Remi places a hand between us. “Yes,” he says to Eduardo, “Colin was my roommate, and now we’re friends.” He sounds like he’s choking on the word.
“More like frenemies.” I smile at the guy because I don’t want any trouble at Steph and Roxy’s party, but he glares at me. How much has Remi told him? “This is your artist friend?”The one you tried to set Gil up with? Even though I leave the last part out, Remi gets my meaning.
“Gil said to bring a date.”
“I thought Steph invited you.”
“So thisisa date?” Eduardo asks, his brows rising to the top of his messy dark hair. Does he look hopeful or terrified?
Remi shakes his head. “Let’s get another drink.”
Mine is almost finished, but when I start to follow, Remi puts a hand on my arm. “Not you.”
Rude. Things get even weirder when I notice Mr. Gym Rat. What is going on here?
Roxy steps in front of me, and I can no longer see the guy with muscles who blends in with all the football players at the party. I’m the outlier. “I’m glad you’re here, Colin.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Roxy. You look gorgeous.”
“You’re so sweet. We need to hang out more. I get tired of listening to all the football and gym talk.” She takes a drink of her margarita. “Speaking of muscled guys, why were you glaring at Ray?”
I sip my drink, thankful to finally have one. “So many people here.” How much should I say? “What’s going on, Roxy?”
She presses her lips together and leans in. “This was supposed to be a small holiday party. And it morphed into thisthing. Steph and Gil are up to something.” She clicks her gorgeous red nails against her glass. “I’m still trying to figure it out. Any ideas?”
Should I tell her? “Gil has gone on a few dates recently—”
“You guys aren’t together? I thought…” She shakes her head. “Go on.”
I ignore the fluttering in my stomach at her words. Has Gil said something? “Anyway, the weird thing is they’re here.”
“The dates? How many?”
I count in my head. “Ten.”
Her perfect eyebrows rise. “They’re all here?”
“Most of them. I mean, they weren’t all dates. Some were—”Possible dates. Guys he almost hooked up.I wave my hand as an explanation.
“Why?”
I shrug. Remi being here makes sense. Sort of. And even Eduardo, as Remi’s friend. Wickett is a football player. I can even understand Ray and Kein. They’re jocks. Sort of. But Darcy works in a library. And why is the twink from the skating rink here? And the himbo from the museum? I’ve never seen the growly bear from the first date, but there are plenty of guys who fit that description, so it’s likely. But why?
Roxy taps the side of her nose, making me love her even more. “I’m going in. I’ll report back when I know more.”
I giggle, and this time, it isn’t the tequila.MaybeI need to do my own sleuthing. Remi would be no help. He has to be in on it. I don’t think Darcy will talk either, and Georgie is giving me irritated looks. I maneuver around the room and stop. Seriously? The guy from the music store? When he notices me, his eyes light up.
“Hey there, cutie. Are you stalking me?”
“Um, no.”Come on, Colin. Get it together. Use your brain.But my brain is listening to my jealous heart. The reason Gil invited all these guys here is obvious. He wants a second chance. He wants to pick a guy to be with. A guy to take care of his virginity. Christmas Eve is his last chance, and although it seems like we have more time, midnight is less than an hour away. What if Gil is getting desperate? And did jerking off with your roommate not count? Is penetration required to lose his V-card? I should have asked more questions. But I hadn’t wanted to know. I shake off those concerns. Here’s my chance to get some answers. I give eighties guy a flirty smile. At least, I hope it looks flirty and not like I have gas. “I should be asking you that question. How did you find me?”
“Find you? This was pure luck, sweetheart.”
Right. Sure. “Are you here with someone?” I touch his sleeve. No T-shirt today. He’s wearing baby-blue baggy pants with a pink polo. You can take the guy out of the retro but not the retro out of the guy.
“Youare here with someone, Colin. Remember?” Gil removes my hand from eighties guy and pulls me away. I wave bye to him over my shoulder, enjoying the irritation—jealousy, maybe?—in Gil’s eyes and the way he almost claims me. “No more tequila for you.”
But another part of me doesn’t like it. Not at all. “You’re the one who invited him, so deal with it.”