Page 71 of Hooking Up
"He is tall."
"He's everything." She sets her elbow on the counter, tilts her head, rests her hand on her palm.
It's cute how gaga she is. I'm pretty sure Kaylee has been in love with Brendon for eight or nine years now. She's been his little sister's Emma's best friend forever and she's pretty much always had a crush on him.
At some point last year, he started wanting her too.
It was fucked-up shit, because she wasn't eighteen yet.
She's only barely eighteen now.
But I do get it. Not for me, but for him. The two of them giggle like crazy around each other, share a million inside jokes, have complimentary tastes in fuck.
Back then, she was innocent the way he likes. Now… not as much.
He finishes a line, wipes his brow, turns back to her. Shoots herfuck meeyes.
She lets out a wistful sigh.
I laugh. "You've got it bad."
"I'm madly in love with my boyfriend, yes. You should try it."
"No thanks."
"Have you ever been in love?"
"No." But I've loved someone and that was plenty to teach me not to do it again.
"Then how can you know you're not interested?"
"Have you ever tied your boyfriend up?"
"No." Her nose screws with distaste. "Of course not."
"Then how do you know you don't like it?"
"That's a stupid question."
"It's the same question."
She shakes her headyour loss.
I flip through my sketchbook, find my next mockup, bring it to the scanner, and get to work on making a temporary tattoo.
The printer hums.
I grab the paper and scissors. Bring them back to the counter.
Dean is on the opposite side of the counter. He sets his hands on the plastic and leans closer. "Kinky Kay. You working on something good?"
"Maybe." She presses her lips together.
"You are." He laughs. "You ever gonna show off this dirty book of yours?"
"When's the last time you read a book?" I ask.
He turns to me. "It happened once."
