Page 33 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Joey lets out a slow breath, but Other Dude amps up his jogging speed, so I do the same. Not that it’s a competition, butshit, a good race really gets the blood pumping.

“I haven’t been,” Joey answers, although I’m still not sure how he knows which bar the guy was talking about. “I’m new to town.”

“Ah,” the guy says. “You should check it out sometime.”

Joey nods, but he doesn’t commit. Is he worried about going alone?

“I can take you,” I offer, giving him a beaming smile.

It’s then Joey’s gaze slips down my body. He trips, making a choking sound that has the other guy following his gaze, andah. Yeah…

“Forgot my underwear,” I tell them, realizing exactly where they’re both looking. Chuckling, I add, “You know how it goes.”

They continue staring.

Other Dude slows his treadmill after a moment, hands on either side of his machine. “I don’t have a chance, do I?” he asks Joey.

Joey stops his own machine, looking almost apologetic, although I’m not sure why. “It’s not… He’s not…”

“It’s fine,” the guy says. “I get it. Have a good one.”

Joey mumbles, “You, too,” as the guy walks off.

I stop jogging, not having a clue what just happened, but Joey looks mildly distressed. “You okay?” I check.

He abandons his machine and plunks down on a bench nearby, so I do the same. His hair is the tiniest bit damp as he turns to me, and I have an urge to just…rub away his sweat. Which is weird. So I don’t.

“Bub,” Joey says quietly, the nickname lighting me up inside. It feels like ours. Like something that’s just for him and me. “You do realize, as my wingman, you’re supposed tofindme dates, right? Not scare them off?”

My mouth drops open as it dawns on me what he’s saying. “That dude was flirting?”

“He was flirting,” Joey confirms.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, looking around. The guy is long gone. “I didn’t even realize! He wasn’t very good at it.”

Joey huffs a laugh. “Well, how could he compete when your dick was waving an enthusiastic hello?”

I snort. It was kinda like he was waving. “J-bae, my dude, any guy of yours is going to have to get used to my dick being around. So, clearly, he wasn’t the one.”

Joey blinks at me.

“We need a code!” I realize.

“A code?”

“For when a guy is flirting and you’re interested. Should it be a word? A gesture?”

“I can think of so many words,” Joey mumbles.

“What about ‘green’? You know, like the stoplight system? Green means you’re good to go.”

Joey gives me an odd look. “Do you use the stoplight system often?”

“I mean… I drive, so yes?”

His lips twitch. “Sure. That works.”

“Awesome. So now we just need to find a guy. Hey, wanna head to that gay bar after this? They have nachos, so we can get some grub and scope out future Mr. Delgados. Just…maybe avoid the back rooms, dude. They arenotclean.”

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