Page 122

Troy nodded his understanding. “I see. Well, just as a precaution, you should know it’s not going to stop pregnancy unless they’re on the pill.”

Simmons closed his eyes, nodding again. “Yeah, I know.”

Troy hesitated, wondering if he should pry further, but decided at the last minute to pull back. Dean reminded himself that his patient’s personal lives were only relevant up to a certain point. Maybe Troy asked a few too many questions, and if the Private’s reaction was any indication, Troy should try holding himself back more often.

“Well, I’ll give you the works, and you should have the full results in a week. How’s that sound?” Troy asked as he finished typing and set the tablet aside.

“That would be great.”

Troy winked. “Then let’s get started.”

With the Privatesent on his way, Troy returned to the office. The merciless tapping on a keyboard gave him pause, but he knew he couldn’t stay out of the office forever. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the room, surveying it quickly and trying to measure Dean’s mood.

Dean paused, looking over his shoulder before seeing Troy and turning back to his computer. The glance was enough for Troy to realize that a great deal of Dean’s anger seemed to have dissipated. More worrisome were the dark circles on Dean’s face.

“Get Simmons taken care of?” Dean asked.

Troy watched him carefully, taking the other chair. “Yeah, he just wanted to get a check for theitchies.”

It took Dean a moment before he snorted. “Really, Troy?”

“What?”

“I shouldn’t have to ask, but you did not refer to an STI test as ‘checking for the itchies’ to him, right?”

“What, worried he’ll be upset? I don’t think he would have noticed after you took both our heads clean off.”

It was said with a wink and a smile, which Dean didn’t see with his back turned to Troy. He couldn’t see Dean’s face but saw the man’s shoulders hunch slightly as though trying to hide it. In Troy’s experience, Dean was an expressive and easy-to-read man who didn’t hide his moods or thoughts often.

Troy decided to push a little harder. “You, uh, seem to be in a better mood now.”

“No, I’m still a miserable asshole. I just can’t keep being a grumpy one.”

It was a point in Dean’s favor that the man knew he was being unbearable. Truth be told, Troy was more worried about Dean than annoyed. As much as he’d tried to play it off in front of Private Simmons, Troy didn’t like the idea of Dean and Sloane fighting.

Troy had never said it, but helikedthem together. Hell, if they’d been a couple, he would have probably thrown a damn party. Admittedly, Sloane would growl at everyone the whole time, but no one would be surprised. The two were good together, giving Troy hope that there were bonds out there like the two men, which could get through almost anything.

Kind of like what Troy thought he’d had once upon a time.

Dean looked up. “I’ve been that bad, huh?”

Troy shook himself, glad he’d been quiet enough to warrant a comment from Dean. It was a little too easy for Troy to get lost in thoughts of the past if he allowed it, especially if he started thinking about regrets and lost love.

Troy sighed and shrugged. “I mean, you’ve obviously been one grumpy asshole, but you haven’t been like...terrible.”

“Meaning I’ve been downright unbearable.”

Troy laughed, reaching to pat Dean’s shoulder. “Alright, maybe you’ve been a bit much. Does that make you feel better?”

“Why the hell would that make me feel better?”

“Would talking about it make you feel better?”

Dean scrunched his face up, shaking his head. “Not really.”

“Is that a not really because you and Sloane are eventually going to stop arguing over whatever it was, or a not really because you just don’t want to talk about it?”

Dean looked at him suspiciously. “How did you know it had to do with Sloane?”