Chapter 7
Reynolds
I’m not sure what to make of Arlo’s face. He’s nervous about something, but I’m clearly one shot too deep because I can’t put my finger on what’s happening here.
If I could, I’d give Arlo everything. I was sure he knew how I felt, even back before he left for college, and that hasn’t changed. It’s why I never wanted to touch anything even remotely like the conversation we’re having right now.
He wants to be my date.
But he’s nervous—probably to be seen that way with me—and in no time at all, he’ll be gone again.
I’m too old to play these games.
Just as I’m about to open my mouth and tell him to say what he means already, Matti latches onto my arm, jerking my attention to him. “Quick, man, come on! Rick and Toby are getting naked and doing MMA in the snow.”
I shed the confusion from my expression and smirk. “What happened to the no-strippers rule?”
“With how cold it is out there, I doubt we’d see anything anyway.” Matti tugs my arm, getting me to follow him, and I’m about to go when Arlo latches onto my other side.
What the …
“We were talking,” Arlo says pleasantly.
Matti laughs. “Didn’t you hear me? Naked. Outside. MMA.”
“No, no. I heard all about how your frat brothers still haven’t grown up.”
Matti looks like he doesn’t know if Arlo is joking or not. He gives up trying to work it out and turns back to me. “Naked … In the snow.”
Arlo’s grip on my arm tightens, and it occurs to me this is the first time he’s ever put up a fight when Matti’s demanded my attention. My best friend is a great guy, but he’s also the type of person who assumes you want to do whatever he’s interested in.
Normally, I’m totally fine with it. Normally, I barely even notice.
But then Arlo’s hand tightens again, and Matti’s giving me a what are you doing type of look.
How the hell do I choose Arlo without making Matti suspicious?
“Liv will go batshit if two of your groomsmen end up with hypothermia.”
That’ll do it. Matti’s eyes widen as though it never occurred to him, and it’s almost comical the way he’s clearly tossing up whether it’s worth it or not.
“Fuck,” he finally says. “You’re right. Better stop them.”
He rushes off, leaving me with Arlo again. But before I can get a word out, he’s back. “Yeah, I’m gonna need help with these idiots.”
I could kill them.
I don’t mean to look at Arlo, but when I do, his eyes catch mine, and he refuses to look away. “We were sort of … catching up.” It’s a weak excuse, but that’s the effect Arlo has on my brain.
“You can catch up whenever. I have two very drunk idiots on my hands.”
“Get one of your cousins. The wedding’s tomorrow, and Arlo flies out the next day.”
Matti looks at me like I’ve hit my head. “Yeah, to Sunbury. Now get your ass outside.”
Sunbury?
I turn my frown on Arlo, who looks guilty as hell. Which still doesn’t make sense. If he was coming home for a visit, why wouldn’t he say? He always has every other time.
If he’s coming to Sunbury, that’s a good thing. It means we have days, maybe a week—or more—to keep seeing each other.
Unless … surely this whole date suggestion isn’t like a goodbye thing … right?
Nope, don’t like that idea.
A gross stirring hits my gut as I follow Matti to find Rick and Toby. They’re already down to their underwear, flinging snow at each other, and I feel like I’m walking into a porn shoot.
Dear God. Why are straight frat bros suddenly full of the gay when they drink?
Rick tackles Toby and straddles his waist, as Toby’s back arches off the freezing ground. Do they have any clue what they look like right now?
I lean closer to Matti as they continue to wrestle. “We should probably stop them before they start fucking.”
“You think?”
“Can’t imagine their girlfriends would be cool with it.”
“It would make a fun remember the time story though.”
“It definitely wouldn’t.” Also, I’m at least ten years past finding fumbling straight dudes hot.
Thankfully by the time we reach them, they’re both so cold that when Matti and I pull them apart, they have no energy left to fight us.
Toby’s teeth knock together as I lead him to the path toward the villas. I have no idea where his clothes have gone. “My b-balls have retreated b-back inside me.”
“You stripped off in freezing weather. What the hell did you think would happen?”
“I n-never feel an-nything when I’ve b-been drinking.”
“Feel this?” I flick his red, stiff nipple, and he hisses.
“F-fuck you, Reynolds.”
“Aww you wish, babe.”
He’s so drunk he doesn’t even call me out on teasing him when he normally would.
Matti must have grabbed their room keys before we left because we get them inside, tucked into bed, and finally leave again.
It’s been half an hour, and I’m antsy to get back to Arlo. To the conversation that was interrupted and maybe possibly had more meaning than a simple date behind it.
I clear my throat. “How long is Arlo coming home for?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Well, is it a few days, a few weeks …”
Matti laughs. “I really don’t know, man. But you know Arlo, he never stays put for long, and as soon as he gets that itch, he’ll take off.”
That’s exactly what I’m worried I’m about. Arlo isn’t made to be in one spot for long. “Surely he’ll stay for the week until you and Liv head off on your honeymoon?”
“I haven’t asked him.” He looks me over. “Why are you suddenly so worried about what my brother is doing?”
Clearly, I’ve been too obvious. I need to backtrack right the hell now, because telling Matti about us isn’t only my decision. I shrug. “It’s just a fucking question.”
But if I can’t find out off Matti, I’ll have to go straight to the source.
Maybe talking about emotions is something I’ve hidden from because an actual relationship with Arlo feels like a pipedream, but if I do want to find my forever person, this needs to happen first.
Time to stop being a chickenshit.
Time to stop being scared of how much his rejection will hurt.
How a life of never touching him again feels impossible.
I’m doing this.