“Yeah.” He draws in a ragged breath and holds his head in his hands as he whines, “What am I gonna do?”
That’s a good fucking question. Too bad I have no fucking clue. I suck my teeth and think, trying to come up with some kind of plan.
Oliver clears his throat and mumbles, “She told you not to speak with her until you apologize.” Cian nods. See? I knew bringing Ollie would be helpful.
Oliver blinks twice before glancing at me with a slightly wrinkled brow, like I’m supposed to know what he’s thinking. He uncrosses his legs and runs his hands down his brown corduroy pants. “You could… apologize? Tell her the truth. Be vulnerable.”
Cian and I both tilt our heads to the side as we consider Oliver’s idea. Huh. That could work. It seems too easy. “What if it’s some kind of test?”
Cian nods again, and we both stare at Oliver. Why we’ve decided the thirty-year-old virgin with a habitual tendency toward weeping is the person to trust with romantic advice may just be one of the many mysteries of the universe. But considering my less than stellar track record…
Oliver’s eyes sparkle with amusement, probably just as shocked by this turn of events as me. “Well… you said sheknew it was you before you had sex… b-because she said your name during… during,” he clears his throat and croaks out, “…it, right?”
“Yes, yeah—yeah, she definitely said Cian, not Casper.” He dips his head, one corner of his lip lifting slightly at the memory before returning to a frown.
“Why does that matter? She kneed him in the dickafterthey had sex.” I purse my lips and try not to cringe.
The squonk sighs and wraps one arm around his waist, bringing the other up to his mouth to chew on a nail. “Well, that’s because he already failed her test.”
Cian’s eyes widen and he groans. I squint and nod, pretending I understand what the fuck he’s talking about. Oliver sighs and does some weird tongue flick thing. I shudder involuntarily and glance over at Cian, who looks just as flabbergasted as me.
“It tastes like… disappointed hopes. She was expecting something from you,” his tongue flicks out again and my moth drops open as Cian’s shoulders tense. “She’s still waiting. Which means you didn’t ruin it—not yet anyway.”
“What the fuck was that?” Cian’s voice is a low growl.
“Ollie… did you justtastethe man’s lady love right in front of him?” Bold fucking move, because I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what he did. My eyes slide down his unassuming form again with renewed interest. Maybe there’s some suave, kinky stud muffin hiding under the patterned sweaters and boat shoes.
Oliver’s eyes grow comically large and he shakes his head with his hands outstretched in front of him, palms out, “N-no. Not… not like that. It’s just h-her tears.”
“Her tears?” All the piss and vinegar oozes out of Cian at that and his voice sounds uncertain.
“Yeah… well, the memory of them. She—she’s not crying right now.” Oliver shifts uncomfortably and takes a deep breath, “the point is, you couldn’t have ruined it if she’s still waiting.”
A small spark of hope flickers to life in Cian’s eyes and he sits up straighter, “but you said I failed her test.”
“Well… you claimed her as yours and then let her sign up for a dating profile right in front of you…” Oliver squints and tilts his head.
“He’s right. You did do that.” I suck my teeth and nod my head, shrugging my shoulders as I toss it around in my head. That probably didn’t help coupled with the mystery pen pal thing.
Cian glares at me and grits out, “Thank you, Seth.” He sighs and shakes his head, “Gabbi wouldn’t leave. I tried—”
“You didn’t.”
Cian’s eyes darken and he opens his mouth to speak, but Oliver cuts him off, “You showed yourself to fuck her,” anger flashes in Cian’s eyes at Ollie’s, quite frankly, shockingly bold words (who knew he had it in him) and the not-so-friendly ghosts nostrils flare as he stands up abruptly.
Oliver gulps and his shoulders hunch up around his neck as he rushes out, “You didn’t care about Gabbi then—but you wouldn’t show yourself to speak with her about why you didn’t want her to sign up for that site! You basically sent the message that you’ll show up for the physical but not the emotional stuff.” Cian freezes and then weakly flops back down as Ollie huffs out a weary breath.
I roll my lips into my mouth and raise my brow ridges, glancing off to the side. The squonk is right. Holy shit. Cian’s an idiot. I might be too, but I already knew that much. Before either of us can say anything Oliver’s brows crinkle and he flicks his tongue out again.
Cian looks up at him miserably and frowns, “Please stop doing… that.”
Ollie winces and nods before mumbling, “She’s… uh, she’s crying. Now.”
Cian bolts up as if electrocuted and starts to phase through the floor before pausing and mumbling a begrudging, “Thanks.” Oliver and I meet each other’s eyes and nod simultaneously as Cian disappears below.
It’s quiet for a beat and then a slow smirk pulls at my mouth, “Ollie… you fucking beast. You’ve been holding out on me.”
Oliver blushes furiously and shakes his head before clearing his throat, “N-no. I just… I do a lot of people watching. You know… at the café.”
