Chapter 43

Blossom POV.

Liza knew exactly how to exploit my vulnerabilities. She understood just where my insecurities lay when it came to Dean. Once she found my weak spot, she knew how to press it, cutting deep and mercilessly.

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by Dean's voice. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you," he said. "I need to leave for a business trip shortly and won't be back until tomorrow."

Dean tried to sound casual, though I could sense he wished he had given me more notice. It was one of the reasons he sought me out earlier when he found me in the breakfast room with Caleb. Things hadn't gone as planned then, and he'd been looking for the right moment to tell me since. He could have mentioned it sooner, but being caught up in our shared moments distracted him. The timing was less than ideal, he realized, but hopefully, he had soothed my worries. I was naive and innocent, and he knew he needed to be more mindful of what might unsettle me to avoid th