“You know that didn’t work,” he says, a touch of smugness as his lips curl. “My ink did nothing for you.”
“The kiss was nice,” I counter, just to see his expression.
He chuckles, deep and lazy. “Of course it was. We’re both excellent kissers.”
I tilt my head, feigning thoughtfulness. “You don’t lick.”
He throws his head back laughing, the sound full and warm. “Oh, that’s a safe sex thing. Necessary, not preferred.”
Even when he drives me crazy, Julian’s presence is predictable, comforting. Our teasing leaves no mark, and our truth draws no blood. If we’d never kissed in med school, maybe it’d be different between us. Maybe that’s what happened to Nate and Tessa, they never kissed, so when they did?—
“I like us this way. Team Neuro.” Julian’s voice drags me out of my thoughts. Some tension flickers through his shoulders. “Well.” He rubs the back of his neck, not meeting my eyes. “I was with a woman last Thursday. The condom broke. So… yeah. There’s that.”
I stare at him, waiting for him to laugh. “You’re serious.”
He nods.
“Well,” I drag the syllable, unsure what to say. “You all right?”
He lets out a shaky breath through puffed-out cheeks. “I have to get tested.”
“Anything I can do?”
His smirks. “Including testing support?”
“Especiallytesting support.” I squeeze his elbow closest to me.
“Anyway…” He bumps my hip, changing gears. “If you’re feeling…lonely, you don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
I laugh, the sound surprising me with how easy it feels in my chest. “Only to myself.”
Julian shrugs, a small, genuine smile replacing the smirk. “You owe orgasms to yourself.”
I laugh, but it dies somewhat quickly. “You think I’m ready?”
He just looks at me, eyes steady, kind. “Doesn’t matter what I think. All that matters is if you want to find out.”
I do want to find out. It’s not about touch, though, it’s about how I now don’t have to nurture Nate’s dream on top of my own. I can be anywhere, anytime.Before I answer, the bartender slides a tray toward me, helping us load the shots, a bowl of lime wedges, and several saltshakers. As we walk back, the noise from the patio rushes back in, loud and alive.
As I put the tray on the long table, Julian raises his glass toward the group. “To Robyn!”
I roll my eyes but clink anyway. The tequila travels down my throat, sweet, sour, and sharp enough to make my eyes water. Daniel reaches around me to grab the pitcher to refill his beer.
He glances over at the dartboard. “You were gone forever.” His grin widens. “I thought you were about to forfeit the game. I’d have won, you know?”
“I thought it’d be fun to dangle the win in front of you,” I say, stepping up beside him.
He tilts his head, voice dropping lower. “Show me then.”
“As if you could stop me.” I wink.
He only laughs, eyes bright under the low amber light. His hair catches a gold edge, all ash blond and a little messy from the heat of the room. He’s broad through the shoulders, with an athletic build. Positioning behind the line, I aim and hit a decent single twenty. Daniel tries, and the dart hits metal and bounces off the board.
I take the darts from him and move closer, my palm finding the solid muscle of his forearm as I nudge it upward. “Try like this. Elbow steady.”
My fingers graze warm skin. Moving upward, I place my hand on his shoulders and adjust him. He’s watching me now, not the dartboard, and a small smile plays at the corner of his mouth.
“Do it,” I say close to him.
