Damn you and your ability to always read between the lines.
“You getting tired of us?” Ryan asked. His voice sounded lighthearted, but she knew him better.
“God, no.” She shook her head. “I’m happy.”
“But?” Casey pressed her harder, standing in front of her.
“You’re you, and I’m…not.” Her stomach knotted. Being together behind closed doors and coming out in the open was apples and oranges. They’d be dissected, and she knew just what would be said.
“Please don’t make me get a headache try
ing to decode your girly shit. Spell it out for me, Pulver.”
“Jesus, Ryan, tact.” Casey rolled his eyes.
“We’re just different in so many ways.” She sighed.
“Is this about you being black?” Ryan rested his razor on the sink. She smiled at his half foamed face.
“No.”
“Good, because it doesn’t bother us in the least,” Casey said.
“I like my hot chocolate.” Ryan smirked.
Casey shook his head. “So ,what is it , Leighton?”
“You don’t see yourselves the way others do. Outside looking in, we don’t match well.”
“Says who?” The deadly tone of Ryan’s voice set off a red flag.
“No one—disengage kill switch.” Her protective figures in school, the habit had never fully been broken. If someone said something off collar, Ryan and Casey would make them regret it. “I’m just having a why are you with me moment.”
“I don’t know why you’re so harsh on yourself.” Casey shook his head. ”Makes me want to find the fucker who dicked with your head and beat some sense into him.”
Unease skittered in her head. “If it’s any consolation, he’s long gone from around here.”
“Fucking Gordon!” Ryan’s bellow shook the room. “I knew that asshole wasn’t good enough for you.”
Casey sank down on the bed beside her. “You’re beautiful, Leighton. Tall, strong, curvy, and even better—intelligent and damn competent. We never wanted a Barbie. Those girls in the bars were fillers to take the edge off. What we want from you is a hell of a lot more permanent.”
“More cushion for the pushing, Pulver,” Ryan said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Really, Ryan.” Casey hissed.
Pacified, she giggled.
“What?” Clean-shaven, Ryan set the razor down on the sink and walked out of the bathroom. “Look, Leighton. You want to lose weight, stay the same, put on more, I’m good. Long as you don’t lose that ass, or those amazing tits. They’re kind of my kryptonite.” He winked.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Ry.”
“Okay, so we’re telling Dad tonight then?” Ryan looked at Casey.
The leapfrogging Ryan’s brain did had her dizzy. “Wait, what?” she said.
“That’s what you want, right? More validity?” Ryan lifted his eyebrows and frowned.
“I…yeah, I guess.”