T h i r s t

t w e n t y t h r e e

Ryan blinked at that, momentarily concerned if she was alright before looking at me.

"Hey. Everything ok?"

"Yeah, I need that shirt you promised. You ok, bub?" Ryan asked, looking at her sprawled against the wall like an eagle.

"Kathy, will you go fetch any spare t-shirts we have?"

"Shirt." She grinned. "Sure. Got ya." She winked and disappeared around the corner. Ryan followed her with his eyes.

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah, she just gets excited." I said casually, waving my hand.

"She's cute, huh?"

"She is." I smiled fondly, remembering the first day when she spilled coffee all over me and then cried for an hour straight. And I didn't even say anything.

"Maybe I'll ask her out." He smirked and my smile faltered.

"I mean, now that you're what, 30? It's nothing personal, but I need to find someone younger."

Despite having made up my mind not to pay him attention, my lips betrayed a smile. I took a seat in my chair and turned my attention to the computer.

"Unless you'd take me back."

"Maybe you should try begging. You look good on your knees." I smirked, logging in.

"Right, because I've had the best teacher." He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, twisting his face into one of . . . pain?

"Oh, Ryan . . . Ryan please . . ." He moaned in a falsetto, and my jaw dropping, my insides melting. I grabbed the prescription pad off the desk and flung it at him, which he expertly warded off, even with his eyes closed. Son of a bitch.

He chuckled, picking it up off the floor and replacing it. I opened up the patient list and pretended to go through it, all the while watching him from the corner of my eye. He had sunk into his chair and swung around, glancing around the room.

"You're doing really well, kitten. This is bigger than my Captain's office."

"Oh, McCarthy made Captain?" I asked on impulse, and the plan to ignore him went smooth out the window.

"Yeah, a year ago." He grinned, probably because I remembered his name. "He's even more of a dick now."

"Well, you know what they say, with great power comes great dickheadedness."

He wheeze laughed again, and it pulled a smile from me.

"That's hilarious. I can't wait to tell my girlfriend. She's a reporter so she'd love it."

I stilled, but recovered quickly. I wasn't looking at him so I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. Please let him be kidding.

"You have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah. Lois."

"She's French?" I looked at him. How the fuck am I supposed to compete with that?

"She kisses me like she is." He whistled, licking his lips. He was joking. He had to be.

"A cop and a reporter. How's that working out?" I clenched my teeth, biting my tongue.

"Pretty good, actually. I give her inside leads and she lets me raw her."

"Sounds like a healthy relationship." I updated Gary's details, clicking on the keys harder than I had to.

"Hey, as long as her, I and the Daily Planet are happy." He shrugged, and I stopped typing mid-word. I made the connection instantly.