I grip the back of my neck and sigh. He knows me too well to avoid this. “Fine, I’m hooked.” Now that’s out of the way, I bring our conversation full circle and ask about their lunches. “So, you have weekly lunches. Does she…uh…”
“Talk about you?”
“Yeah?” I run my hand up through my hair.Did it get hot in here?
“Honestly?”
“No, dickwad. I want you to lie.” God, sometimes Joel makes it hard not to smack him across the head.
“Then she never shuts up about you. You are all we talk about,” he deadpans, and man, do his words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut.
“Fuck, that’s a no, then?”
“Afraid so,” he says, playfulness gone. He sits in front of me, hands under his chin, with a sympathetic grimace on his face, and I have to change the subject.
“Okay, now we’ve discussed my love life—”
“Nope, not discussing her.” He’s shaking his head vigorously while crossing his arms over his chest. I’m guessing he really doesn’t want to talk about it. I thought he would definitely want to vent.
“I know I usually take her side, but I have to say I’m not loving her at the moment.”
“Dylan,” he warns, but I ignore him.
“It was one mistake. One!” I say for the millionth time. I love Delilah, and I completely understand how hurt she must be, but she’s been messing with Joel’s head a little lately. “Do you think she’ll ever get past it? I mean, it wasn’t your fault.”
“Not the point.” He’s right; it’s not the point, but it still needs to be considered. Although, he’s not exactly helping his case.
“You could ease up on the man whoring. That might increase your odds.”
“Don’t start. I know I’m a fuckup.” Joel is most definitelynota fuckup, but he never listens when I tell him otherwise and instead continues to dig himself further into his pit of pain.
Reaching forward, I grip his arm and look him in the eye just as my phone buzzes, causing Joel to shake himself off and plaster on a smile. Ready to move on.
I look down at the screen, and my heart jumps in my chest. I hadn’t replied to her last message or the one about setting me up, but she’s clearly been thinking about it.
Summer: How about the weekend?
Fuck, I can’t. But Summer’s attempt to reschedule is good news. She wants to spend time with me.
“There’s that grin again.”
God, I really need to learn to keep my emotions off my face. I lean back in my chair so he can’t see my screen and text Summer back, ignoring Joel’s comment.
Me: We have an away game this weekend. What about Tuesday after class?
I know she finishes early Tuesdays and doesn’t start until late Wednesday, so I hope that plays in my favor. It takes a few minutes for her to reply, so I waste time playing around on my phone. When I look up to take in the room, Joel’s staring at me, his drink halfway to his mouth.
“You’re fucked,” he says, and it’s surprisingly sympathetic.
I run a hand down my face. He’s right; I have it bad. “I know.”
Joel leans forward in his chair, placing both palms on the table. “No, I don’t think you do. I’ve never seen you like this with a girl and…fuck, how do I say this without hurting you?”
“She doesn’t feel the same,” I answer for him, even though I’ve seen something more between us.God, he’s probably right; I have no shot with her. Why am I even entertaining the idea?
“Oh, she definitely feels something; maybe not the same, but she hassomefeelings for you.”
Come again?That’s not what I expected him to say. A small smile pulls at my lips. But Joel’s next words stop it in its tracks.