“I think I heard Pete Daley singing this very song at the farmer’s market the other day,” I continued. “You’realmostas good as he was.”
Brian broke off with a gasp. “Hey!Thatwas a low blow.”
I smiled evilly and shoulder-checked him on my way toward the picnic area. I fished a bag out of my pocket and picked up the stray pieces of trash I found along the path.
“You O’Learians have terrible taste in music anyway,” Brian said haughtily from behind me.
“Us O’Learians? I’m a Camdenite at heart, Bri-bri.”
He shook his head as he caught up to me, then stooped over to pick up a wrapper and put it in my trash bag. “Don’t say that! Be an O’Learian if you can, Dare. O’Leary has a kind of magic about it. Haven’t you noticed?”
“Magic? No, Bri-bri. I know what Liam Mason said about Santa Claus last Christmas, but I personally think the dude was sampling the eggnog, if you know what I mean.” I mimed bringing a bottle to my lips and gave him a significant look.
“Notthat.” Brian nudged his arm into mine. “I mean… romantic magic.” His face turned pink. “Lovemagic.”
“Are you being serious right now?”
“No!” He flushed brighter. “Maybe? I dunno. It just seems like everyone there finds their soulmate.”
Brian had some crazy-assed ideas about love, and I’d known that for a long while. But like everything else about his love life—which, sadly for me, was totally unrelated tomylove life—it was getting harder and harder for me to deal with it like a friend and not a jealous asshole.
I shook my head. “We know some guys who’ve been really fortunate, but it has nothing to do with O’Leary, Bri. They had to work hard for their relationships to succeed. They made their own magic.”
Brian nodded, but I could tell he didn’t really believe me.
It was still early for lunch, and a weekday besides, so we were the only hikers in the picnic area. I hoisted my ass up onto a picnic table, braced my feet on the attached bench, and watched him steadily.
“So, let’s talk about Mark,” I said, though the words were like sandpaper in my mouth.
“Must we? I know you wanna help me, but it feels weird.” Brian stepped up on the bench and pivoted to sit beside me.
“Only if you make it that way,” I countered. “Right now, pretend I’m him and let’s attempt to have a conversation that doesn’t involve you proposing marriage or offering to tattoo his name on your body.”
“Hey!” Brian shoved his shoulder against mine. “That’s second date shit, at minimum.”
“Comforting,” I said dryly. “Come on. Pretend I have pretty blue eyes sparkling with rare, unicorn intelligence.” I batted my lashes. “Chat me up.”
Brian sighed deeply. “Are you related to Jean-Claude Van Damme? Because Jean-Claude VanDamme, you’re sexy.” He tossed me an exaggerated wink.
I gagged. “No cheesy pickup lines. That’sliterallythe worst thing I’ve heard you sayever,and FYI, I was standing close enough to hear the wholekumquat maything.”
Brian grimaced. “Of course you were.”
“Startcasually. Find something in common. Like, um…” My eyes settled on his water bottle, and I flashed him a flirty smile. “Aren’t those the best? I have a blue one at home that’s a little larger.”
Brian glanced from me to the bottle and feigned surprise. “Oh yeah? You’re saying yours is larger than mine? Whip it out, size queen. I need proof.”
“Brian.Focus.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I’m not Dare right now. Keep the conversation going without making it weird.”
“Fine, fine. Um…Yeah, they’re great, not-Dare! I preferred, because it reminds me of the cinnamon red heart candies I used to eat by the bagful when I was a kid.” He smiled adorably.
I couldn’t help but smile back. “Oh my god, I remember that! The second day I knew you, you told me your pee smelled like cinnamon.”
Brian tilted his head mockingly. “Dare. Focus.”
“Oh, shit.” I ran a hand through my hair. “My bad that time. Okay, let’s try again—”
“Let’s not.” Brian waved a hand. “This was never gonna work anyway! I don’t think I could pretend you were a stranger unless I had, like,amnesia. And even then, even if I forgot every minute we’d ever spent together, something in me wouldstillfind something in you easy to talk to. It’s always been that way.”
