"I just didn't feel up to going gambling tonight. I stayed home and played solitaire and my guitar. Was reading some Carl Rogers before you walked in" Toby said as he turned on the ignition to the truck.
Happy smiled it. "Good for you for not going out. You reading psych stuff reminds me; Peyton pointed out you are the only one among the group that actually has a PhD. Isn't that crazy?"
"You say crazy like I didn't get my PhD when I was 17. Ask me something hard about the human psyche or biology. I promise to deliver a mind scorching answer." Toby countered.
"Haha, I recognize an opportunity to show off when I see one…Although, tell me more about people with intimacy issues; what are the stats on it, is there a cure?" Happy asked.
"Oh Happy, everyone has flaws and weakness; nothing to be ashamed about off. I personally enjoy them, it's part of what makes a person interesting" Toby said.
"Well that attitude explains why you never try to get rid of your gambling problem." Happy shot back.
"Hey, I've been managing, haven't I been relatively good lately. By the way, "Cure" is never a word a psychiatrist can really use. It's hard to cure the mind. We help create awareness and prescribe things to try to reduce variation both within the person's spectrum of behavior and the person's behavior relative to everyone else" Toby answered.
"Still no mind scorching answer to my question…" Happy baited.
"You never give cut me too much slack, one of the many things I love about our relationship." Toby said with half a smile. " You asked for it. Mind scorching begins in 3…2…Based on the research done by…."
Toby babbled on about things Happy didn't really understand. She leaned back in the passenger seat and watched his hands move on and off the steering wheel as they made gestures to match his words. Toby hardly ever went to such details about things and his animation and passion was rather sexy. Lost in thought she didn't realize they had pulled into the drive thru line at Wendy till Toby hit the brake, looked directly at her and asked smugly" So where did I lose you?"
"You win, about a min and a half in." Happy replied.
"Now you know I feel when you say things I don't get" Toby said as they moved further up the queue.
"No I don't. I'm not turned on or impressed" Happy said quickly in attempt to hide the fact she actually had been.
"Oh, so you were very turned on and impressed." Toby teased.
"Was not" Happy said as she threw a old napkin in the car at his face.
"Your lips say no but you eyes say yes." Toby said as he wound down the window." You are impossible" Happy said as he ordered, "2 mini cheeseburgers, one small order of nuggets and a large Dr Pepper please"
"Why did you order a Dr Pepper, don't you like Coke?" Happy asked.
"Dr Pepper is our compromise drink, you don't like Coke, I don't like Sprite. And it's economical to order a large drink. You know you're gonna want a little bubbly to wash down the nuggets. You always do." Toby evenly said.
"You know Doc, sometimes you can be really thoughtful" Happy said.
"I'm always thoughtful, that's what we geniuses do best, thinking" Toby answered as he collected their takeout from the window, deliberately misinterpreting her statement. "Let's head home".
They fell into easy conversation on the way home and their ease continued all through supper-ring.
Happy fell asleep thinking: at least I have Toby.
Toby fell asleep thinking: I am an idiot. Should have asked her out first.
