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“Yeah. Me too.” Dean sighed.
He could be with her. But sadly, just because hecoulddidn’t mean that heshould.
Liam frowned. “That sounds ominous. What happened?”
“Nothing. I dropped off some used furniture at her place. Then I left.”
“Why?”
“Why did I bring over furniture? Because she needed it. She owns like nothing,” Dean explained.
“No. I meant why did you leave?”
“I left because I’m leaving.”
Liam sniffed. “You’re talking in riddles, Sinclair.”
Dean let his chin drop on an exhale. “I mean I’m flying back to base in just a few days. I’m not going to start something with her now.”
Liam’s dark brows lifted. “You? I can’t count how many women you went through when we were together in Djibouti.”
Dean pulled his mouth to one side, unhappy at that characterization but unable to deny it was true. “This is different.”
Liam smiled. “No. You meanTessa’sdifferent.”
“Why are we talking about my love life?” Dean asked, leaning back to glare at Liam.
“Because we sure as hell aren’t going to talk aboutmylove life. I’ve been serious with Natalie pretty much since I moved here. But if you’d like me to regale you with tales of date nights and couples’ parties with her friends and their boyfriends, I’m happy to do it.”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” Dean shook his head.
“What I’m saying is don’t miss out on what might be the love of your life because the timing is bad,” Liam continued with his unsolicited advice.
“It’s not just the timing. I’m no good at serious relationships.” Dean should show Liam the long list of women in his Do Not Answer contact list on his phone.
The proof of Dean’s ineptitude when it came to relationships was spelled out there in black and white.
“Did you ever think that maybe you’ve just never found the right woman?” Liam asked.
“You’re really going with theit’s not me, it’s themargument?” Dean asked.
Liam lifted one shoulder. “Could be true.”
Dean turned on the stool to face his friend. “So you’re a relationship expert now? You going to start a podcast?”
Liam smirked. “No and no. All I’m saying is that you said it yourself—this is different. How many times have you said that over your lifetime?”
Never. Dean kept that answer to himself.
“You thinking about it?” Liam asked.
After a long pause, Dean mumbled, “Maybe.”
He hated how much Liam enjoyed that answer as the other man broke out into an annoying grin.
Dean scowled. “Stop being so smug.”
“Me? Smug? Never.” Liam could barely drink his beer his smile was so wide.
