His phone goes off in his pocket and he pulls it out. Then his mouth falls open and he glares at me. “You told your sisters how big my dick is?”
“What?” I grab for his phone and read the text that just came in.
Josh: So I heard your dick is gargantuan and that you know how to use it. I guess things went well with Lark, huh?
I bury my face in my hands and groan. Then I look up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. Star must have told him.”
Ryan grins and kisses me quickly, and then starts typing into the phone.
I take it from him when he’s done.
Ryan: I can’t help it if your wife’s jealous because my dick is bigger than yours.
Another text comes in and Ryan laughs.
Josh: Dude, my wife likes my dick just fine.
Ryan (with me watching him type over his shoulder): Then why are you texting me about the size of my dick?
Josh: Because that girl is like a sister to me, and if you hurt her, you and your gargantuan dick will soon be parted, because I’ll chop the fucker off. You feel me?
Ryan (after giving the front of his jeans a little pat for good measure): I don’t want to feel you. I do, however, UNDERSTAND you.
Josh: Good. Have fun today. Tell your mom I said happy birthday.
“He knows your mom?” I ask Ryan.
“She comes into the tattoo shop when we’re both there sometimes. She likes him. Says he’s funny.”
“I don’t think him texting you about personal stuff is very funny.”
“Are you kidding? That shit’s hilarious.”
I hide my face a little in shame and then look up at him. “I’m sorry I talked about our private stuff with my sisters.”
He kisses my forehead again. “It’s okay.”
“You’re not mad?”
He shakes his head. “If you told them really personal stuff, it might bother me. But not girl talk, no.”
“What qualifies as personal stuff?” I bite my lower lip.
“Like if we were arguing and I said something stupid and you told them and they held it against me. That might bother me. But not girl talk.” He grins at me. “You gloat about the size of my dick all you want.” He waggles his eyebrows playfully. “I want to shout to the whole world about how tight your * was. But I won’t say a word, because that was special to me.”
I tilt his face up so I can look into his dark eyes. “It was special to me too.”
He nods.
“Peck was talking about how Sam’s dick is pierced, and I just kind of fell into the conversation—”
“It’s okay!” he says dramatically. “I think it’s sweet that Josh wants to protect you.”
“I’m going to kill him,” I mutter to myself.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What did you say?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He glowers at me. “It does matter. What did you say?”
“I said I’m going to kill him for even texting you. That’s all.”
“He already warned me about you.”
“He did?”
“Yes, after our first date.”
“Oh.”
“He loves Star and Star loves you. It’s only natural for him to feel protective.”
I nod and settle back against the seat. “So, is there anything I should know about your mom?”
He smiles wolfishly at me as the car slows down in front of a small brownstone. “You’ll have to ask her yourself.” He gets out of the car and holds a hand out to me. “Ready?”
No, not really. I wish I’d worn something else, something that didn’t show sweat at all, because I’m worried I’ll walk in with pit stains. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous. But I put my hand in his and let him pull me from the car. He gathers my gift and we walk hand in hand up the sidewalk.
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “I could hold your hand forever,” he says, staring into my eyes. “Ready?” he asks. “Take a deep breath.” I do, but I feel like I’m about to pass out.
“I just hope she likes me,” I admit. Then I square my shoulders.