Page 73 of Hooking Up
"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 botherherabout 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 agrow uplook.
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?"
"You think I'm here for my health?" He drops his backpack in his suite. Shakes his headkids today.
Brendon nodsyeah, he's right.
They're only a few years older than Dean and I are—we're all in our twenties—but they act like they're old sages.
I look to him. "You coming or not?"
"You should," Kaylee jumps in. "I'll be fine."
He arches a brow. "You sure?"
"Yeah." She smooths her pink dress. Adjusts her blue glasses. "I have to change for work soon. Just lock this for me?" She taps her laptop.
He nods.
Dean shakes his head as he returns to the main room—now clad in basketball shorts and a muscle tank. "Mr. Brooding is joining us?"
"Yeah." What the fuck is Dean's problem? Brendon joins us on hikes all the time. Ryan too. Hell, Leighton, Emma, and Kaylee join last minute all the time. He's never had a problem before.
