Page 12 of Comeback
Brogan laughs and his carefree demeanor returns as we walk into the locker room.
I set my helmet on the top shelf and pull off my pads.
Brogan waits until I look his way again before he says, “Speaking of your type, London has a friend?—”
“No,” I cut in before he can finish. Since she moved in with us, London’s new favorite pastime is setting me up. She works from home as a graphic designer and illustrator, so I don’t even want to know where she meets these women, but every week, it’s someone else that I just have to meet because “she’s so nice” or “her makeup is so pretty” or “she has the coolest job.” Is that really the criteria chicks think guys are using to pick their next date?
“Come on. It’ll be fun. London and I were thinking about going to that new escape room place next weekend. If your date sucks, then you can just hang with us.”
“I’ll literally be trapped in a room with her,” I say and watch for some common sense to strike him in the head.
But Brogan was a hopeless optimist even before he found the love of his life.
“Yeah, but if it goes well, you’ll be glad to be stuck in close quarters.” He does a little shimmy with his hips.
I’m ninety-nine percent sure he just suggested I fuck a first date in an escape room with him and London a few feet away.
“I really wonder about what goes on in your brain,” I tell him.
It’s quiet when I get back to the apartment. I had to stay for some therapy on my ankle, so Brogan came home before me. London left a note for me on the counter that she was having dinner with her sister. It’s become our thing. Since she and Brogan are in constant contact, it isn’t like she needs to tell him when she’s coming and going, but she scribbles a note for me if she’s going to be gone and sometimes, she even adds little drawings to go with it. I get a kick out of it.
I never really imagined having a roommate beyond Brogan, but London is cool and I’m glad to get to know her better. My buddy is head over heels, and I can see why.
Brogan comes out to the living room, hair still wet as he pulls on a black T-shirt.
“I thought you were gone too,” I say.
“No, not yet.”
“Where are you going?” A pang of disappointment hits that I’m going to be here alone tonight. After living with four brothers growing up, I’ve gotten used to people being around all the time.
“Weare going out.” He grins.
“Just you and me?” I can’t remember the last time we did that. These days London is with us and sometimes guys from the team too.
“Yep.”
“Where?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
I’m too excited to question him. I’m showered and ready in ten minutes and we’re heading out to his truck. The hot August day has left the air warm even though the sun is down, and the breeze feels like opening an oven door. Still, a thrum of anticipation works its way through me as I climb up into his passenger seat and he turns up the music.
How many times have we done this? A hundred? A thousand? Not as many in the last year, that’s for sure.
I don’t bother asking again where we’re going until he misses the turn for our favorite bar.
“Trying somewhere new tonight?” I ask.
“Lilac Lounge.”
All my good feelings pool into a pit in my stomach.
“Seriously?”
“What? I thought you’d be excited. Hot girls dancing around.”
Yeah, it’d be great if that hot girl wasn’t Sabrina.
