Playing (Inked Hearts 2)

God, that Belvedere looks so good.

And it isn't opened.

It would be so, so easy to chug a few shots, let my inhibitions down, bring out fun, party girl Iris.

But the chain reaction that starts…

It isn't worth it.

I move back to Dean and Leighton. They're hate-flirting over something.

And Walker is laughing with his friends. Well, Ryan isn't exactly laughing. But he looks slightly less miserable.

"You're really into him, huh?" Dean asks.

"Seriously, Dean?" Leighton shoots him a really look.

"I don't sleep with people I don't like," I say.

She laughs. "Foreign concept. You'll have to explain it to him."

"Nah. It's more than that level of like." Dean's eyes meet mine. "You're looking at him the way Brendon looks at Kay."

"Like she wants to drag him to the back room, pin him to the wall, and rip his clothes off?" Leighton takes a long sip. "Who doesn't? I'm not into your boyfriend, Iris, but he is fine."

"He's not my boyfriend." The words are quick. An impulse. But they don't feel as true as they should. "We're just having fun."

She nods even though it's clear she doesn't believe me.

"I hope that's true." Dean taps his glass with his pointer finger. "'Cause I don't want to see him turning into some more annoying version of Ryan."

"He won't." Though, given Walker's reaction to everything about his sister, it seems like he'll be miserable and evasive if this ends in flames. Which isn't exactly Ryan, but it's not far off either. "Relationships don't always end like that."

"Mostly," he says.

"You don't think anyone is forever?" I'm not sure if I do either. Not anymore.

"No. Brendon and Kay, that's forever. But most of them—" he motions to Ryan—"end like that. And I don't want to see my friend miserable."

"Is that why you get pissed about his sister coming around?" I ask.

All that joy fades from Dean's expression. His voice gets serious. "Is she?"

I… I don't know. "No."

"Good." He wipes away his frown. "She's bad news."

"Why?" I ask.

"Ask your boyfriend." He pushes away from the counter. "You seem like a cool chick, Iris. Leigh is right—"

"Do not fucking call me that," she says.

"This place can be a sausage fest. Always nice to have a cute chick around. But be careful with this 'we're having fun shit.' He's into you. If you don't want that, then don't fucking lead him on." Dean nods a goodbye then turns and leaves.

Leighton hops down from the counter. "Sorry. He's an idiot."

"No. He's right." I need to be clear about my intentions. How they've changed. I need to tell Walker I want more. To make sure he wants it too.