Viv: False. Once I paint it, it’ll look like a first-grader went on a finger-painting spree.
Mickey: Hey now, finger-painting is my favorite kind of painting.
Viv: You always put me in a better mood.
Mickey: Are you coming over tonight? We could watch episode 6 and keep your good mood going.
Viv: Can we make popcorn?
Mickey: I’m not even dignifying that with a response. It’s like you don’t know me at all. I’m heading to Wolfie’s with the guys, but I won’t be long. You know the code, so just let yourself in.
Viv: See you soon.
I pocket my phone and head across the street to Wolfie’s. It’s busy tonight, but there’s an empty table in the back that should be big enough for whoever else is joining us, so I take a seat. I don’t even feel like drinking tonight, but I’m always hungry, sowhen a server stops by, I order a couple baskets of wings. The guys might want more, but this will be enough to tide me over before they get here.
I start scrolling on my phone to pass the time. I’m halfway through a video about the mating habits of capybaras when I hear a chair scrape across the scarred wood floor. I look up to see Wagner, and nod absently before pressing Play again.
Wagner clears his throat and when I look up, he’s staring at me. “Uh, Mick?”
“What’s up?” I ask. “And where’s everybody else?”
“Nobody—”
“Holy shit,” I say, interrupting him. “Did you know capybaras fuck in the water? God, I love the internet.”
“Jesus,” he mutters. “Nope, I did not know that. I also did not need to know that.”
Our server drops off two baskets of wings and I dive into one of them while Wagner stays silent. “So where’d you say the other guys were?” I ask.
“Nobody else is coming. It’s just us.” He shrugs and takes a sip of water, but doesn’t touch the basket of food. “I just asked you, no one else.”
“Oh, cool,” I say, because I don’t know what the hell to say. Yeah, Wagner and I get along fine now, and we’ve hung out a lot more lately, but Bridgette’s always with us. “Is Birdie meeting us?”
“No, she’s working late at the salon. I’m gonna pick her up in about an hour.”
Damn. I’ve got to sit here for a freaking hour and make conversation with Wagner? That’s a tall fucking order. I’m trying to think about all the capybara facts I just learned because we’ve got to talk about something for the next sixty minutes, but Wagner opens his mouth first.
“There’s something we need to talk about,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with the palm of his hand.
It suddenly dawns on me that Wagner’s nervous. He’s acting weird, and I don’t like it.
“What do you wanna talk about?” I ask, trying to figure it out as I speak. “My reaction times are?—”
“Fucking gold,” he finishes for me. “Seriously, don’t change a damn thing about your game. I’m not here to talk hockey. It’s about Bridgette. I?—”
My hands curl into fists as I finally puzzle together what he’s trying to tell me. “You’re dumping her? I will fucking kill you for breaking her heart, you piece of absolute shit.”
Wagner’s eyes go wide as he looks up at me. His hands are moving up and down in the universal motion that meanssit your ass down. That’s when I realize I’ve gotten to my feet and am gripping the edge of the table like I’m about to flip it so I can get close enough to strangle the guy.
“Chill, Mickey,” he says, waiting until I’m seated again before he continues. “I am not dumping your sister. I’m not that dumb. Meeting Bridgette is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“So what the fuck is there to talk about?” I ask. “You guys already know I’m cool with you being together. Well, not cool, exactly, but, like, lukewarm.”
“Lukewarm,” he scoffs, flipping me the bird, and somehow, the universe makes sense again. “You might want to turn down the heat, Mick, because I plan on being with your sister for a very long time. Like, forever.”
I look up from the wing I’m devouring to see the dead-ass expression on Wagner’s face. “Forever?” I ask. The idea isn’t that crazy. My sister and her boyfriend spend every available minute together, so I shouldn’t be shocked that he’s thinking about the long term.
“I’m going to ask Bridgette to marry me,” he says plainly. “I’m not sure when, but I’ve got the ring. I just need to find the right time, and I needed to talk to you. I’m not asking for permission, for fuck’s sake. It’s just…you’re Bridgette’s family. You were the one who had her back for all those years. You’re her favorite person in the world, besides me, obviously. I just…I guess I want you to know my intentions.”
