Page 312 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet
I wait for Owen to go first.
21
OWEN
Ten pairs of eyes bore into me.
Jillian, Jones, Steven, Brooks, Tobey, Nisha, Hailey, TJ, Reese, and Holden are focused on my face.
The only one who’s not staring at me is River.
He’s studying his plate, but he looks like he’s about to rip the table in half. It’s an unfamiliar look. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him quite like this.
On the surface, the question—am I looking for a boyfriend—is dead easy.
But underneath, I’m a ball of nerves. Have been since I arrived. Wait, make that since this morning.
So I pick the easiest way out of the question. Wriggling away from it. “Sure,” I say, noncommittally, then pick up my fork again, but since I don’t want to choke on the tofurky, I set it down and opt for another drink.
“What are you looking for in a boyfriend, Owen?” Jillian asks. This is typical of her. She’s never met a question she’s unafraid to voice.
But I kinda wish she wasn’t asking this one.
It’s not even because one of my players happens to be here.
It’s because everyone is here, and we’re at the table, and I just want meals to be nice, and pleasant, without any scenes, and then you clean up and do dishes and move the hell on.
Right place, right time, and all that.
Surely, I’ll find the perfect moment so damn soon.
“You know. Just someone nice,” I say breezily, like I can just make the question evaporate.
“Oh my God, you’re so ready to get serious,” Brooks says with glee in his voice. He grabs Steven’s arm. “This makes me so happy.”
Steven laughs, knitting his brow. “You’re happy because he wants to get serious?”
“Of course I am. I like love. I like love stories. He’s going to meet someone on Boyfriend Material like that,” Brooks says, snapping his fingers.
TJ shoots me a crooked grin. “He’s not wrong. You’ve kind of always been a dude magnet, O.”
I dip my face, pick up the fork, consider what the hell to stuff into my mouth so I don’t have to talk.
I don’t want to talk to any of them.
They’re great. Truly, they’re great. But I don’t want to talk about this stuff with anyone but one person.
“That’s true. Owen has never had to buy a drink anywhere,” Nisha says, then turns to me again. “Are you? Ready to get serious?” she asks, rubbing her belly, like that’s the next step for me.
Hailey laughs, shakes her head. “Nish, I doubt he’s thinking about having kids.”
Nisha rolls her eyes self-deprecatingly. “Gah, sorry. I kinda can’t stop touching my belly.”
“It’s a great belly,” I say, and that came out so dumb. I can’t believe anyone lets me speak for them professionally when my words tonight are of theumanddohvariety.
“What I mean is... I just think it would be great to see you with someone who makes you happy,” Nisha adds, “I would love to see that. Bet I’m not the only one of your friends who wants that.” With a playful grin, she gestures to the rest of the table.
TJ lifts his old-fashioned, a smirk on his face. “I’d love to see that, O.”