "Don’t you ever fking grab her like that," he growls, edging in between us, forcing et the hell away fro your daddy can do about that" As if Dean wasn’t using his full size before, he suddenly appears larger, looht, but where Jesse is lean and muscular, Dean is broad and bulky I don’t see how Jesse could win against that And I don’t want to see him try

I reach up to settle a tentative hand on Jesse’s arertips "It’s okay I’o ho down at me over his shoulder "You sure?"

"Yeah, she’s sure," Dean answers for ainst each other, his jaw is clenched so tight

To me, Dean offers, "It’s too bad about your face You hide it well, though"

I’y or a compliment, or if it was really just a duat Dean His fist sla him back a step Dean’s elbow knocks a tray of fries off the bar and onto the floor

It ain When he does, rage is burning in his eyes "George!" he hollers to the bartender, who i Jesse into a headlock, Dean leads hiry men

The hands that pulled me back earlier fall fro in the uy Jesse walked in with beside ht?" He nods toward the scattered fries

I frown "Licks?"

Jesse’s friend stares at in to get uncoht" He takes my hand "Luke"

"Luke," I repeat "Nice to meet you Are you from around here?"

He shakes his head "Portland On ht I’d stop in Bend and see Jesse for a bit"

"Do you know hiether"

Lived together? He , but I’ll bla nosy "Do you knohy he hting last night?

"Uh" Luke drops his gaze to the floor, as if he’s searching for an answer there "I think he justhome"

I can’t tell if Luke doesn’t know the real reason or if he’s lying "I can understand that It’s beautiful here"

"You like living here?"

I smile Finally, a question I don’t have to lie about "Yeah, it’s a great place"

"Really? I wouldn’t have--" He cuts off abruptly, a frown zagging across his forehead "I need to go UhI’ri to get into more trouble with his dad Because of me

Why would he even do that?

"Maybe I’ll see you around" Luke heads for the door, his steps quick

After a brief visit to the restroom to make sure my hair is all fixed, I head back over to our table to hear Bonnie say, "I thought Dean and him were over all that"

I sit down beside A to hide her scowl "Over what?" I ask

"So that happened to Dean’s best friend, Toh school"

Tommy"The kid as stabbed?"

A brow at ive her a sheepish shrug

"I didn’t say anything earlier because I didn’t want you to worry about having Jesse next door afteryou know" She snorts "Funny, I figured Dakota was too stoned in high school to even knoas going on"

"Did you say Dakota?" The redhead rolls her eyes It’s obvious that everyone at this table shares Ah soet so to the officer about what happened

She sighs, dragging herself up "Yeah, I guess I should come with you and see if my brother’s in handcuffs I’m sure my dad’s here by now"

I spot the sheriff’s emble on a step under the watchful eye of a police officer, his elbows resting on his knees, glaring at Dean, who’s talking to the sheriff

"Do you knohat set him off?" A to do with ht? Is he that kind of guy?

We watch as Dean nods to Sheriff Gabe and turns back toward us His eyes catch , until he disappears into the bar I’ me as he was earlier