Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

Words jump out of my mouth without stopping in my brain. "It's Dean."

Her jaw drops. "Really?"

"I know. He's too old. He sleeps with a different woman every night. He doesn't take anything seriously. But—"

"He's hot. Confident. Funny. I get it."

"Yeah. But I don't actually want to be with him. That would be terrible."

She nods. "Oh." Her eyes light up with an epiphany. "No wonder he bet Brendon you're not a virgin. Then offered to pop that cherry." She laughs over his dirty words. "You should take him up on it."

"I don't know."

"Or maybe not." She sets her hand on my shoulder. "When you like someone, you get attached. And Dean isn't the kind of guy you want to be attached to."

I nod.

"But if you do want him to be your first... I can help." Her eyes light up. "Think about it."

"Sure."

"And think about how we're going to hide it from Brendon. Pretty sure he'd kill Dean for that."

"Right."

"You have any idea what he's pissed about?"

"Brendon?"

"Yeah."

"Who knows with him?"

She nods. "You think he'll get over it soon?"

"I hope so."

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kaylee

Emma (now with hair in the perfect cool shade of red) and I (still dirty blond) arrive at the shop a few minutes after eight. Walker and Dean are quick about insisting we ride with them. And about making conversation. Mostly with Emma. Mostly about nothing important.

They get almost all the way to the 405 then turn left. On Sawtelle. Toward Little Osaka.

Oh no.

I turn toward Em. "Don't tell me."

"Don't tell her we're doing karaoke?" Dean teases. "Okay. I won't tell you that, Kay."

Karaoke. Ugh. I can't sing in front of people. I can't even sing in the shower if I know someone is home.

"We're counting on you rocking some emo songs," Walker says. "Really selling that pain."

Emma laughs. "You can admit you're jealous of guys who can pull off eyeliner."

Walker chuckles.