Chapter 43

Dean’s POV

I pull back just enough to look at her.

Neither of us says anything. Her eyes are wet, mine probably are too, and for one long second the whole party disappears around us — there’s just her face, close, but far away.

"Dean."

Luke, cutting through the crowd fast, tie already completely crooked, not even glancing at whatever he just walked into.

"You gotta come with me. Now."

"Luke, I'm kind of—"

"Now, man. Your Dad's waiting. It's urgent."

I let go of Marie slower than I should, and she steps back, wiping under her eyes fast, already turning to disappear into the crowd before anyone else can see. I don't get a chance to say anything else to her. Luke's already pulling me toward the house.

I barely register the walk there. Some part of me is still standing on that dance floor, still holding her, and I don't have room left over to care what Dad w