I look up at Drew. I’ve known him nearly as long as Cam. “Have you…never mind,” I say quickly because I feel like an idiot.
“Have I…?” Drew encourages with a wave of his hand, signaling that I need to continue.
I sigh. “Have you ever liked someone that you knew you could never have?” I blurt out in a rush, so the words blend together.
“I’m sorry. What?” he asks.
Taking another deep breath, I look away from him as I speak slowly. “Have you ever liked someone that you couldn’t have?”
He’s quiet, so I steal a glance. His face tells me he’s pondering my question.
He clears his throat. “Well, yeah. In high school, before I came out, I liked the quarterback of the football team. You see, he was one of the few guys who was nice to me, and I sort of misread that as, maybe he’s gay. Newsflash, he wasn’t. Apparently, my early gaydar was way off. Anyhow, we’re still friends online. He’s married with three kids. So, yeah, was never going to be a thing. But my little seventeen-year-old self was devastated that he wasn’t going to be the one.”
I grimace. “I’m sorry, Drew. That must have been tough. I mean, like all of it.”
“It was. But as Edith used to say, ‘This too shall pass,’” he says with a wink.
Laughing, I start putting the flowers in the vases, arranging them as if I’m some sort of floral expert.
Drew puts his arm around my shoulders. “Whoever he is, if he doesn’t want you, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“I suppose,” I say, because I don’t agree with that.
“OK, my work here is done. Also, I heard you are talking to some Italian hottie on a dating app,” he adds as he releases me.
“Yep. We’re supposed to meet up in a few days,” I say. I know I should be excited, but I’m not. I don’t say what I’m thinking, but clearly my face gives it away.
“Wow, don’t be so excited,” Drew scoffs.
I roll my eyes. “I…guess I’m just nervous.” I laugh it off.
“You’ll be fine. You just need to get back on that horse,” he encourages.
“If you say so,” I reply.
“I do. Now, drink your bubbly, and get those flowers in the vases. We only have a few more hours until this dinner,” he demands.
“Stop being such a tyrant,” Roxy protests as she walks over to us, a glass of sparkling wine in her hand.
Drew pretends to be offended, and Roxy rolls her eyes.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m an angel,” Drew says dramatically as he strolls off toward the bar.
“Angel, my ass,” Roxy mutters. She joins me in putting flowers in vases.
“So, you guys having fun?” she asks.
“Well, Ava has made some friends. And I’m loving it here,” I say.
“And Bray?” she asks.
I shrug. “I guess so.”
I don’t expand, and she takes the hint. “Tell me about this Italian guy from the dating app.”
Laughing, I relay what I know, and she promises to internet stalk him or make Kasen do it. An hour later, the venue looks great, and I’m feeling better. Maybe tonight will actually be fun. I just need the right mindset. And tonight’s mindset is: I’m single and ready to mingle. Or at least Roxy says that should be my mindset. I pull out my phone and change my dating app profile description to match my new mentality. Time to test this theory.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
