“He’s acting out,” was Dinessa’s response to it all.
“Yes, exactly.” Ted shot Ryan a triumphant look.
“But Ryan is right. He just wants your attention,” she added.
Ted sighed.
Finally, in the car on the way back to their own apartment, Ted realized, “Possibly I should not have called him useless.” He stood by the rest, though. Wally couldn’t be allowed to get away with hurting people just because he’d had a shitty childhood. So had Ted.
Ryan just smiled. “Possibly.”
“If he wanted to make me angry, he got it. But he can’t drag others—or my company—into it.”
“Totally,” Ryan agreed.
“Do you think I should apologize?” Ted asked, almost a challenge.
“No.” Ryan paused. “Well, maybe just for the useless thing.”
“Fuck.” Ted sighed. “Can I text it?”
Ryan raised his eyebrows and side-eyed
