No, seriously. It’ll work.
It fuckinghas tobecause I miss Robbie way too much for this to go on much longer.
“Thanks for playing along this past month,” I tell Erick and Carlos in a low voice. “I know it was a weird ask.”
Carlos shrugs. “Wasn’t happy at first, but it’s been kinda fun. The three of us hanging at your apartment, eating homemade prosciutto pizza, while everyone assumed you and Erick were up there alone, Netflix and chilling.” He pats his stomach and grins. “Gonna miss that pizza.”
“I’m gonna miss Carlos sneaking in my window afterwards,” Erick says. “It was romantic.”
Carlos snorts, and I laugh.
“So what happened with, um, your other… situation?” Erick wonders.
Erick guessed my feelings for Robbie approximately thirty seconds after I conscripted him into being my boyfriend, which was both mortifying and kind of a relief. It’s nice to have someone who guessed the truth and doesn’t avoid discussing it while looking at me with low-key pity, like my family has for the past decade, give or take.
“Robbie and Lissa set a wedding date for August,” I tell him. “And I… moved on.”
I get twin looks of skepticism that I absolutely do not appreciate.
“For real. It’s taken me years, but I finally wrapped my head around it. That’s part of why I wanted to end this fake-boyfriend bullshit ASAP and start really dating. I’m more excited than I’ve been in a long time about someone other than… you know.”
“Robbie,” Erick says, eyes wide.
I dart a glance at the tables nearby to make sure they haven’t heard. “Lower your voice, man. I know it’s the worst-kept secret in the universe, but I’d still like to keep it from?—”
Carlos leans forward and whispers. “Robbie!”
I shoot him a glare. “Could we stop saying his?—”
“Ames,” Erick interrupts, grabbing my arm. “Robbie’shere.”
My stomach drops as I turn around, and wow.
Yeah.
There he is.
Twelve hours too soon for my peace of mind.
Robbie Wojcik, all two-hundred-something pounds of him, storms into my restaurant like a battering ram. He’s wearing a long-sleeved Winsome Fire Department T-shirtover worn jeans, and no jacket, as usual. He looks so good—like water to a thirsty man—that for a full second, I just soak him in.
Then I realize what’s different about him.
Because he’s so big, because he’s so thoughtful, Robbie’s always hyperaware of how his size affects people. He walks slowly unless lives are on the line. He radiates golden retriever energy.
Right now, he’s not bothering with any of that. His jaw’s set. His green eyes blaze. And he’s headed straight for Carlos and Erick’s booth with so much wolf-beast intent, diners literally lean over to look as he passes.
“What thehellis going on here?” he demands.
The entire restaurant goes quiet, every ear quivering. I bet even the kitchen staff are listening. Robbie doesn’tdoangry.
Carlos tries for a smile. “Robbie. Hey, man. How’ve you been?”
“Don’they, manme.” Robbie’s glare shoots from Erick to Carlos and back. “You’re on a date in Ames’s own restaurant? What the fuck?”
Erick flushes. “I—I mean,we—I mean, Ames said…”
I feel my dreams of having a drama-free breakup evaporate before my eyes.
