Wyatt exaggerated the face even more when he was told to knock it off. “They could be. I’ve turned over a new leaf, you know. Maybe I found my sensitive side on the way.” He blinked a couple times, before he sobered at the dressing down. “Okay, okay.” He held his hands up in surrender, edged away from poking at the bear that was Deb’s temper. “I’m not allowed to call myself a mess, but you can say that?” Okay, maybe one more dig. “Ain’t friends supposed to be all supportive and shit? But there you go saying I ain’t special.” He sobered a little again. “I get it though, no martyr complex. I’ll put it away.” For now.
“You’re a pain in my ass, D.” The thing was she wasn’t wrong about how Hawke would react, knew him better than Wyatt did so he let it drop because there was no good way to argue that. “Not up to the challenge? Thought you liked putting people in their place, telling them they got it all wrong.” He could read between the lines, knew what kind of person she was talking about and couldn’t blame her for not wanting to go toe-to-toe in that kind of idiotic conversation.
He shrugged. “Only had to do a couple. I survived.” If only because his patience was a lot longer than most people assumed it was. He could handle a lot before he snapped, including the men working security. “Still got some brain cells working up here.” He tapped his skull, an answer to her question. He ducked away from her hand, but not quick enough and he made a show of rubbing the spot after like it was more sore than it was. “That doesn’t count,” he countered as he reached into her space and made a move like he was going to swipe his grime covered fingers on her face. “Just ‘cause you don’t want to believe it don’t mean it ain’t true.” He had resigned himself to give up on defending against her opinions of his face; years had taught him that it wasn’t worth the fight, but every once in a while he had to react just to test and see if she’d relent.
He barked a laugh out. “That ain’t even the worst thing I’ve been called or the worst thing that’s been said.” Couldn’t have his kind of (former) habits without having a thick skin about insults. “Probably not worth barking up that tree, now that I think about it. Last thing I need is to find out she’s got a grudge still.” Unlikely or she would’ve found him already. The chance of Deb actually taking a census of his former hook ups was pretty slim in his opinion. “Feel like I should apologize for landing you with the fall out though.” The look on Wyatt’s face wasn’t serious at all. “You’re just so damn good at sending ‘em on their way for me though.” His charm had usually only gotten him so far in the let down.
Cringing, he sighed like he was so put upon. “Guess that tree ain’t worth barking up either. It’s just my word against yours now.” He feigned like he couldn’t recognize the narrowed eyes. Best thing to do was not to give her any more to work with or work out.
Usually Lily’s presence wouldn’t signal relief, but it wasn’t normal circumstances, so Wyatt settled into the greeting and the chatter. “Hey kid,” he managed to get in before she was off explaining what had happened and how she had fixed it. It was like trying to keep up with a speeding train though, and Wyatt wasn’t practiced at it. He was still stuck on the name of the dog by the time Lily had reached the end of her words.
“S’cool.” There had been something in there about the dogs poor coordination, but he’d only caught half of it. “Didn’t know you named him.” Maybe he’d been told, but it hadn’t stuck, and engaging Deb’s daughter meant he didn’t have to worry about putting his foot in his mouth and giving anything away.