Again, he nods.
"You, um, was it a long relationship?" I bite my lip. Why am I asking him so many personal questions when he clearly isn't into sharing or affection?
"Forgive Iris. She's gonna be a shrink," Walker says.
"Oh. Yeah?" Ryan raises a brow interesting. "What's that like?"
"Actually, I'm going to be a research psychologist. I'm not studying clinical psychology. You know, therapy?"
He nods. He knows. "I tried that once."
Dean's eyes go wide. "You did?"
"Yeah. Thought it might help. With forgetting Penny." He takes another sip. "But it was bullshit. Didn't go back. No offense."
"It's not for everyone." I press my lips together. "Sometimes, it takes a while to find the right person. Or get comfortable. Especially if you aren't used to sharing. Not that you're—"
"No. He is. He gets it." Dean laughs. "Good thing for you Walker has a babe on his arm. You could get free help."
"You could kiss my ass," Ryan says.
Dean laughs. "A hundred bucks says you won't drop your pants."
"You're disgusting," Leighton says.
"Like you don't want to see Ryan naked." Dean shakes his head.
Her cheeks flush. "I… shut up." The blush spreads down her chest.
And she keeps looking at Ryan.
She likes him.
Maybe. I think. I'm not great at seeing the line between I like you as a friend and I want your body and I want you to be mine forever.
Dean pulls his t-shirt up his stomach. Pats his perfect six-pack. "You can look as much as you want, baby."
"Which is zero." She shakes her head. "What's with your aversion to clothes?"
"They hide my beauty." He shrugs, effortlessly coy.
Ryan looks to me. "That's a good thing you're doing. More important than this shit." He motions to the shop.
"Tattoos are therapeutic in their own way." My fingers go to the words on my forearm. "You're also doing a good thing."
"Nah, mostly he does himself as he cries into pictures of Penny," Dean teases.
Ryan shakes his head stupid kids. "Good luck with shit." He nods a round of goodbyes then turns and leaves.
I wait until he's out of earshot. "Is he always like that?"
"No." Leighton presses her plum lips together. "He's usually a lot less friendly."
"Yeah. He's practically beaming." Walker leans in to press his lips to my neck. "I'm gonna talk to him."
"Go." I lean into his touch.
He wraps his arms around me. Pulls me into a tight hug.