He takes my other hand, leads me to his chair, and turns me toward the mirror. "What do you think?"
It's the topless mermaid he promised for my birthday. She's sitting on a rock, her long blond hair covering her chest, her green eyes on the book in her hands.
It's perfect.
"I love it." I can't help myself. I throw my arms around him and squeeze tightly. "Would you do it right now, if I asked?"
"You've been drinking."
"But tomorrow?"
"In a week, maybe. You're not impulsive."
"What if I asked Dean to do it?"
"No."
"No?"
His voice gets stern. "No, Kay. There's no way Dean is touching you." Regret streaks his eyes. Like he wishes he hadn't said that.
It could be normal I'm responsible for your well-being, I'm taking care of you protectiveness.
But it's not.
I know it.
He knows it.
But does he know I know?
I stare into his dark eyes, but that doesn't offer any illumination.
"Hey! No private conversations." Dean moves toward us. "We've got plans. Important ones."
Brendon shoots him a really look.
Dean shoots back a sly smile. "We're gonna play Never Have I Ever."
"You're going to be drunk in five minutes flat." That's Leighton, the girl who works at the counter. I guess I didn't hear her come in.
Even Ryan laughs. "I'm not carting your plastered ass home."
"You overestimate me. It's all rumors." Dean moves toward the lobby—to the benches for customers. "Everybody get a drink. Then we'll see who wins."
"Don't you win by losing?" Leighton asks. She runs a hand through her short, pastel pink hair. "And isn't this game for kids?" She looks to me and Emma. "No offense."
"I think it's more for high school kids," I say.
"But it's fun." Emma looks to Dean. "Just bring cups and whiskey."
"Demanding," he teases back.
"You're not used to taking orders yet?" Walker plops on the bench on the right. "Brendon and Ryan are always bossing you around."
"You too." Dean flips him off.
Walker shakes his head. "I don't live to irritate them."
"You don't?" Ryan takes a seat on the other bench, as far away from Walker as possible. "That's news."
The guys flip each other off.
Slowly, everyone fills in the bench seats.
Grabs a drink.
The guys, save Ryan, are all on the other bench.
I'm sandwiched between Emma and Leighton.
I'm staring at Brendon, trying to figure out what the intensity in his eyes means.
I don't know.
I smooth my dress. Tap my toes together. Gather my hair on my right shoulder.
This is a game you win by losing.
Which means I don't have a chance.
I haven't done anything. Not unless you count getting straight As and writing dirty fan fiction.
I...
I'm going to lose.
And everyone is going to know.
Everyone is going to know I'm the sweet girl who doesn't get the guy.
Chapter Seventeen
Kaylee
Ryan holds up his drink. "Never have I ever fucked a client."
Dean shakes his head. "Lies and slander." He takes a swig.
Leighton taps her drink. "Define client."
Brendon laughs. "That's a yes."
My eyes fix on him. His drink is resting on his thigh. It's nowhere near his lips.
He's never fucked a client.
All he does is work and go to the gym. That means it’s been awhile. It must.
That's something.
Maybe this game isn't totally horrible.
Maybe it's somehow useful.
"I could fire you for that," Ryan says.
"You can't fire me. I'm about to be a co-owner." Dean's voice is bouncy. Joyful. He's reveling in rubbing that in. "Besides it wasn't a client here." He stands up to take his turn and offers Ryan that same sly smirk. "Never have I ever gotten a hard-on while doing a tattoo."
Ryan mutters under his breath. He takes a swig, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Brendon and Walker stare at him, surprise in their eyes.
"You gonna explain?" Brendon asks.
Ryan sets his drink on his thigh. "No."
They stare at him.
He stares back.
I tap my heel against the floor. Look to Em with a shrug. She shrugs back.
This... this isn't too bad. It's fun when it's other people getting thrown under the bus.
Ryan folds his arms with a frown.
Dean laughs and blows him a kiss. He nudges Brendon. "Your go."
Brendon shoots Dean a you're annoying look. "Never have I ever embarrassed my brother in front of all his friends."
"Bullshit. You don't have a brother." Dean looks to Emma. "And I've seen him embarrass you."
Emma nods. "He's the worst."
"Nah, that's me." Dean holds up his drink. "Fair is fair. You've embarrassed your sibling, so—" Dean takes a long sip.
Brendon nods fair is fair and drinks.
Everyone but me drinks.
Ah, for once it's a good thing being an only child.
Walker takes his turn. It's something about tattooing. Leighton's too.
Then it's me. I rack my brain for something that won't out me as a naïve virgin. "Never have I ever fooled around at work."
There are half a dozen fucks at once.
Everyone but Emma drinks.
Ryan shoots Leighton an incredulous look. "Who?"
"Nice girls don't kiss and tell." Her plum lips press into a smile.
"And that's relevant, how?" Dean teases.
They flip each other off.
Emma holds up her drink. "Never have I ever gone to the gym twice in a day."
Brendon takes a drink.
Ryan chuckles.
One of the other guys groans.
Someone complains. "Boring."
Emma shrugs. "I got what I wanted. It's to you, Ryan."
Ryan's expression sticks on Dean. It's like he's a sniper and he's lining up the perfect forehead shot. "Never have I ever lied to a woman about being in love with her."
Dean holds his ground. "You looking at me?"
"Yeah." Ryan stares back at his brother. "You're looking awfully sober."
"I don't have to lie about that shit. I've got a unique charm," Dean says.
Leighton laughs. "Okay."
Walker joins her.
Dean looks to Emma and me. "Back me up, ladies. You'd do me, right?"
Emma laughs. "I like quiet guys."
He mimes being stabbed in the gut.
"And you, Kay?" Dean's gaze flits to Brendon. He's reveling in this too.
I press my lips together. According to Walker, everyone knows. Which means Dean knows too.
This is an opportunity.
I smile back at Dean. "You have a certain charisma."
Dean's smile gets even smugger. "Told you."