Page 134 of Pucking Wild

“Leave me out of it,” he says.

“Don’t worry, Metaphor. We’ll make yours a crop top,” Sanford teases.

I just shake my head, glancing between them. “You guys are fucking crazy.”

Jake laughs. “Are we done here, Hades?” he calls over his shoulder. “You hear what you needed to hear?”

Slowly, Doc nods.

“Sorry, Langers,” he says at me. “We had to bring down the heavy on you. We needed to know where you stand. In case you’re worried, you passed the test.”

“With flying colors,” Sanny adds.

“Well, thank God for small fucking mercies.” I slip around her guys and head her way. “I’ve got PT with Brady for the next forty-five minutes. And then I’m coming back over here, and as punishment for Jake hitting me, you’re gonna tell me how I can get in good with Tess. I am not messing this up, alright?”

“I thought you just told me to back the fuck off?” she replies coolly.

“Look, I don’t need any help running her off. That woman was born with a pair of Nike Airs strapped to her feet.”

That earns me a smirk, which I’m gonna call progress.

I step closer, gazing down at her. “Give me something. Doc. One thing I can use to reach her and show her that I mean to stick around. That I’m good for—well, that I’m good for more than just being friends.”

She sighs, leaning against the doorframe. “You really like her?”

“I think I’m falling in love with her,” I admit. My eyes go wide to mirror hers, and I realize too late my mistake. “Oh—please, God, don’t tell her. Please—fuck—I know you have your girl code that you have to share everything, but Doc,please. She’ll run so fucking fast. She’s not ready. She—”

“Ryan,” she says with a soft laugh, placing her hand on my arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I won’t tell her, okay? You’re right. If you tell her that right now, we’ll be repairing a Tess-shaped hole in Ilmari’s wall.”

“So, what do I do?” I press, searching her face. “How do I reach her?”

She gives me another long look, like she’s measuring me up. Finally, her shoulders relax a little, and I know I’ve passed some important best friend test. I drop my hands back to my sides. “For as much as that girl loves to talk, her love language is action.”

“Her—what?”

“Service, Ryan,” she clarifies. “Acts of service. You can’t tell Tess you love her and make her believe you. She won’t. It’s not in her nature. Your best chance is to show her.”

I clap my hands together, brain whirring. “Right, show her. I can do that. Wait—how do you show someone you love them? Flowers? Chocolates?”

She smirks. “Is this a Hallmark movie? Are you gonna teach her the true meaning of Christmas, too, Langley?”

“Well, fuck, I don’t know,” I cry, my frustration rising. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never tried to show a woman I love her.”

“Honestly, that will probably help. Don’t think about what youshoulddo or what others have done. You need to do what feels right and natural to you. You’re a smart guy, Langley. I’m sure you can figure this out.”

I nod, my brain still working in overdrive as I turn away.

“Hey, Ryan,” Doc calls, breaking my concentration.

I glance over my shoulder, glaring when I see the set of hers. “What now? You gonna threaten me again? List the ways you’ll hurt me if I hurt her?”

“No. I’ll leave the threats to my three-headed guard dog,” she adds with a smirk.

I roll my eyes.

“I was just going to say I think she has a volunteer training event over at Mickler’s Beach today.”

“Yeah, I know. What do you—” And then I go still, my brain crunching on this new information. “Ohhh…and that would?”

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