As long as you like

15

Dean and I walked into Lou's and were greeted by the hostess. Dean told her we were meeting our friend here and she directed us to a table where Minnie sat with a handsome man. A stranger to me, but very friendly with Minnie.

Sliding into the booth across from Minnie, Dean sat himself next to me. He shook hands with the stranger in front of us.

"Dean." He stated, friendly enough.

"Tobin. Nice to meet you guys. Minnie's told me a lot about you." He said smiling.

"All horrible things. Just the worst you could imagine." Minnie joked.

I laughed and introduced myself. "I'm Arabella. How'd you meet my Minnie?"

He looked at Minnie and chuckled. "At a clothing store, actually! She talked me out of buying the most hideous shirt you've ever seen."

"Good God! I couldn't watch him walk to the check out with it. It had these awful blue and green pinstripes." Minnie mock gagged. If there was one thing she hated, it was bad fashion.

We ordered our drinks and pizza. As we waited for our drinks, we got to know Tobin. He told us about his work as a real estate agent. How he got into the field by some odd turn of events. He never thought he'd end up with the life he had.

"So he comes up to me as everyone is leaving this party," Tobin continues to explain. "And he tells me to come into his office the next week and he'd get me trained. I've been working for him ever since." He laughed.

As he went on, I noticed he really liked hearing himself talk. Anytime Minnie began to say something, he would interrupt with a side bar. Some sub-story to the one Minnie was already telling. When Dean began telling about himself, Tobin would find some connection to make himself the center of conversation.

After we all enjoyed our pizza, I gave Dean the look to say "get us away from this guy". He picked up on it right away. He offered to pay for dinner and drinks, to which he wouldn't accept 'no'.

"I'm gonna go pull the car around. Wait here." Dean said as we approached the door. I nodded at him.

"I am going to run to the young ladies room." Minnie said. "I'll be back in just a moment."

That left Tobin and I standing awkwardly together, waiting. Tobins eyes were floating around, making him look suspicious. He looked me up and down.

"So," Tobin started. "Are you and that guy like, together?"

I was confused. "Uh, I mean." I couldn't figure how to respond.

Tobin stood closer to me. "Like, are you guys only fucking each other?" I shot him a cold stare. How dare he? On a date with my best friend, no less. "I mean, I'm not only fucking Minnie. I wouldn't mind adding you to my schedule too."

I scoffed in disgust. He chuckled. "Aw c'mon. You can't be that prude." He reached out towards my waist.

Before his fingers got to me, Dean burst through the door. His face that familiar stone look I've seen before. But instead of lust behind those eyes, it was rage. He stormed directly towards Tobin. Although Tobin was tall, he was lanky. Compared to Dean, he was a twig.

Dean grabbed Tobin by the collar of his shirt and nearly lifted him off the ground. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Dean shouted in Tobins terrified face. Minnie strolled out of the bathroom just then. She looked up in horror.

"What is going on!?" She exclaimed.

Dean dropped Tobin and he made a thud. "Minnie, I just-"

"Tried to get me to sleep with you while you're on a date with my best friend?" I chimed in.

Minnie folded her arms across her chest and lowers her eyes to the small pile of a man on the ground, too embarrassed to stand back up. "Oh, is that so?" She looked at Dean. "I have half a mind to let you continue where you left off. But luckily for him, it looks like we're about to be asked to leave anyway. Mind if I catch a ride? Mine just fell through."

It was really hard to stifle my laughter as she stepped over Tobin and locked arms with me. Dean trailed behind us as we made our exit. I can't lie; it felt really bad ass.

The car ride was a short-lived blast. Minnie was ranting about Tobin. She called him "Toes-bin". Apparently, our frisky friend asked Minnie to do some very unsavory things with her feet. Dean and I exchanged a humorous shocked expression before exploding into laughter.

We dropped Minnie off at her home and went on our way.

I glanced at Dean as he maneuvered the car through traffic. His jaw was stone set. His features hard. He looked upset.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, almost a whisper. He only nodded. I decided to stay silent the rest of the ride. I'm not sure what I did to piss him off. Whatever it is, I'm already sorry.

Deans silence matched mine. Somehow it felt like I was in trouble. As soon as Minnie left the car, Dean has been emitting an energy I can only describe as hostile. Although he hasn't said anything.

He pulled into his driveway. He didn't move from his seat. He just unbuckled himself and held his fists, clenched in his lap.

"Go ahead inside, Arabella." He practically growled. "I just need a moment."

I nodded and reached for the door handle. I was stopped when Dean put his hand over mine.

"Wait." He commanded. He got out of the car and went around to open my door for me and close it behind me. Still, ever the gentleman.

As I walked toward the door to his lovely home, I couldn't stop thinking; I was right. Too good to be true. I don't know what I did. But, man! I fucked that up fast.

I opened the door and let myself in. I stood in the kitchen. Anxiously waiting for Dean. To find out what his verdict was for a crime I didn't know I committed. I spent minutes that felt like hours racking my brain, retracing my steps to find the cause.

The more I tried, the less I could ration. I leaned against the sink  as anxiety crept deeper. I took a shaky breath and decided to go sit on the couch. I sat there, biting my nails and watching the door.

It finally swung open and Deans large figure filled the frame.