Rodrick
Rodrick
R od totally lied to Evie when she asked him if he had followed her. He hadn’t found her by chance. He followed her from the office and sat outside of her apartment, trying to get up the nerve to go up to her place and demand the truth from her. He didn’t believe for one minute that she had a date tonight and he was about to march up to her apartment and tell her just that when she reappeared from her building and got into her car.
He followed her all the way across town, to the same restaurant that he’d taken her to just days earlier. Rod’s heart sank when he saw her hug and kiss the tall, handsome guy waiting for her at the front door of the restaurant. He looked familiar, but Rod couldn’t quite place him. He felt like an idiot for not remembering the guy from his brother’s wedding. Maybe if he had remembered Tyler, he wouldn’t have run into that restaurant and made a complete fool of himself, but it was too late to take that back. He followed Evie in and when he just couldn’t take it anymore, he pretended to be there to eat dinner and happened to stumble across her and her date. What he didn’t plan on was the relief he felt when he found out that she was having dinner with an old friend from college.
Tyler seemed like a great guy. He ordered two meals for takeout and Rod ordered dinner for himself and then offered to buy him a drink while they waited for their meals to be ready. Tyler took him up on his offer and then things got awkwardly quiet.
“So, you knew Nova and Evie in college then?” Rod asked, trying to make small talk.
“Yes,” Tyler said. “We were all roommates for our last two years. We rented this awful little place just off campus, but it was the best two years of my life, you know?” Rod had no idea since the last roommate he had was his brother and they were both minors and had no choice about where they lived. It was one of the reasons why he never really got into a long-term relationship. The commitment of living with someone terrified him. Hell, a woman spending the night at his place terrified him.
“You like her, don’t you?” Tyler asked.
“Nova?” Rod asked, playing dumb. He knew what Tyler was asking him, he just wasn’t sure that he was ready to give the guy a straight answer.
Tyler threw back his head and laughed, and he knew that he wasn’t going to get away with playing the simpleton. “You and I both know that I was asking if you like Evie, Rod,” Tyler insisted.
“You really want to know the answer to that question?” Rod asked.
Tyler nodded, “I wouldn’t have asked it if I didn’t,” he said. “So—you like Evie?”
Rod sighed, “I do,” he said. “I didn’t want to. Hell, when I showed up here a few days ago, to go on the blind date that Nova set us up on, I was going to offer her one drink and then have my friend Luke call me to tell me that there was an emergency at the office, and I had to go back into work. Luke’s the head of security at Alex’s firm, and I thought that it was the perfect excuse. I’d tell my sister-in-law that I tried, but that Evie just wasn’t the girl for me. But then, we started talking and she was charming and sweet, you know? We ordered dinner and I had a really good time.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Tyler asked.
“You would think, but then I put my foot in it and asked her to come work for me,” Rod said.
“Why is that a bad thing?” Tyler questioned.
“Because now, I can’t like her,” Rod said. “I can’t work with her and like her at the same time. When Nova started questioning me, I panicked and told her that we hit it off and that we were together. The lies just kept growing from there and before I knew it, I couldn’t turn the train around and go back. I was stuck and I trapped Evie with me, not thinking about the fact that she wouldn’t be okay with lying to her best friend. She’s too nice for someone like me.”
“This is very true,” Tyler said. “Evie is too nice for any of us. She hasn’t had it very easy when it comes to dating. Once she tells the guy that she’s a virgin, he bolts, as if there’s something wrong with her.”
“So, it’s true then?” Rod asked. “She’s really a virgin?” He wondered how a woman who looked like Evie had gotten through college without losing her virginity.
“Yeah,” Tyler said. “I guess she never found the right guy to have sex with. She’s very particular, but who can blame her? I’ve run through some real assholes trying to find my Mr. Right. I was lucky that Nova put Doug and me together. My husband is the best guy I know. I just hope that someday, Evie can find the same kind of guy and live happily ever after like Nova, and I have found. But if you can’t be that guy for her, Rod, don’t pursue her. Evie deserves the best.”
“Understood,” he agreed. “I’d never do anything to hurt her, man.”
“Good,” Tyler said. “I wouldn’t want to have to kick your ass, Rod.”
“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want to happen, Tyler,” Rod agreed, looking him over. “You’re a good friend. Evie and Nova are both lucky to have you in their lives.”
“Thanks for saying that,” Tyler said. Their food was delivered to the table and Rod insisted on paying for everything since he had interrupted Tyler and Evie’s dinner. “It was good to talk to you, Rod,” Tyler said.
“Thanks, you too, Tyler,” he said.
“Hey,” Tyler shouted, stopping him from walking out the door. “How about you come over to game night on Saturday? I’d love to hang out with you some more and for you to meet my husband.”
“Um, do you think that’s a good idea?” Rod asked.
“Well, you’ll know everyone there,” Tyler said. “How about it?”
“Are you trying to piss Evie off?” Rod questioned. “Because if so, I’m in.” The thought of showing up and being a part of Evie’s weekend plans had him feeling a bit giddy and a whole lot naughty. He just had to be careful not to tell her that he was invited because he knew for certain that she wouldn’t show up if she knew.
“Great,” Tyler said. “Give me your phone,” he ordered. Rod pulled his cell phone from his pocket and handed it over to the guy. He watched as Tyler put his phone number into his phone.
“Text me tomorrow and I’ll send you the address,” he offered.
“Okay,” Rod said, taking back his phone. “What can I bring?”
“We just do munchies and drinks. Bring whatever you’d like,” Tyler said. Rod nodded and watched as his new friend left the restaurant. He shoved his cell phone back into his pocket and thanked the hostess on his way out to his car. Yeah—him showing up at game night might not be his best idea, but he liked the thought of keeping Evie on her toes. He had a feeling that not much surprised her, but he was looking forward to being one of the first to do so.
Alex walked into his office and sat down in front of his desk. “Hey, what’s up, Alex?” Rod asked.
“Well, I’ve just been on the phone with a mutual friend, and I’ve been let in on a little secret,” he said.
“Mutual friend?” Rod asked.
“Yep—Tyler,” Alex said. Rod suddenly felt a little bit sick.
“Oh, he’s a great guy,” Rod said.
“Yeah,” Alex said. “He told me he invited you to game night. I asked him why he had to invite you and why you wouldn’t just come with Evie.” Shit—this was what he had worried about. He wouldn’t lie to his brother; it just wasn’t in him.
“Yeah, about that,” Rod said. “I might have told a little white lie to Nova about Evie and me being together” he admitted. “I just didn’t want her to try to keep putting us together since Evie works for me now, so I came up with the plan to lie to Nova and dragged Evie into it with me.”
“What the fuck, man?” Alex asked. “I can’t believe that you lied to my wife like that. You know that I won’t lie to her, right?”
“I know, and I wouldn’t ask you to,” Rod said.
“I’m guessing that you won’t be at game night then?” Alex asked.
“Why wouldn’t I come to game night? Tyler asked me to be there, and I think that it sounds like fun.”
“Bullshit,” Alex shouted. “You want to be there to make Evie squirm. You like her, don’t you?” he asked. They had been working together for five days now and he had to admit, the more time he spent with her, the more he liked her.
“I do,” Rod admitted. “But it’s not as easy as me just liking her.” He wasn’t about to tell his brother that Evie was a twenty-two-year-old virgin. That wasn’t his business.
“Right, she’d have to like you back and from the angry scowl she wears around you, I’m guessing that she doesn’t feel the same way about you as you feel about her,” Alex assessed.
“Shut up, man,” Rod grumbled. “I don’t know what to do. This all started as a way to get Nova off of our backs. If she didn’t push us into the blind date, we wouldn’t have to lie to her.”
“Wait—you’re not blaming my wife for your lies, are you? Because that’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m pretty sure that once Nova finds out that you weren’t truthful with her, she’ll kick your ass,” Alex warned.
“I figured,” Rod said. “But I can’t go back and change things now. Listen, do me a favor, don’t tell Nova unless she asks.” Alex looked like he wanted to protest, and Rod held up his hands. “I’m not asking you to lie. I’d never ask you to lie to your wife for me but give me some time to figure this all out. I need to figure out how I feel about Evie, and I won’t get that chance if Nova finds out about our lie. If Evie feels like she’s off the hook, she won’t give me a chance.”
“So, lie by omission?” Alex asked.
“If you need to label it, sure, but just don’t tell her about it, unless she outright asks,” Rod said.
Alex ran his hand down his face and groaned. “I really hate this shit, man,” he growled. “But if it means that you might end up with Evie, then I promise to keep your little deception to myself—unless Nova flat out asks me about it.”
“Thanks, Alex,” Rod said. “I appreciate you doing this for me.”
“So, we’ll see you on game night then?” Alex asked.
“Yep, I’ll be there,” Rod said.
“What happens if Evie doesn’t want you there?” Alex asked.
“Well, Tyler was the one who invited me, and it would be rude to tell him no. I’m betting that even if Evie doesn’t want me there, she won’t say anything. She wouldn’t chance Nova finding out about our lie and she’d never make Tyler feel bad about inviting me. She’s sweet like that, you know?” Rod thought that she was the nicest person that he had ever met. He was beginning to look forward to going to work every morning, just so he’d be able to see her beautiful face behind her desk.
“She is,” Alex agreed. “She’s also very innocent. Don’t hurt her, Rod.” He knew exactly how innocent Evie was and that was part of the reason why he didn’t just ask her out again. He knew that if he did—if he admitted to having feelings for her, things could progress, and then what? Could he take her virginity? He had never been with a virgin in his life, not even when he was one. And if he was able to get past her being a virgin, and they had sex, what would happen afterward? He wasn’t sure if he wanted a relationship and that wouldn’t be fair to her. Evie deserved better from him. Hell, she deserved better than him, but he just wasn’t ready to tell her that yet. Instead, he needed for their charade to continue until he could figure his shit out. Then, he’d decide what to do about Evie and her whole virginity issue.