Page 142 of Tied to You

Dean coughs in warning.

I blink, standing straight. My job here is done. I turn on my heels walking past them and out into the corridor.

Dean and Travis follow close behind me not long after, the sound of Terence’s office door closing behind them.

I keep walking with them behind me, making it outside, heading to their bikes parked around the corner. “I can see why you lose every argument,” Dean says under his breath as they walk side by side.

I roll my eyes to myself.

“She doesn’t win every argument,” Travis snaps, making me stop and look back at him.

They both jolt, but Dean grins, unlike Travis who’s frowning. “Don’t look at me like that,” he warns.

I walk to him, stopping toe to toe, my face looking up at his.

He looks at Dean before looking down at me. “When we get married, you have to love, honour andobey.”

Dean laughs but immediately stops. “Wait, what?Married?You two?”

Both of us slowly turn our heads to look at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Travis asks darkly.

Dean’s eyes widen, but he smiles. It looks good on him. “Uh, shit.” He lifts off his cap, scratches his head then steps closer. “It means I’m fucking happy for you, mate.” They shake hands before Dean bends and kisses my cheek. “And you, Mollie. I’m glad you’re happy here.”

I thank him but my smile falls.

“Unless you’re not?” he asks over an uncertain smile, looking at Travis like he’s said something wrong.

“Her dad,” Travis says, filling in the blank.

“God, I’m going to have to call him.”

Travis wraps his arms around me. “Hey, it’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t you invite him to the party?” Dean says cheerily.

I frown. “What party?”

“Oh, come on. This is Janette we’re talking about. She’ll insist on anengagement party.”

Travis’ head points to the heavens. “Fuck, he’s right.”

My lip pulls in the corner. “We can do something. There’s just no way my dad will agree.”

“To what? Coming along or you marrying him?” Dean thuds Travis’ arm, making us both flinch.

“Both,” I laugh, looking up at Travis. “But I don’t care.” If one look could make everything inside me settle, it would be the look in Travis’ eyes hearing me say that. It’s like the compass pointing north, telling me I’m heading in the right direction.

Finally.

He pulls me into him, kissing me passionately, our lips stroking and lapping together. I lose track of everything around me. The sound of traffic. The hustle and bustle of people walking past, it all drowns out.

“Not that standing here watching you two isn’t fun, but I’m going to head back.”

Travis and I smile, managing to break away from one another as Dean walks away.

“You did good in there.” He holds my head in his hands, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs.

My hands go to his waist. “I’m good at it.” No point denying the truth.