Page 13 of SCRUMptious

Chapter5

D O N AL

“Hey,man. I need you to do me a favor.”

Eoin McGrath, my best friend and former roommate, set the kettlebell he’d been lifting to the mat and reached for a towel to wipe his hands. “The last time you asked me for a favor, I had to explain to the neighbors why there was a flock of sheep in our backyard.”

“Yeah, I still owe you for thatone.”

“You do,” he agreed, dropping onto a bench and laying down under the bar, his hands gripped tight near thetape.

I stepped behind and rested my hands, palms up, just below the metal. I was still nursing my injury and hadn't been cleared for a full workout, but I could spot Eoin while he worked throughhis.

As soon as he completed his first set, I guided the weights back in place. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing involving animals.”

“No? Okay then, what do youneed?”

The great thing about Eoin was even if I had asked him to help me herd a bunch of cows, he would have—all in, no questions asked. Except those days were behind us now that Aoife was pregnant.

“I need you to go on a date withme.”

He choked out a strained laugh as he lifted the bar and then brought it down to his chest. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m already taken.”

“Fuck you, asshole,” I shot back with a grin. “I met someone, and I really like her. I think you’ll approve.”

A couple of months ago, I’d broken down and told him the truth about my sex life—or lack thereof. Instead of calling me a freak or laughing at me for still being a virgin, he’d listened as I’d talked through the reasons why. And then he’d recommended I try dating someone I actually liked, the theory being I might find someone I trusted—a woman who could be my Aoife. Which was why I needed his help. I liked Lauren, but I didn’t have the first fucking clue how to date. Eoin had managed to figure that shit out, so I hoped he’d be able to help me now. After all, he was the only guy I knew—save Aoife’s older brother and my team captain Declan O’Shaughnessy—who had anything remotely resembling a healthy adult relationship.

“Oh yeah?” “Yeah. The thing is, she’s older and smart as fuck too. She went to Harvard for international relations, and I can’t even find Kosovo on a map. I need you to help a brotherout.”

“The fact that you even know Kosovo is a place is probably a mark in your favor. What makes you think I’ll be anyhelp?”

“She’s new in town, and I told her I’d show her around, but you know me—I’m not used to dating. Hook up, eat some pussy, and then say adios is more my speed. Fuck, I can’t remember the last time I actually hung out with a woman.”

“And you want me to tag along on your date and do what, exactly?” He grunted as he set the bar in its place and sat up to faceme.

“I was hoping you, Aoife, my girl, and I could go to the museum or something,” I said, tossing him his towel. “This way, if she gets bored, there’s another chick for her to talkto.”

He stared at me for a couple of seconds, then shook his head and rolled his eyes. “You know nothing, JonSnow.”

“I know I know nothing! That’s why I’m asking for your help,” I replied with an exasperatedsigh.

Eoin rubbed his hands across his bulging pectoral muscles to ease some of the strain from his workout, and I could tell by his facial expression that he was giving my request serious thought. “Okay, fine. I’ll ask Aoife. When were you thinking?”

“Tomorrow night work? The museums are open late on Thursdays.” I knew it was last minute and they might already have plans, but I hadn’t spent any real time with Lauren in over a week and I was getting antsy. I’d seen her in passing, but there’d always been other people around, so all I could do was say hello or wave. It was torture not being able to see her smile or hear her try to kick me out of her kitchen.

“Should work. I don’t think Aoife has anything else linedup.”

“Cool,” I said, turning to walk away before Eoin called meback.

“Hey! You gonna tell me who the mystery womanis?”

Shit. I’d become so adept at keeping secrets and acting shady that it had never even occurred to me to tell Eoin who I was talking about. But if he and Aoife were going to meet up with us tomorrow night—assuming I could talk Lauren into it—he’d find out sooner rather than later. And like I’d already told her, there was no policy against dating coworkers at Dublin Rugby, so it wasn’t like we were doing anything wrong. Still, something about the way Lauren had been reluctant to start anything up with me had me pausing before answering. What if she didn’t want anyone to know aboutus?

“Maybe,” I answered. “Let me talk it over with her first. Text me tonight and let me know if you guys arein.”

Eoin immediately called me on my bullshit. “You haven’t asked her yet, haveyou?”

“Nope,” I answered, walking backward out of the gym. “On my way there.”

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