Ryan stroked the skin on my shoulders softly. "Then you owe me some sugar at least."

Hours later, he was walking me up to my apartment, his smooth hand trailed laps across my shoulder blades. I was a little buzzed from all the wine I'd drank at the wedding, and I knew for a fact that Ryan was sober. He drank a single beer while we ate, and that had been the only thing he had apart from water. It was a little after midnight by the time he was dropping me off, telling me funny stories about things that had happened at the hospital. He was such a nice, goofy guy just like his beloved sister.

"Want to come in?" I asked while unlocking the front door. I felt comfortable enough asking him inside because I knew he was aware of the fact that nothing would go on between us that could ruin our friendship. He had rubbed his boner against me countless times in the past so even if we kissed, it wouldn't be any worse than that. To be honest, I really wouldn't mind those pink lips on me. I liked kissing and had missed the feeling you shared when you kissed someone right on the mouth.

He gave me a silly smile almost like he thought I was an idiot. "You know the answer to that... but I should be getting home, I have an early shift tomorrow." He stepped forward, holding my face between my hands. "Thank you for coming with me."

Ryan leaned in searching my eyes to make sure I was not going to kick him in the balls before he brushed those thin, light pink lips against mine. He kissed the corners of my mouth and it just felt nice. I kissed him back after the second, his hand trailed up to cup the back of my neck while the other rested on my hip. We kissed more; long, sweet kisses with our mouths closed until my phone started ringing from its spot in my purse. He pulled away giving me a sheepish smile.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled, digging into my clutch to silence my phone.

Ryan grinned at me, shrugging. "Don't worry about it. I really should get going."

"Okay," I managed to respond with a sigh.

He leaned into me again and pressed his lips against mine one last time briefly. "Goodnight, beautiful." Ryan smiled and headed back down to his car.

I couldn't help but smile as I went into my apartment and stripped out of my clothes to get ready for bed. Ryan was a good friend in a completely different league than any of my other friends including Tristan, and I was lucky to have him. There weren't any expectations with him or any hope of heartbreak; he'd kiss me as many times as I'd let him and we'd still be fine. I finally crawled into bed with the lingering feeling of warm lips on mine.

Chapter 40

I felt like the worst friend in the world the next morning when I unlocked my phone to see the missed call in my log.

Shit. I'd completely forgotten that my phone rang while Ryan and I were outside. It was from Tristan just like he had promised. I glanced at the clock and noticed it was around ten already. Chances were that he was probably up and about. Pressing the screen to call him, I cleared my throat a bit while it rang. After about two rings a throaty voice coughed on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mag, it's Kat. I'm sorry I didn't call you back last night," I apologized.

He coughed once more and yawned long and low. "Hey," he said in a much cheerier voice than I expected. "I was worried about you."

I groaned to myself feeling really fucking guilty that I didn't call him back. "I'm fine, Ryan had just dropped me off when you called, and then I fell asleep. You okay?"

"Oh." He was silent a moment too long before he sighed this pitiful, drawn out noise that sounded like defeat. "Yeah, I'm okay," he answered but his voice had lost that cheery edge to it.