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“Aw, but nobody has the stuff to fill them like you do!” Tristan pouted. “Nobody else will do them justice!”

“I’m sure someone will,” I said, secretly hoping nobody bought them before I could save up.

“Honey, your arse is one of a kind,” Tristan said.

Ryan growled softly behind me for some reason.

“Thank you,” I said, turning to the side as much as Ryan would let me and running my hand over the curve of my bum. “I do think I’ve been eating a bit more lately. These didn’t used to be so snug.”

The growl got louder. Maybe he was hungry.

“I’m never gonna complain about more, babes.” Tristan’s eyes sparkled as he looked. “Can’t have too much of a good thing.”

“You think so?” I asked, still kinda palming my bum a bit, barely aware I was doing it. It was pretty squishy and it felt nice, I thought.

“May all my crochet hooks break if I tell you a lie.” He pushed the shorts over. “So these…are yours.”

“I can’t afford them right now,” I said sadly. “I love them so much, but I can barely keep the B&B running.”

“Then how about you let me gift them to you?” Tristan asked, but he was looking at Ryan not me as he said it. He gave him a wink too. I wasn’t sure I liked it. It made my stomach turn over.

“I couldn’t,” I said weakly. “You put too much effort into them. Someone will come and pay what they’re worth; I know it.”

“Yes, but not everyone deserves them. I made them with you in mind, and I will accept nothing else. It’ll make you happy.”

He was still looking at Ryan. I wasn’t comfortable with it anymore.

“But—”

“I’ll pay for them,” Ryan said, staring back at Tristan and pulling his wallet out.

“You don’t…” I tried, but Ryan was already handing his card over.

Their fingers brushed and I saw Tristan give Ryan another wink as he swiped his card and bagged the shorts for him.

“You’ve made a great choice, babes,” Tristan said, quietly amused by something.

Ryan nodded sharply, taking the bag and letting it hang off his fingers as they silently communicated. I was completely out of the loop, a clear third wheel, and all my horny, happy thoughts from earlier wilted under the rays of the awkwardness and jealousy I was starting to feel.

“I don’t think it was a choice at all,” Ryan said. “You’re very convincing, love.”

Now I really felt sick, hearing that nickname used on someone else. I knew I didn’t have a right to, but I was quietly covetous of being the only “love” Ryan knew. BUT NOT LIKE THAT, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THAT WAS CRAZY. In the normal, less obsessive, less weird, nickname sort of way.

I blotted my burning cheeks as Tristan’s sharp smile widened further, until all his teeth were showing. He played with his braid. “I’d love to see a photo of them on.”

Ryan slipped a hand around my waist, pulling me away from the table. “Yeah, well, we all live with regrets. Life’s a bitch and then you die.”

“I didn’t know your friend was a philosopher, Owain,” Tristan drawled.

“He’s not,” I managed to say at half volume, unable to get more out. “He’s an exterminator. And sometimes a mechanic.”

“What?” Ryan asked, snapping his head down.

“What?” I squeaked back, trying to play dumb, realising what my stupid mouth had just said.

He stared me down and I tried to avoid him seeing the truth in my eyes by squeezing mine shut at the last second.

“Don’t mind me, boys. Owain has my number for those pics. I’ll put them on my website.”