Page 99 of Bad Run

“Heath has been married the longest. Shouldn’t he be the daddy of the group?” Blake asks.

“I’m the one who brought all you dumbasses together. You call me Daddy.”

“I bet that’s what Talia says,” Reed teases.

Nico lifts his two middle fingers in the air. “You’re fucking dead. Better sleep with one eye open.”

Reed blows him a kiss.

“How is any of this gonna help me win over my wife?” I ask, only half amused by my friends.

My brothers. Don’t know what I’d do without them. Being able to talk to them without judgement or ridicule is nice.

Even the self-proclaimed bachelors are helping me with their not-so-terrible advice.

“Relax, she has the hots for you too.” Reed rolls his eyes at me.

“Start with simple texts. Let her know you’re thinking about her. Only her. She’ll come around when she realizes you’re in it for real. You can start by sending her food,” Nico says.

“Flowers are classic for a reason,” Heath adds.

Cam nods. “But don’t push her. Play it cool. She’ll come around when she’s ready.”

“Tease her a little too,” Reed says, rubbing his stubbled jaw like a movie villain. “Send a picture of the hotel room. Snap a shirtless selfie and say, ‘Missing you.’ Shit like that. But no dick pics.”

“This is the second time you’ve helped and had good ideas. What’s up with that?” Cam asks.

Reed shrugs. “I watch rom-coms and read dirty books. I know what women want.”

“Then why don’t you have a woman?” Heath asks, curious about Reed like the rest of us.

“I have more than one.” Reed looks off into the distance. Reed has always been hush-hush about his past but overly vocal about the women he sleeps with. I wonder if it’s a ploy to hide something else. Either way, it’s up to him to decide if he wants to talk about it with us.

“Or …” Blake starts.

“Don’t,” I warn.

Blake rolls his eyes. “Text her your thoughts and feelings. Does she even know how you feel?”

“Yes. Maybe?”

Cam scoffs. “Then make it clear. Or she won’t give you a chance, and you’ll end up divorced and choking your own chicken for the rest of your life.”

My friends burst out laughing at the harsh reality I could end up living.

“Take the risk first. Tell her how you feel, then prove you’re gonna catch her,” Nico says, surprising me with his final thought. He sits down and puts on his eye mask, and the rest of my friends follow, going back to their pre-flight rituals.

What my friends say makes sense. I know Gwen wants me. She’s just denying the inevitable. She just needs a little push.

I dig my phone out of my pocket, swipe open the screen, and tap Gwen’s name.

Sorry about last night. I know you’re scared, but I meant what I said. You’re all I want. And I’ll be right here waiting for you. I promise I’ll catch you.

thirty-three

Gwen

Present