Mr. Swoony (The Nest #3)

Chapter 9

Nine

Conor

My condo feels like a jail cell because I cannot stop thinking about Eloise and the fact that she’s getting married today. I walk out of our security gate, seeing a new sign plastered there. The Nest is written in girly script with notes and phone numbers from puck bunnies who know this is where three of the Chicago Falcons reside. I really should be plucking off a number and calling one of them to get my mind off who will soon be a married woman.

Instead, I walk into Peeper’s Alley, the bar under our building, and find the usual group of regulars there. Every bar stool is occupied by an older man with a beer mug in his hand and both eyes glued to the televisions above him. By the night’s end, two or four of them will end up in some heated argument about the Colts since Chicago baseball is in season right now.

“Hey, Rubes.” I bypass the owner, who reserves a backroom for us Falcons and whoever we’re with.

“Why are you here so early?” She eyes me the entire way to the backroom.

I don’t bother answering, instead shutting the door behind me. I grab the remote and turn on the television, sitting at the big round table in the middle of the room. The door opens behind me, which I expected.

“I’m not serving you any alcohol,” Ruby says, standing at my right.

“Fine. I’ll have a water.”

“Fine.”

She doesn’t argue. That’s not Ruby’s style. She just tells you how it is.

I watch the Colts for a bit, thankful it’s an away game because we live across from the baseball field. I would not have the patience to deal with all the fans today. Easton Bailey ties up the game with a double to left field, and I hear the guys in the bar cheer.

A bottle of water is placed in front of me. “Here’s your water.”

“Thanks, Ruby.”

She slides the chair out next to me and sits. “Okay, I was going to let you sit here and stew about whatever’s up your ass, but Kyleigh told me I need to be nicer.” She leans back and crosses her arms.

“Shouldn’t you be watching the bar?”

“Please, those guys would never try to take something for free. They know I’d cut off their fingers.” She waves. “So, let’s have it.”

I blow out a breath. “It’s just woman bullshit.”

“Oh no, you too? First Rowan, then Henry, and now you. Pretty soon, you’re all going to leave, and I’ll have to train a whole new group of entitled athletes. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I don’t like new people.”

“You’ll always have Tweetie.” I crack open my bottle of water and down a third of it.

“Nah, eventually he’ll get his head out of his ass and get out of his own way. I don’t have all day here, so let’s go. Tell me what the problem is.” She crosses her legs and grabs the remote, muting the television. “If you don’t start talking, I’m gonna turn the damn thing off.”

I huff and spin my water bottle around. “I met a woman last weekend, and I’m sure you don’t believe in this, but I felt an instant connection with her.”

“Oh, that.” She pats my shoulder and stands from the chair. “It’s lust. It’s just your dick talking, forget it.”

“Rubes,” I plead because I need someone’s advice on this matter.

I’ve already ruled out my friends, and Kyleigh is way too close to the situation for me to talk to her about it. She’s just starting her brand, and then one of the first dresses she designs, her brother steals the bride? Not a good look. And that’s assuming Eloise feels the same way about me.

“Oh, fine.” She sits back down. “Instant chemistry. Like the movies?”

I nod.

She blows out a breath, and her eyes roll back. “Okay, well, go after her. I know she’s your sister, but your boy Rowan chased Kyleigh hard. Showing up here and interrupting our time with iced coffees every day? That’s what you gotta do. Show her the good guy you are.”

“There’s a catch.” I twirl my bottle again.

“Always is.” She huffs.

“She’s getting married today.” I turn to face Ruby, and her face shows no reaction. There’s no expression other than her usual boredom. “Did you hear me?”

“I already don’t like her.” She puts her hands on her knees to stand.

“You’d like her. She’s Jade’s friend.”

She sits back down. “Jade and Henry are okay with you pining away for their friend who’s getting married today?”

“They don’t know.”

She nods slowly. “That makes more sense.” Ruby pushes her chair back and stands. “My advice is that you sit in this room all night. I’m sorry, but you lost out. Maybe you’ll find out she canceled the wedding. But if she marries that guy, you move on. It means she wasn’t meant for you.” She pats me on the shoulder.

“Rubes, do you believe in soul mates?”

She laughs, her hand resting on the door. “I wouldn’t own this bar if I believed in soul mates. What kind of shot do you want? On the house.”

“So I can drink now?”

“I always serve broken hearts.” She walks out, and I assume she’ll pick the shot for me. “Oh, great, you three can cheer this guy up,” I hear her say.

The three rookies who think of this room as theirs walk in.

“Hey, chipmunks,” I say.

“Water? What is this? We’re not even in season.” The guy we call Alvin sits down next to me.

The other two, Simon and Theodore, follow suit. These three are more attached than Rowan, Henry, Tweetie, and I are. But it’s good to have close friends in the league.

None of my friends are around. In fact, two of them are attending Eloise’s wedding today. So, I’m going to seek the advice of these younger, fresh-faced players.

A half hour later, Ruby hasn’t just brought me one shot, but four—with the encouragement of the chipmunks—and now I’m babbling about Eloise as if she was mine at some point, when, in reality, it was only one night that we shared.

“Where is this wedding?” Simon asks.

I saw the invitation on Henry and Jade’s fridge when we helped them move furniture around earlier this week. Talk about a punch to the fucking gut. “It’s up in Winnetka.”

“And Henry’s there?” Simon asks.

“Yeah. And Rowan.”

“We should go to the wedding,” Alvin says.

“Hell yeah, we should,” Theodore adds.

“I’ll call an Uber.” Simon picks up his phone off the table.

“Nah, guys, she’s obviously happy with the asshole. Let her marry him.”

“Are you sure?” Simon asks, holding up his phone.

“Yeah, but I’ll take another shot,” I say.

“You got it.” Theodore stands and heads out of the room.

I lean back in my chair. “She was fucking beautiful though…” I shake my head, reliving that night for the umpteenth time.

“We saw her. She was.” Alvin pats me on the back.

“Not helping.” I lift the drink one of them got me at some point. I think it’s my second. Maybe it’s my third. “But this will help me forget.” I down it in one gulp.

Theodore comes in with another tray of shots, then Simon gets the next round ten minutes later.

“You’re getting him up to his place,” Ruby says, delivering another round of drinks a half hour later.

“I’m just upstairs,” I say, feeling buzzed but not completely smashed.

I pick up my phone at some point and see that Jade has posted a pic on her social of her and Henry dressed for the wedding. At the wedding where she’ll walk down the aisle before Eloise.

“You know what?” I put down my drink. “What’s the harm, right?”

“What?” Alvin asks, probably sick of listening to me by now.

“Going to watch her marry him. It’ll do me good.” Yes, this is a great idea. It’ll solidify the fact that she’s not mine. Really drive the point home. Then I can move on.

“You should go in there and stop the wedding,” Alvin says. “If she means that much to you, and you’re this upset, I’d say it’s justified.”

“I second that. You’ll be saving her from a lifetime of misery.” Simon nods.

“Go get your girl. You can’t ignore these connections. That’s how people end up like my parents. Unhappily married and yearning for other people,” Theodore says.

We all look at him because that’s some deep shit.

“He’s right. I saw this psychologist on my feed the other day, and he was talking about how many sexless marriages there are. Usually, people are married but still in love with someone from their past, but since they couldn’t get them, they settled. You don’t want to settle, man,” Alvin says. “Neither of you should. You owe it to her if you care about her!”

They’re so right. Why didn’t I see it before now? I need to stop this wedding!

I down my drink and stand. “You’re right. I’m Conor fucking Nilsen. And I’m not stupid. I know she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. I’d be saving us both.” I drop the glass on the table.

Tweetie comes into the room. “What are you assholes doing here midday? And why is Ruby letting you all get smashed?”

I pat him on the chest. “I gotta go.”

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“This is gonna be epic. We’re coming with,” one of the chipmunks says, but I’m not sure which one.

I’m already halfway across the bar.

“Where are you fuckers going?” Tweetie asks, following.

“I already ordered the Uber.” Simon raises his hand, and a car pulls up along the curb.

We all file into the Uber and head to the church.

Is this what a white knight feels like? Because I feel badass.