“Huh. Okay. Do you have a psychology degree orsomething?”
“No. I speak from experience.” A quick snapshot of pain flashed across his face. It was a rare moment of raw honesty from him. Kyle preferred to hide behind his smile and a truckload of jokes, but under it all was a sensitive guy who had more skeletons in his closet than most. After what he’d just told me, I had to wonder how much suffering he’d done insilence.
Grabbing his hand, I squeezed. “Thankyou.”
“No problem. If you need help with them, I don’t mind. I like having conversations with kids. Grownups never ask me what my third favorite dinosaur is. Besides, it’ll get me out of the scut work. Vadim always puts me on the shittiest detail just becausehecan.”
“You shouldtellJake.”
“Uh…no. And you won’t either. I already have one strike against me with the other guys for being Jake’s brother, but if they think I’m running home to tell my mommy every time they’re mean to me… yeah,notgood.”
“Ooh,” I winced. “I see your point. Never mind. Go back to scrubbingtoilets.”
“I will.Thankyou.”
“So?” I said, a sickly sweet smile forming onmyface.
He picked up immediately on the tease and mimicked my lovesick grin and singsong voice. “So,what?”
“When is Kenziecoming?”
“You already know she’s coming nextFriday.”
“I just want to hear you say it. You always get that goofy look onyourface.”
“That’s just my face. I’m naturallygoofy.”
“Ah, see.” I grabbed Kyle’s jaw and shook it. “There it is. That smile. You love her, and don’t try todenyit.”
“I’m not trying to deny it. I tell her allthetime.”
“So?” I tried again. I had intel on a certain subject straight from the source, Kenzie, and I wantedconfirmation.
Kyle raised his eyebrows. “Sowhat?”
“I know you’re going to propose,” Iblurtedout.
He didn’t even blink at my extortion attempt. “You don’t know shit, Casey. I know how you operate. You’re using fake news to get me to confess to something that doesn’texist.”
“Okay, deny it. Idon’tcare.”
“Yes, you do. Look at you all a-quiver.” He laughed. “You can barely containyourself.”
“Fine. Yes. I’mexcited.”
“What makes you think I’m going to propose?” he asked, more interested in my answer than he was trying toleton.
“Um… gee, Kyle. Maybe it’s because you were asking my opinion on what her ring size might be? I just naturally deduced from there. Plus Kenzie keeps talking about it. Apparently you asked her the samequestion.”
“And she took that to mean I was going to propose?” he asked, seemingly surprised that any girl would come to such a preposterousconclusion.
“Um, yeah. Of course. Whywouldn’tshe?”
Kyle appeared stumped by that one. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. “What if I were just getting her a skull ring orsomething?”
“Then you might want to duck after giving it to her because that’s not at all what she’ll beexpecting.”
“Great,” he mumbled, suddenly distracted bythewall.
