14
Courtland
Well, this is awkward.
Buzz and Howie have just taken off, leaving me with the other guy.
"Uh, so… I guess I should get going,"
I say, flapping my hand in the general direction of the street.
"Wait. Can I talk to you about something?"
I groan internally.
"Sure. What's up?"
"It's about Buzz."
"What about him?"
Zane lets out a breath that fogs in the cold air and rubs his gloved hands together.
"Can we… Can I buy you a coffee? It's more of an inside conversation."
I rack my brain to come up with a possible excuse for why I can't stay, but the only things I have on my schedule for the day are returning to the inn to annoy Manuel some more and hanging out with Lola in the kitchen…scheming up more ways to annoy Manuel together. Since verbalizing any of that might make me sound like a child, I offer a resigned.
"Sure,"
and head back into the diner with him.
We grab a table by the window, mugs in hand. I take a sip.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well…"
He sweeps his long hair into a ponytail then warms his hands against the sides of the white mug.
"I know we don't know each other that well, which makes this a little uncomfortable…"
Great. Not just any conversation, an uncomfortable one. Where's a practice evacuation drill when you need one?
"And also the timing is kinda weird, what with this being your wedding day and all."
"Buzz did tell you why we're doing this, didn't he?"
"Yeah, he filled me in."
When? What time? What was he wearing?
I take a gulp of coffee. "Great."
"I know you guys are just friends?—"
"Best friends,"
I correct while shooting him something milder than a death glare. A concussion glare, perhaps?
"Right. Best friends. Which is why I need your help."
"With what?"
He takes a few overly dramatic breaths, reaches up to readjust his ponytail, and hits me with it.
"I'm in love with Buzz."
"Excuse me?"
"I know he just got out of a relationship a few months ago and isn't looking or ready for anything, but I swear, there's something between us, Court."
Like my skin wasn’t already crawling, he had to go ahead and call me Court. Only people who I like get to call me that. But I suppose pointing that out would fly in the face of trying to be nice to him for Buzz's sake, so I let it go.
"What makes you so sure there's something between you two?"
Zane leans back, and a huge smile overtakes his face. He resembles Brad Pitt when he was young and hot, so I guess some people might be into that.
"He's just the best guy in the world. To be honest, after the dicks I've dated, I'd given up hope guys like him even existed. He's strong but sensitive. Kind. Funny. Works hard. Opens doors for people. Likes to read. And hike. And just hang out and do cool stuff. And my god, he is hot. Like, I've never seen him take his shirt off, but I almost don't need to. Shirts mold to his muscles. It's insane."
He isn't telling me anything I don't already know.
He also didn't answer my question.
"Buzz is a great guy. I get that. I know because I've known him all my life."
I slide that in there in case he needs reminding.
"But what makes you think there's something between you guys?"
He sighs happily.
"It's hard to explain, but when I'm with him, I just feel so good. Like all is right with the world, and whatever isn't right doesn't matter because we're together. And when he talks to me or looks at me with those big blue eyes…"
"It's like you're the only person in the world?"
I finish for him.
"Yeah."
He clears his throat.
"Shit. That sounds so lame, doesn't it?"
"No. It's not lame. Buzz is special."
He makes everyone feel like that. He makes me feel like that, too.
"I know it's a big ask, but do you think you could put in a good word for me?"
Oh…shit.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know…just get a sense of how he feels about me and maybe plant a seed in his mind that I'd be open to turning our friendship dates into real ones."
Yeah. Let me chase Buzz down right now and do that for ya, buddy.
"I don't know, Zane…"
"Pleeeease."
He puts his hands together like he's a praying emoji come to life, and he elongates the word for so long I say.
"Okay, fine. I'll talk to him,"
just to shut him up.