Elliot scoffs. “Yes, she fucking did. You pouted all the way home.” I shoot Elliot a glare, but he continues. “And I don’t blame you, butI’m sure you never expected her to reappear in your life.” Then he points a finger across the table. “And that’s what the fucking problem is, Henley. All right?”
Henley tilts his head side to side. “Okay, that’s fair.”
“Well, what did she say when you spoke to her earlier today?” Fletcher asks.
I think back to our conversation at the school and our talk over the fence as I toy with my cards. “She assured me it was all coincidental. But fuck. Really? Theonewoman I’ve been genuinely intrigued by since Sarah turns out to be my daughter’s teacherandmy neighbor?” I dart my eyes over to Elliot and toss my chin in his direction. “This is all your fault.”
“Me?” He points a finger to the center of his chest. “You should be thanking me. Even though nothing happened, at least you didn’t leave worried whether your dick still works. If nothing else, think of the night as reassurance that your equipment is in working order.”
My dick twitches from the memory of Vienna licking her lips and seeing that sliver of her breast beneath her top, but I keep that detail to myself. “If I had known that this turn of events would be the fallout, I would have said no thank you. And besides, the night was supposed to be about you andyourdick, not me and mine.”
“My dick is fine. Thankfully back in full working order. Which means this conversation is officially about you andyourdick, so stop trying to deflect.”
Henley clears his throat. “Can you two please stop with the dick talk?”
I glare in his direction. “Look, I just need some advice. I’ve never been ghosted, and I’ve gotta say, I’m not a fan.”
“Pretty sure no one is,” Henley says.
“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure most people don’t end up living next to the person who rejected them either.” There’s a pleading lilt to my voice that I’m not proud of, but right now I’m fucking desperate.
Fletcher and Elliot both look in Henley’s direction. “What?” he says, holding his hands out to the side.
Fletcher scoffs. “I think out of all of us, you’re the one with the most casual dating experiences.”
Henley points across the table at Elliot. “That’s not fair. Elliot used to get plenty of action too.”
“Not like you, my friend,” Elliot says while reaching for a handful of pretzels.
Henley snorts. “Yeah, well, I usually did the ghosting. The only time I ever had to face a one-night stand again was when Meghan got pregnant. Honestly, Rhonan, here’s my advice.” He sits up straight in his chair and looks me in the eye. “Ask her out on a date.”
My mouth falls open because that was the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth. “I’m sorry—what?”
Fletcher and Elliot are laughing, but I don’t find this funny at all.
“Ask her out,” Henley repeats.
My brows are drawn so tightly together that it’s starting to give me a headache. “Why on earth would I do that?”
The smirk on Henley’s face makes me want to punch him. “Because if the way you’re freaking out about this is any indication, I’d say you’re still into this woman and want to know if that connection was real or all in your head.”
Leaning back in my chair, I blink through my confusion as I consider his words, landing on an indisputable fact as my response. “She’s Ellis’s teacher.”
Henley shrugs. “And I slept with my nanny. Look how that worked out for me,” he says, a smug smile on his lips. “If not, at least act likea fucking adult and keep things civil. Because you can’t change the fact that she’s here. So, decide what you’re going to do about it, and fucking commit to the decision. Stop floundering.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not floundering.”
Fletcher huffs out a laugh. “Uh, yeah, you are. It’s really simple, Rhonan. If you like the woman, then just admit it. All this back and forth about why her reappearance has your panties in a bunch is just going to drive you nuts. I mean, when I realized I wanted your sister once and for all, there was no stopping me from making that happen.”
My glare grows deeper. “No need to remind me of how that all went down, thank you. I think the two of you getting married is reminder enough.”
Elliot snaps his fingers. “Which reminds me, have we settled on a bachelor party plan yet?”
Fletcher turns to him. “I told Rhonan I didn’t want anything crazy, but since a bunch of guys from the team are going, we decided to have it in Charlotte.”
Grateful for the change in topic, I nod in agreement. “The plans are in the works. I’ve got it covered.”
Since the four of us have been best friends since high school, we agreed that when it came time to make the decision about who would be the best man for each of our weddings, we would take turns.
