He looks to me. "She's barely fazed by this now."

"You have to up your game," I say.

"Seriously. How could Brendon do this to me? How could he corrupt you like that? Doesn't he know it's easier to torture you if you're a blushing virgin?" Dean asks.

"That must be painful for you," I say.

"Thank you for appreciating that." He's teasing, yeah, but there's sincerity in his voice. "You have all your shit for this afternoon or you need to stop at your place?"

"I have it." My eyes go to the clock. Ten minutes to go. "I invited Iris."

"Oh." Dean blinks twice. He runs a hand though his shaggy hair. "You're still hanging out with her?"

"We have an arrangement," I say.

"Like a girlfriend?" Concern fills his blue eyes.

It's weird. Unlike him.

"No. More like fuck buddies." And why the fuck does that bother him?

"I thought that was code for someone you only call when you want some." Brendon moves forward. He motions for us to clear the desk. "I have to check out. If you're done being idiots."

"You know we'll never be done with that." Dean's voice lifts back to bouncy.

Kaylee shoots him a look. He shoots it back. I have no idea what it means, but they seem to understand each other.

I move out from behind the desk. "You two want to join?"

"No, I have work in two hours." Kaylee runs her fingers along the edge of her laptop. "You're really seeing someone, Walker?"

"I see her naked in my bed, yeah." What the hell could bother her about me dating someone? She's the poster child for love being great. "Is that a problem with anyone else?"

"No. It's great. Fucking fantastic." Dean steps backward. "I'm gonna change."

"Into a tolerable human being?" I ask.

Kaylee laughs. "That's cheesy." She looks to me. "How does that work?"

"Fuck buddies? Really, K.K.?" It stands for Kinky Kaylee. That started as a joke with Dean a million years ago. "You're not that naïve. Not after six months fucking Brendon."

He shoots me a grow up look.

I can't argue with that. Brendon has his shit together as much as anyone could. When his parents died, he stepped up to take care of his little sister. He's basically her dad. Which makes it even more fucked that he's sleeping with her best friend.

But, hey, who am I to judge?

It's not like I always make good life choices.

"Like Brendon said, it means something different to everyone." Kaylee slides off her stool. "What does it mean to you?"

"I don't define things like that." I run a hand through my hair. Since when does anyone care about my sex?

The bell rings as the door swings open. Ryan steps inside the shop. He's wearing all black—his jeans, his t-shirt, his expression. It's the same as always, the world is a piece of shit, and you're a piece of shit, and I'm not interested in your shit.

He looks to the three of us. "You ever get tired of gossip?"

"No," I say. "You want to go on a hike?"

Tags: Crystal Kaswell Inked Hearts Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net