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So, this whole time, he’s just been letting me act like a fool, flirting with him, sharing glances, while he’s romantically involved—and with someone who works for him! I should have known better. Situations like this only have happy endings in romance books.
I set the pie down on the counter. “Well, I should be going.”
“Wait, Mae,” I hear Dean say in the distance. But I just keep walking as faint rumbles of thunder sound overhead.
“Why’d you give him our pie?” Grandpa Bob asks, when I storm into the house, slamming the front door behind me. I’m acting just like my teenage daughter, but I’m too angry to care.
“I just thought…” I pause, looking for the right words. “I just thought Dylan might be hungry.”
“Oh,” Grandpa says. He’s looking at me with one eyebrow raised but, thankfully, doesn’t comment. “So, who’s the blonde?”
“Her name’s Coral. She’s his assistant.” I take a deep shuddering breath. “And girlfriend.”
Grandpa puts the dish towel in his hand down on the counter. “What? He has a girlfriend?” He’s frowning at me.
“I guess,” I shrug. “Whatever.” I pick up his discarded dish towel and begin to dry the rest of the dishes. I need to do something to take my mind off that handprint.
“No,” he says. “Not whatever. If that’s the case, he’s been leading you on.”
“It’s fine.” I start to feel tears well up in my eyes, and I don’t want Grandpa to see I’m crying because that would just be admitting how much I like Dean.
But it’s no use. Grandpa Bob knows me too well. He just opens his arms to welcome me in, and I lean my head on his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Mina asks when she comes in.
“Nothing,” I say, my voice muffled by his thick plaid shirt. I don’t need my daughter to know how pathetic I’ve been, thinking about a relationship I knew would never work out.
“She just found out that Dean has a girlfriend,” Grandpa confesses, ratting me out.
“What?” Mina asks, her voice getting high and angry. “Seriously? How do you know?”
“Because I just met her,” I say.
“That’s whose car that is?” Mina pulls open the kitchen curtains to peer at the car in the Cornel’s driveway.
“I guess so,” I pout. And I hate that I’m pouting.
Grandpa releases me, and it’s Mina’s turn for a hug.
“I’m really sorry, Mom. I thought he liked you. I really did.”
“That makes two of us,” I admit.
“Do you want me to make you some hot cocoa? Then we can watch Dirty Dancing,” Mina suggests, her voice excited, and I know she’s just trying to cheer me up.
I haven’t dated much since I’ve had her, but even from the few times I have, Mina and I have developed a post-break-up tradition.
“That sounds great,” I say between sniffles.
“Okay. You go lay on the couch, pull it up on Prime, and I’ll get the hot chocolate ready.”
“And I’ll add a little Baileys,” Grandpa whispers to me.
“Thank you,” I mouth back.
I settle myself on the couch, pulling blanket after blanket on top of me. As I search for the movie, a crack of thunder sounds overhead, and hard rain falls on the house.
Mina walks into the room and curls up next to me. She hands me one of the mugs.
