If Time Stands Still

13- it's a guy thing

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Aylin's POV

"...and this girl was just smoking out in the open. I would've taken it, but they're not pet friendly and I've always wanted a dog." Zayn tells me, though I'm struggling to keep up since my mind is focused on the brief encounter with Teagan earlier.

"Even more so since we got this new little guy in, Toby, he's a Labrador. He's up for adoption though, and since he's a puppy, I'm a bit worried that he'll be high in demand, you know?" I nod since all I heard was a question, trying my best to give him my attention as he adorably rambles on. It's hard to keep up with how fast he's talking, as well as his accent.

"I mean, of course I'd want all the pets to go to loving homes, but there's just something about Toby that's special. Like, I need to be the one adopting him."

"So why aren't you adopting him again?" I finally speak up.

"Were you not listening?" Zayn chuckles, "I can't until I've got my own place."

"Right." I smile sheepishly.

"You okay? You've been quiet the entire drive." He points out, caressing my hand which he hasn't let go of since we left a half hour ago. It's surprisingly comforting.

"It's just this thing with Teagan." I sigh. "He can be a pain. He makes it hard for me at work sometimes."

"That's why you took the week off?" Zayn asks, connecting the dots with ease, unless that was a lucky guess. Either way, he's right.

"Yeah."

"I can't really put my finger on it, but he gives off this eerie vibe." He shudders, glaring straight out the windscreen. "Just the way he tried having a stare off with me. It was quite disturbing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to assert dominance."

I can't help but snort at the last part, but Zayn looks as serious as they come. "Assert dominance? This isn't dogs we're talking about."

"It's not just with animals. It's a guy thing, Aylin." He looks my way briefly, but I'm not convinced. "What? It is! I get it a lot."

"What? Like your aunts boyfriends being intimidated by you?" I sneer.

"It's not me being conceited, I swear to God." He clarifies, "It's just a thing. Ask Luke tomorrow, he'll confirm."

"Okay," I decide to play along, "assert dominance for what though?"

"It's just a thing." He says defeatedly, "It's done subconsciously or when they feel threatened."

"They? You mean we?" I raise my brow at him, "Or are you taking yourself out of that equation?"

"Again, not being full of myself, but I've grown out of that shìt. Consciously, I mean. I hardly ever feel threatened." He declares.

I nod at that, admiring his confidence, yet I can't help but tease him a little more. I live for pushing people's buttons.

"So you weren't threatened by Clinton the other day?"

He scoffs, "No."

"Sure." I bite my lip, holding back my amusement.

"Why would I be?"

"I don't know. It's a guy thing." I repeat, using his words against him.

"Have I told you that you're irritating?"