Quinn was ready to kill me. Actually. The look of anger on her face when she came home to me and Dean playing with Boo in the living room was astonishing. It was pretty much how I expected her to act once she found out about the eighty pound German Shepherd mix I brought home.

"You can't go and get a dog without talking to me first! This is all kinds of wrong when it comes to our rooming agreement."

Boo goes right up to her and tries to lick Quinn's hand. She shrieks in disgust and even Dean has to try and hide his laugh. At least something finally made him laugh.

"It's just for a few weeks. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first, but look at his cute face. I couldn't leave him there."

Which was true. I couldn't leave him there because he looked so sad that Boo didn't even get up to greet me when I walked past his kennel. "You should have left him there. I'm not living with a dog."

Her ultimatum is a blessing. "Get over it or there's the door. You're hardly here anyway." I say boldly and Quinn's jaw drops before she recovers quickly.

"I want my security deposit back and I'll be out tomorrow night. My friend has been begging me to come live with her anyway."

She disappears into the room that's hers for the next day and slams the door. I don't want Quinn here. Sure, I know I should have asked first before I got Boo, but maybe if she wasn't such a bitch we would understand each other better. Hell, we hardly have a civil conversation with each other.

Dean looks at me hesitantly from where he sits on the rug, "Are you sure this is a good idea? Can you afford to live here by yourself?"

That's actually a really good point. "I'll just find another roommate. It can't be that hard to do in New York and I'm making enough working for Grayson that I can cover Quinn's part for a little bit at least." I can but I also have to put money down for Grayson's retainer. I'll figure it out. I look at him with a nervous smile, "Do you happen to know anyone looking for an apartment?"

"I could ask Cassidy because I know she's not moving back in with Maddox. I don't know how much longer I feel like staying on the couch either so it'd be nice if she moved in here." Dean grimaces before resuming to petting Boo. I knew my plan of getting a dog would help cheer him up, plus we're giving Boo a place to live before he finds his forever home. A win for everyone including Quinn whose friend has apparently been begging her to move in.

I sit on the couch, watching him closely. Boo might be giving him something else to focus on, but I can't make him forget. God I can't even imagine what that would have been like...going to hang out with Paige who was practically his girlfriend and finding his brother there. He deserves better.

"Lace you're staring." He says, breaking my train of thought.

A flush of heat warms my cheeks as I avert my eyes, "Sorry."

"What are you thinking about?"

I chew the inside of my cheek, trying to decide on whether to bring it up or not. "It doesn't matter."

"If you're thinking about it then I'd like to know." Dean persists and I pull my hair back into a ponytail to buy myself more time to think.

"My parents are coming up this weekend. They want to meet my friends and well... you're my best friend here. If you're up for it then will you come?" Definitely wasn't what I was going to say, but I think it's a great distraction.

If my question phases him, he doesn't let it show. Dean acts as if it's something we talk about everyday. "Sure, what kind of food do they like?"

"It depends. Bristol's pretty small but they like to venture to Nashville sometimes for a night out. I can look around and see if anything jumps out at me." Why is he acting so calm about this?

He shakes me off and smiles at Boo, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything. How about six on Saturday?"

This is the most normal conversation I've had with Dean in six days. How is this the most normal conversation we've had?

"Dean you don't have to do that. They're my parents and I can handle it. I just want them to meet you."

My god if I knew this how Dean was going to react when I told him my parents were coming, I would have told him hours ago.

"Let me do this, please." His stare is enough to get me to cave and I sink back into the pillows on the couch.

"Fine. You can do it, but seriously my mom might interrogate you so badly you'll want to leave." I warn, half joking half not.

Dean scoffs, "She can't be that bad. What are they like?"

"My dad is the weatherman for the local news channel and my mom is a nurse. Dad likes to make all these jokes and he can always find the bright side in everything. Mom is kinda really unnecessarily overprotective. She loves Ruth like another daughter and she worries. But at the end of the day, they're my parents and I love them. They're kinda great." I say with a smile on my face. My hand rests my shirt where I know my scar lies underneath. They are great. They deserve better too.

"They sound like it. If you're lucky, you'll never meet my dad. Your parents sound nothing like him." He grimaces and I watch Boo curl right next to Dean, resting his head in his lap. I know the bucket list was kept in mind to help Ruth, but maybe the bucket list can help Dean too.

"He likes you."

Dean smirks at me and I'm so relieved to see his stupid smirk. "Everyone likes me."

I smile back at him feeling like the completely shitty way this day started was a lifetime ago. The whirlwind of today was exhausting. But tomorrow will be a better day. "Why don't we take Boo for a walk? I don't want Quinn's negative energy to make him feel uncomfortable."

"I mean this in the nicest way possible, but Lace you look tired. Take a nap and I'll take him out in a little bit. You did say after all that we were fostering a dog. That means Boo is partially mine until he gets his new home," Dean says firmly. I lay down on my side, appreciating his friendship more than anything else. He's a good person. Dean deserves better than everything that's been thrown his way.

But he cares. And we share a dog now. I let my eyes fall shut with a smile on my face knowing that Dean will get past the whole Paige and Maddox thing. He'll be okay.

*********

"Chase, I'm serious. I'm going to pee my pants if you tickle me again," I say holding my arms out to keep him away.

He gives me a lopsided grin, "I'll stop if you give me a kiss."

"You're playing dirty," I exclaim and he shrugs, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I guess I'm just into you."

I lean up and press my lips against his briefly before slipping out of his grip. "You can be into me but if you want to kiss me you shouldn't blackmail me into it."

Chase shakes his head at me laughing, "You are something else. Where is this infamous Boo? I was looking forward to meeting her."

"Him," I correct quickly, "He stayed at Dean's last night while my roommate packed up her things. She wasn't too happy about his arrival but Quinn is never happy about anything."

Okay, so it kinda bothers me that Quinn is actually moving out, not that I'd ever admit it. I'm going to miss her grumpy nature. I know I'm in the wrong, I should have asked before getting Boo, but I really didn't think she'd have a problem with it! Dogs make everyone happy.

"I'm sorry to hear that," He says stepping closer to me again and I smile at him.

"You don't seem very sorry."

Chase runs one of his thumbs over my cheek and I feel my heart quicken at the simple touch. This time I don't wait before kissing him. I stand up on my tippy toes and kiss him gently.

It's sweet, endearing, and gentle.

Exactly like Chase.

I used to worry that I'd die alone. It was a fear of mine as a kid. I've always known my mortality was imminent. Everyone's is, but mine more so than most. I used to be terrified to sleep by myself because what if I woke up and couldn't breathe or if I didn't wake up at all.

You have to go for the things you want and well... right now Chase is what I want. I think at least he's what I want. He cups the back of my neck in one hand and I rest a hand on his chest for leverage. Chase smiles into the kiss and I can feel my heart melting. That's how Chase makes me feel. Everything melts away.

God it's so fucking simple with him.

"Lacey," He says, pulling away to look at me and I let out a shaky breath.

"Yes?"

I'm breathing a little bit heavier than I'd like to admit. "You're beautiful."

I smile up at Chase, "Thank you."

"Did you want to go anywhere for dinner?" He asks and I can't help but laugh.

"Did you really stop kissing me to ask if I want dinner?"

Chase gives me a heart stopping smile, "I also told you you're beautiful. But I am hungry. I came here straight from the station. I covered for one of the guys on A shift."

I poke his stomach before heading to the kitchen. "I can make you something if you're that hungry. It looks like I've got chicken, spinach, tomatoes and maybe a few other things. Not the most options but I think I can whip something up?"

"If you're going to make it then I can promise I'll eat it."

"Take a seat," I say motioning to the bar stools tucked underneath the counter.

I work in a comfortable silence and the aroma that fills the kitchen is worth it. "Can I ask you a question?"

I glance up at him hesitantly because this could really go anywhere. "Depends on the question. I probably have an answer for you."

"What are the boxes in the corner over there?" I follow his gaze and I can feel my mouth run dry.

"I guess I never got around to unpacking everything from when I moved here. It's been kind of crazy the last few months, but I'll get around to them soon. Cassidy is moving in tomorrow so there's more room for her anyway with my stuff being unpacked." I try to keep my tone light, but the fact is that I packed those boxes last night after Dean left with Boo. The one on top is one I packed this morning.

The last thing I need to do is leave everyone to pack my things up after I'm gone. The least I can do is start the process. I didn't think that Chase would ask about them.

I guess my answer is satisfactory because he chuckles, "When I moved into my apartment, it took me forever to get through all the boxes. I was just curious. I'm curious about you and everything there is to know. Lacey Edwards you're quite the mystery."

His answer reminds me of how Dean calls me an enigma. It's odd, but I like being called an enigma more than I like being called a mystery. I shrug off the words because they're just words. They don't mean anything.

"What would you like to know?"