“You know Wes Brick, the quarterback for Wilcox?”
“Of course. He’s a great kid. Huge fucking arm.”
“No doubt. The thing is his dad—”
“Calvin,” Dylan says right away. “He’s had problems for years.”
“I know. Things aren’t improving, though. If anything, they’re worse.”
Dylan lets out a frustrated huff. “I’m sorry to hear that. How can I help?”
That’s the thing about Dylan. His first, second, and last question is always, “How can I help?” Doesn’t matter how big he’s gotten or how wealthy—he’s never forgotten where he came from and how blessed he is.
I tell him what Leleila suggested about offering a scholarship through his charity.
“I’ll make a call and see what I can do,” Dylan promises. “It’s a great idea, Bray.”
“It is, but it wasn’t mine,” I say. “A friend suggested it.”
Pause, and I know it’s coming. Sure enough—
“So, who’s this engaged woman you’re into?”
“Fuck, Dylan.”
“Is she the friend who came up with the plan to help Wes?”
I blow out a breath. “Leave it, okay? I’ve already told Cam and Ayd to back the fuck off.”
“I heard.” His tone is amused. “Heard you practically took Cam out. I don’t doubt he deserved it, of course. The little cousin doesn’t know when to shut his mouth.”
“That’s an understatement.” I take a beat. “Look, I’ll fill you in when you come into town. That’s the best I can give you right now.”
“Okay. But on that note, I’m setting you and Cam up at the reception.”
My heart slams against my chest. “No.”
He chuckles. “Why not? Is this woman going to be there? Jasalie told me she said no to her invitation. Although I have to say my wife doesn’t like many people on sight, so if she invited her to our wedding renewal, she must really be something.”
“She is.” I grip the phone tightly. “But she’s not coming. And I’m not being set up. I’ll fucking kill you if you try.”
He laughs again, and I think I get him to agree with me before we hang up.
But do I trust him? Absolutely not. Dylan’s been on a kick to get Cam and me into relationships ever since he married, and I know he won’t give up.
Which means I need to outmaneuver him. And there’s only one way to do that: if I have a date, Dylan can’t set me up. Problem solved.
But I don’t want to go with anyone but Leleila Wills. And she’s not an option.
I pull at my hair with both hands. I’m insane. I’ve totally fucking lost it. I’m hung up on an engaged woman to the point that I’m refusing an offer to be set up with a woman I could actually have sex with?
Yep. That’s exactly what’s going on. Because I don’t want to have sex with anyone if I’m not having sex with Leleila. Which, again, proves how completely screwed I am. In a few short weeks, she’ll be a married woman, to another man, and I won’t be hanging out with her anymore. The idea of no more time with Leleila is like a sucker punch to the gut, and I push the thought out of my head and go take a shower.
Chapter Nineteen
Leleila
“Awesome.” Sophia claps her hands when she shows up at my house the next night. “A wedding cake. Finally something about these upcoming nuptials of yours that’s not drab.”
