Page 41 of Overtime
“Solo fun together?” She raises her brow.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And now I just want him more. It’s awful. I’m going to have to avoid him for a while I think, or else I’m definitely going to be the one to cave.”
“Well good news, they get on a flight in a couple of days because they’re playing their Thursday night game out of town. He didn’t mention that?”
“No. But that’s good. If I can just make it a few days avoiding him, maybe I’ll get out of this alive. Maybe I find a good cougar bar, find a look-alike, and fuck this out with them. I don’t know. It’s bad, Violet. It’s very bad.”
“First, you’re not a cougar. A mini cougar maybe, and that’s a stretch. Second, you definitely donotfuck this out with someone else.” Violet gives me a grumpy look.
“I’m not serious. Not really. I just don’t want to fuck this up with him again. I like him, just generally. As a person, as a friend. I like having him back in my life to talk to and joke with and spend time around. I like that the four of us can hang out again. If we get involved again, that all goes to hell.”
“Or you fall in love and end up happy like Ben and me.”
“That’s exactly why I haven’t been talking about this with you. Iknewyou would say that. You and your toxic cesspool of optimism. Being in a happy relationship has really rotted your brain Vi.”
“I mean, isn’t it a possibility?”
“It’s a possibility in the same way that it’s possible according to quantum physics for a fully formed and functioning unicorn’s heart to magically pop into existence floating in the air in front of me.Possiblebut so absurdly unlikely that it’s not worth entertaining.”
“I see we’re in that kind of mood. But you remember how badly I protested that Ben and I could never work, and now look at us.”
“Ben was obsessed with you and willing to do whatever it took to get you. And you are far more well-adjusted than I am.”
“Colt’s obsessed with you.”
“Says who?” I eye her carefully because I do want to know if he’s been talking to Ben.
We said we’d try to keep them out of it, but here I am spilling my guts to Violet anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Ben had their own version of morning coffee. Probably morning sports drinks and drills or something football-y. Who knows.
“Says anyone who looks at him. Says the fact he wanted nude photos of you when he’s otherwise a celibate monk. Did he tell you what he wanted the pictures for by the way? As if we all don’t already know.”
“Violet! Have some class.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’ll have you know, he wanted to frame them and put them on the wall. Of his bedroom. Where he’s definitely not going to use them as you’re implying.” I take a sip of my coffee far too soon and end up sputtering it and having to grab a napkin.
“Jesus, Joss. Then stop being obtuse. What was it you said to me, ‘He’s a good boy. Give that poor boy what he wants.’ I think it was something like that.”
“Yeah, he isnota boy anymore.” I raise my brows and smirk as I think of the way he looked last night. “And after last night, I’ve discovered he’s definitely not good all the time.”
“I’maware.”
“Oh yeah? Does Ben know?” I tease her.
“Ha. Ben knows I have eyes like every other woman in this city.”
“In this country if all the features and advertising deals have anything to say about it.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?”
“I don’t know. Not exactly. I know I’m his type. For whatever reason I won that lottery. But the rest of the world would probably think it’s a weird choice for him.”
“You never know. They might like it. Him choosing someone less conventional.”
