Back On the Ropes
Chapters (85)
  1. Dedication
  2. A Quick Note from Kathryn
  3. 1. Dean
  4. Dean
  5. 2. Tabitha
  6. Tabitha
  7. 3. Dean
  8. Dean
  9. 4. Tabitha
  10. Tabitha
  11. 5. Dean
  12. Dean
  13. 6. Tabitha
  14. Tabitha
  15. 7. Dean
  16. Dean
  17. 8. Dean
  18. Dean
  19. 9. Tabitha
  20. Tabitha
  21. 10. Dean
  22. Dean
  23. 11. Tabitha
  24. Tabitha
  25. 12. Tabitha
  26. Tabitha
  27. 13. Dean
  28. Dean
  29. 14. Dean
  30. Dean
  31. 15. Tabitha
  32. Tabitha
  33. 16. Tabitha
  34. Tabitha
  35. 17. Dean
  36. Dean
  37. 18. Dean
  38. Dean
  39. 19. Dean
  40. Dean
  41. 20. Tabitha
  42. Tabitha
  43. 21. Dean
  44. Dean
  45. 22. Tabitha
  46. Tabitha
  47. 23. Dean
  48. Dean
  49. 24. Tabitha
  50. Tabitha
  51. 25. Dean
  52. Dean
  53. 26. Tabitha
  54. Tabitha
  55. 27. Dean
  56. Dean
  57. 28. Tabitha
  58. Tabitha
  59. 29. Dean
  60. Dean
  61. 30. Tabitha
  62. Tabitha
  63. 31. Tabitha
  64. Tabitha
  65. 32. Dean
  66. Dean
  67. 33. Tabitha
  68. Tabitha
  69. 34. Dean
  70. Dean
  71. 35. Dean
  72. Dean
  73. 36. Tabitha
  74. Tabitha
  75. 37. Tabitha
  76. Tabitha
  77. 38. Dean
  78. Dean
  79. Epilogue
  80. WANT MORE DEAN AND TABITHA?
  81. A Note from the Author
  82. Acknowledgments
  83. Hang Out With Kathryn!
  84. About Kathryn
  85. Books By Kathryn

It took a huge effort to sort the carrots. Twice I had to tip the boxes over and start again.

The potatoes were a goddamn nightmare. I lost half when they rolled under the table. Another few when I fucked up the count. Five potatoes, one bag of carrots, two cans of soup. Five potatoes, one bag of—

“Hey, Dean,” Rowan said.

My hands stilled. I shook my head and got back to counting. Five potatoes? Six?

His face floated into view. “Yo, what’s going on with you?”

I scowled at the onion I was holding. Rowan gripped me by the shoulders. “Oh my God, is that Tabitha Tyler?”

“What?” I said, craning my neck toward the door. “You saw Tabitha?”

Rowan’s slightly concerned face sharpened. That concern was replaced with a smirk full of bullshit within seconds. “Nah, I was lying to get your attention. It’s so painful to watch you sort those carrots, dude.” He took them from me the same way I grabbed tools out of his grandmother’s hands. “Wash the strawberries, make yourself useful.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with a wince. “Sorry. I’m…spacey today. Just a little out of it.”

He eyed me carefully over the produce but didn’t push. I’d offered to help him prep some last-minute food boxes for thirty seniors in the neighborhood who’d requested the extra help. I’d checked the list—Eddie wasn’t on it.

We were making decent progress on the boxes. Even if I was doing a shit job.

I walked over to the large sink in the kitchen at the rec center. Flipped on the cold water and splashed my face. It chased away the remaining brain fog that hadn’t let up since I’d driven Tabitha home last night.

It had taken me half an hour to find a parking spot after dropping her off. I’d gone to find the truck today, worried that in my shock I’d left my car in the middle of the road with the engine running, keys in the ignition.

I hadn’t. It was parked correctly, doors locked and engine off. There was no sign at all of what happened in the back seat.

I filled a large silver bowl with strawberries and focused on washing them. Then I ripped open the final box of carrots. Scooped them out and into my arms. I didn’t think about what it was like to have the best sex of my life with the woman I’d been into since high school. Didn’t think about her warm lips or her soft skin or the incredible sounds she made when she came on my—

“Dean.”

I blinked. Rowan was taking the carrots away again. “Did you see Tabitha again?”

He paused, mid-step. Dropped the produce down and dragged two chairs out from the side table. Kicked one over to me. “Sit down.”

“Why?”