I don’t know much about football, but starting sounds promising. “What position do you play?” Not that I would know what he did if he told me.
“QB.” He shovels a forkful of food into his mouth.
“Quarterback,” Ben clarifies. “He throws the ball, and another guy catches it.”
“Thank you,” I say with a laugh. “I was trying to pretend I had a clue, but I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a game.”
“What?” Brody asks. “Didn’t you go to UT? Their college team is the shit!”
“Language,” Ben chides.
“I was, um…” Warmth creeps up my cheeks. “I was kind of a math nerd.” I shrug. “I was on the math team and spent more hours than not tutoring others.”
“So, no sports?” Brody asks.
“Nope.”
“Parties?”
“Not really.”
“How did you become friends with Brianne?” Ben chuckles. “I’m almost positive Lucas joked she majored in partying.”
I nod and laugh, taking a sip of my crisp wine. “That’s not far from the truth. She was my dormmate, and we hit it off. I guess it’s true when they say opposites attract. Speaking of which… She’s dragging me to poker tonight. She mentioned you’re going.”
“I am. It’s been a while.” He glances at Brody. “You okay with me going to Lucas’s for a few hours?”
“I don’t care,” Brody says. “I’m not a baby. I’ve been left alone plenty, and he only lives one floor down.”
“I know… Just checking.” Ben takes a large gulp of his wine. “Your mom will be back in town tomorrow.”
“Yeah, she texted me.”
“Which you ignored… She wants to know if you can come by and spend some time with her, maybe spend the night.”
Brody’s fork stills. “I have school during the week and football and homework.”
My heart cracks, seeing the sadness in his eyes. At some point, they’re going to have to all talk. From the comments he’s made, I don’t think the issue is with his mom but her fiancé. Since it’s not my business, I keep my mouth shut, enjoying the dinner they made.
Ben looks like he wants to push Brody, but then he sighs. “All right, maybe this weekend. Ted’s out of town, so it’s just her at the house until Sunday. Then she’s flying back out to meet him.”
Brody nods his okay, then goes back to eating his food.
“What if instead of Brody going over there, you guys go out to dinner?” I suggest, going against my previous thought to keep my mouth shut.
Ben glares, but Brody’s face brightens. “Will you go too?” Brody asks. “Please?”
“Oh, umm…” I glance at Ben to save me, but he just smirks, as if saying I walked into that one all on my own. When I look at Brody, he’s eyeing me as if waiting for me to say no and let him down. “Sure. If she’s okay with it.”
“Cool,” Brody says, snatching up his now empty plate.
“Dishes,” Ben calls out as he walks away.
“I’ll do them,” I offer. “You guys cooked. It’s the least I can do.”
Ben clears his throat. “No, you’re the guest. We got it.”
Taking my plate up to the sink, I stop at the trash can to dump the little bit of remaining scraps into it. As I’m pressing my foot on the pedal to pop the top to the garbage, both guys yell, “Wait!” But it’s too late. The open lid has exposed their lie.
“Seriously?” I accuse through a laugh, lifting the disposable aluminum dish. “You ordered food and pretended you cooked it?” Ben looks at me sheepishly while Brody cracks up laughing. “You both owe me a home-cooked meal!”
“That’s what you’re wearing?” Brianne scrunches up her nose at my jeans and hoodie combo paired with my favorite comfy UGGs.
“What? It’s cold out, and I was in heels all day.”
She sighs. “There are going to be good-looking guys there, Savy.”
“So?”
“So, you need to move forward.”
“Bri,” I warn. “I’m going as your wingwoman. That’s it. And I’m only staying for a little while, so whatever you need me to wing better happen quickly.”
She rolls her eyes, returning back to her mirror so she can finish putting her makeup on. Once she’s done, we head upstairs to Lucas’s apartment, where the poker night is happening. When we arrive, a group of guys is sitting around a large circular table, drinking and laughing, with cards in their hands. I look around and count five guys total, all good-looking, just as Brianne mentioned.
“Geez,” I mutter under my breath, making Brianne laugh.
“Told you. Hot guys flock together.”
“Does that include your brother?” I joke.
She crinkles her nose. “I don’t see him like that, but you can’t deny he isn’t ugly.”
“What are you doing here?” Lucas asks, glancing over at us, repeating the same question he asked me earlier today. Great… not off to the best start with my new boss. First, I’m hanging out with his best friend, and now I’m crashing his poker night.