I think back to last night. “It’s about Maggie,” I say.
“WhataboutMaggie?”
I grab a hand towel and toss it around the back of my neck. “We kissed.”
“Youkissed?Beau is going to kill you.”
“Plus, Maggie and I won some romantic date for two by telling a version of his and Kirsten’s love story. We changed the names, of course.”
“Was this that thing at the Coffee Loft?” Luke opens the door to the steam room.
“Yep.” As soon as I walk inside, the damp heat clings to my skin, fills my nostrils, and goes straight to my lungs.
It’s quiet, save the hush of the steam pouring into the space with an airy blast. Once it stops, I rest my head and take in the penetrating heat. Moisture drips from the ceiling and splats on my legs, shoulders, and head.
“Maybe he’d like it better ifItook her out,” Luke says from across the room. The comment is meant to agitate Beau, assuming he catches on to the subject matter. It’s meant to say,you think innocent little Braxton isn’t good enough for Maggie? How do you like the idea of Big, Bad Luke taking her out?
“Probably,” I mumble. “He’s got something against me.”
Quiet takes over, making me think that Beau’s not going to take the bait. But then, in true Wheaton, in-your-face fashion, he pipes up.
“Guess I used the wrong tactic with you,” he says.
I’m not in the mood to bite back, but since Luke and I arethe ones who started it, I indulge him. “Oh, do explain, brother dear.”
“I should’ve known that if I told younotto date Maggie, you’d be kissing her before the job was through.”
“Youkissedher?” Liam whoops. “You didn’t tell me he kissed her, Beau. You just said they’re going on some weekend getaway.”
“It’s adate,” I snap.
Now Luke’s the one to pipe up. “Dude, you didn’t tell me it was for the whole weekend.”
“It’sonenight,” I clarify. “Some bed and breakfast in Richmond in case we don’t want to drive all the way back after the date. It’s separate beds. No big deal.”
It goes quiet once more, but I can’t exactly leave it there. I’m torn about the date as it is, and I don’t need to be guilted by Beau and his nonsense.
“And it’s not like I’m the one whoplannedthe date. We won it.”
“Mmm—hmm,” Beau mumbles.
“You know what,” I say, half tempted to get to my feet and pace. “You put me in an impossible situation. You want me to be nice to her but nottoonice. Meanwhile, Kirsten wants me to date her, and by the time I was one week into the job, Maggie absolutely despised me.
“Despite that,” I continue, “I start having dreams about her—I don’t have control over that. And before I know it, she’s admiring my handiwork and looking at me with those eyes and…and it’s after a weak moment where I’d been thinking about how crummy it is that Blaine died and that you all ended updivorced and how I’m not sure there’s a lot out there to put my hope in.”
I shrug, staring blindly into the steamy clouds ahead. “And I kissed her.”
“Did she kiss you back?” Luke and Liam ask in unison.
“Was just a peck,” I say. “But…yeah.”
“Nice,”Luke says.
“That’s great, man,” Liam agrees.
“Thanks,” I say to them. “I’m taking her on the date we won, and I’m not going to feel guilty about it either,Beau. You can live your life, and I’ll live mine.”
“So long as you don’t mess things up with Kirsten and me,” he says.
