Hook, Line, and Sinker

"My mom probably gave her our address," I said casually. "That's just how Erin is. You can just ignore her."

Although Dean kept swearing that he really hadn't given Erin the time of day, I still couldn't shake the discomfort. It didn't help that the image of them sitting together on the same couch kept replaying in my head.

Dean wouldn't betray me like that, would he?

I'd tried so hard just to win him over. I spent six whole months on that endeavor before he finally agreed to date me.

He wouldn't fall straight into Erin's embrace after spending just one night with her, would he?

I couldn't help but feel uneasy, no matter how hard I tried to think otherwise. Part of it was due to my insecurity, while the other part was that I wasn't sure just how long Dean could keep Erin at arm's length.

…

Dean didn't stay over that night. He had another apartment in the next building over, so he slept there instead.

However, he still came over to bring me breakfast the next morning.

He had brought over a spread of eight dishes, placing them on the table. When Erin saw them, her lips immediately curled into a smug smile.

"Did you bring so much food over because you knew I'd be here, Dean?" she asked. "Oh, you even got me the mini pot pies from the store I like. It's a shame they don't do deliveries. You must've gotten up early to pick them up, didn't you?"

Dean shot her a glance. "No, I actually forgot you'd be here, so now I'm two dishes short. Cassie doesn't have much of an appetite in the mornings, so I bought extra dishes so she could pick and choose."

Erin hummed in understanding, but her hands kept picking at her freshly done manicure. This was her habit when she was plotting. I knew right then that whatever mild interest she'd had in Dead had turned into a determination to make him hers.

I couldn't help but tighten my grip on his hand. Perhaps my grip had hurt him, and he looked at me in confusion. I muttered a hasty apology as I left the table.

That evening, I found them sitting together on the couch again when I returned home from work. When Dean saw me, he rose to his feet to welcome me home.

Then, he lowered his voice and bombarded me with question after question. "Is Erin unemployed? Why is she here every day? Doesn't she have her own place? What is she even doing coming over every day?"

I looked up at him and said, "She'll probably stop after you stop ignoring her."

He stiffened upon hearing my answer. After a beat, he said, "I already promised it. She said she'll leave tomorrow if I do."

I hummed and walked into the bedroom. Dean followed me and hugged me, asking if I was upset.

"I just don't want to see her here all the time. Besides, I can just mute her," he said, then he showed me his screen in order to prove his innocence. "Look, I've already muted her."

I said nothing, but my disappointment must've shown somehow because he continued to coax me for a long time after that.

He kept it up through dinner, trying to make me laugh as he piled food onto my plate.

Across the table, Erin merely smiled and said, "You're so thoughtful, Dean."

Dean didn't pay her any mind.

Instead, he kept his attention solely on me as he told me about the problems he'd been facing regarding the DTC retail he'd started.

Erin deliberately clattered her utensils at his dismissal. When we turned to look at her, she smiled and said, "Sorry. I just got a little excited when you brought that up. After all, that's right up my alley."

When she saw the look of confusion on his face, she said, "My ex-husband runs a pretty successful retail brand. He's been very generous with me regarding his connections. I can help you out, for Cassie's sake."

She even went on to describe that particular brand in detail.

I could tell that Dean was tempted to take her up on her offer. He looked at me awkwardly before turning to Erin. "Wouldn't that be inconvenient? After all, those connections are tied to your ex-husband."

"Oh, please," she replied lightly. "One night together and it'll all work out in my favor. Just wait for my good news."

Dean didn't turn her down this time. I knew right then he was going to unmute her.

As I expected, when he followed me into the bedroom later, he said, "Erin's a good person. She seems honest."

I merely shot him a look, my eyes already red.

He immediately started cajoling me, saying gently, "I didn't mean anything by it. Besides, do you think I'd be interested in a woman who's still in contact with her ex?"

…

Erin left my apartment the next day. Coincidentally, Dean didn't come over to my place for several days after that.