Gray, Wes, and I shared a short awkward silence after Arch made his exit. I scrambled to find something to talk about. “Ahh, Gray?”
“Yeah?” He questioned.
“What’s it short for?” Surely it was a nickname.
“Nothing. My parents liked the name.”
I tried to pull my foot out of my mouth. “I like it.” I raised my glass to my lips to avoid saying anything more. Gray laughed at my expression. I tried for a whoops face. Hopefully, I pulled it off.
Wes interjected, “Wesley.”
I smiled at him. “I like your name, too, Wes.”
He buffed his nails on his shirt. “Of course you do.” The tension broke with his antics. “Ellie, would you like something to eat?”
Wes was a natural host. He kept trying to make sure I didn’t need anything. “No, I’m good, thanks.” I got up to stretch my legs and glanced around the room. Arch sat at the table, but only two people remained. I checked my phone and found we’d chatted about music and random bits of nothing for two hours. It was after ten.
Arch put the cards they played in their case. The two women at the table got up and waved to the three of us standing by the couches. As they walked out the door, I noticed they were holding hands. Definitely not a love interest of Arch’s then, not that I cared about his love interests.
I swallowed the last bit of my wine and walked the glass to the kitchen sink. Arch’s floor plan was even more open than mine. A half-wall separated my kitchen from my living area, but only an island divided his.
I turned to find Arch, Wes, and Gray sitting at the kitchen table. “I should head out, too.” I didn’t want to leave, but I also didn’t want to be the only person left at a party. The three of them didn’t count, as they were joined at the hip. I leaned against the kitchen island.
“Oh, come on,” protested Arch. “I was about to suggest a movie.” He pointed toward the shelves of movies on his entertainment unit. “Pick one out.”
I stared at the shelves of movies with longing. I hadn’t expected to have so much fun. But Todd’s voice whispered in my ear, “Always leave them wanting more.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “Sorry guys. I promised I’d go by the shelter and walk the cat early tomorrow.”
Gray opened his mouth, but then he snapped it shut. He gave me a concerned glance before speaking. “Don’t you mean walk the dog?” His tone said, ‘Are you okay? You’re talking crazy.’
Laughter bubbled out of my mouth. “I’m considering adopting this cat. He’s a Maine Coon, and someone leash trained him like a dog. If he’s not walked two or three times a day he gets cranky.” I did love that cat.
Wes’s face lit up. “I have a cat. He’s a huge, orange tabby named Lemmy.” He grinned the way only pet owners could—like their pet was their baby—and also a little like a maniac. “You should definitely adopt the shelter kitty. What’s his name?”
“I, uh…” I paused for dramatic effect. “I’ve been calling him Satan. He’s a little bit evil.” I downplayed it because he was a lot evil.
I shouldn’t have worried; they all laughed. Apparently naming a cat after the devil was acceptable in their social circles.
“I’d love to meet Satan,” said Wes. Arch and Gray chimed in the same.
“If I do decide to adopt him, you’ll be the first people I call.” I smiled indulgently at them. They weren’t just pretty faces, they were truly nice guys.I’ve never seen a girl here with Arch, but surely the other two have girlfriends.I rolled my eyes. What did I care if they had girlfriends or not?
“I’ll walk you home,” Wes said. He stood and held out his arm like a cotillion escort. I said my goodbyes to Gray and thanked Arch for inviting me. Then, I took Wes’s arm like it was a normal occurrence for me to be escorted five feet from Arch’s door to mine.
While I dug my key out of my pocket, I tried to convince myself Wes was being big-brotherly and not romantic. Because if he was being romantic… I could get used to that sort of chivalry.
I opened my door. “Thank you for walking me home. I’ve never felt safer in my own hallway.” I gave him a goofy grin to show I was joking. He didn’t know me enough yet to read the tone of my voice.
“Actually, Ellie, I wanted to ask you something.” He rubbed his neck, blond hair barely reaching his hand.
“Sure, what’s up?” Maybe he wanted to go volunteer with me. I’d managed to bring in lots of volunteers over the years.
“Can I ask you out to dinner sometime?” He smiled at me with his panty-melting smile again. He must’ve known the effect it had on women because he flashed it at the perfect time to elicit a ‘yes’ from me.
“I’m about to start a case with your firm. Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?” As much as I’d like to get to know him, I couldn’t afford to do anything to damage my case.
“No, actually. We wouldn’t be able to discuss your case, and I wouldn’t be able to have anything to do with it at work, but as long as we followed the rules, it would be legal and ethical.” His face turned hopeful. “So, dinner?”
