“Well, for example, I can see why you might want to date my brother and Ry and Sam. They are three nice guys, all good looking and intelligent high fliers at school. But deep down, they are quite different characters, so I think each guy would bring something different to the relationship.”
I thought about what he said as I took a small bite into the meal. He did the same.
“You know, if you like a bunch of guys, you could just try it for a while. It doesn’t have to be a decision that you commit to for life.”
If only you knew, Brandon.
I was about to ask him what he thought his role might be in the relationship he described when the door of Mickey’s swung open so hard and fast that the sudden movement caught our attention. We both stared as three hunky men swaggered in like they were entering a saloon in a Western movie.
They stopped still and surveyed the scene before heading over to our table.
Without uttering a word, Brandon and I moved over to give the men space to join us.
Noah slipped in next to me, and Ryan sat next to Brandon. Sam pulled over a chair and sat at the end of our table.
The server was with us in an instant handing out menus, and the guys ordered three sodas.
Once we were on our own, Noah asked, “Well, how’s the date going?”
Brandon grinned back at him, but I didn’t give him a chance to answer. “If you know we are on a date, isn’t it rude to crash it?”
Noah looked at me with sweet puppy eyes and mouthed, “Sorry.”
Honestly, when he did that I’d forgive him for anything.
“It might be a date, little brother. Or it might be counseling for her unique problem.”
Oh shit.
Brandon didn’t know what he was talking about, because I did have a very real problem, regardless of whatever he referred to.
“Oh, don’t feed us shit, big Brandon. We saw you looking all lovey-dovey at her through the window before we entered.”
“And how can I help that? You look at her that way too.” Brandon looked over at the twins. “I guess we all do, don’t we?”
“We want to be in on any conversations about your unique problem, Gracey.” Ryan said softly to me, and his fingers gently tapped the tips of mine where they rested on the table.
“Why?” asked Brandon.
“Because, numbskull, we care about her,” Sam replied. “More than she seems to realize. And from now on, we’re living with her.”
Sam had a way with words, and Brandon’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.
“I wouldn’t put it quite like that.” I twirled a bang of my hair nervously. “More like my mom is living with your dad; we’re the fallout. Look, guys, I’m having lunch with Brandon. It’s not a crime. And we’re old friends who go way back. In fact, he’s probably more of a friend than any of you. So why don’t you three leave us to eat and chat? And Sam, thank you for caring. We can talk another time; I’ll be coming over to your place later, and I’ll be spending a lot of time there.”
Brandon tapped his fingers on the table, the only sign of his impatience with the invasion. “You heard the lady. We’ll all get time to spend with her at some point.”
True and inevitable.
They all wanted something from me. I wished I could give them what they wanted, but destiny had chosen a different path for me. I thought I might talk it through with Brandon, but clearly, that wasn’t going to work.
I felt like a miserable little mess of indecision.
Choosing, though, I felt like a spoiled brat who just couldn’t choose between hot dogs and hamburgers or fried chicken sandwiches. Perhaps letting the oldest among us decide wasn’t a bad idea. Brandon was generous, selfless, and caring. He’d try to appease everyone.
I wondered what he’d suggest to suit me and my actual tiny but growing problem. I’d like to know the answer to that, but I could see this little gathering was not going well.
“Uh, I think I need to use the girl’s room,” I said, my voice very meek.
“Oh. Right. Of course,” Brandon said. The boys fell silent while I walked toward the bathroom, but I heard the table erupt in conversation behind me, with every man speaking at once as soon as I disappeared from sight.
In Mickey’s, the bathrooms were along a short corridor, off which there was also a door to the kitchen. I paused and looked in. I could see daylight and the back yard beyond it until the server appeared and blocked my way.
“Are you all right?”
“Not really,” I confessed. “Can I get away through that door?”
The server shook his head. “Customers are strictly not allowed in the kitchen. And the back yard is enclosed.”