Page 37 of Reconciling With the Rival

“So, how did you two become so close?” I ask, changing the subject off Ella fucking Williams. It’s bad enough she pushes all my buttons at work; I’d rather not talk about her after hours.

“I’m dating his sister,” Grant says as Oliver grunts.

“I’m dating my sister’s best friend,” Oliver tells me as he sips his water bottle. “Well, one of them.”

“How many of them are there?” I ask. Ella makes three, but I thought there were a few more. My sister used to talk about this book club a lot, and I always assumed there were more people.

“Four,” Oliver tells me. “There’s your girl, the other is overseas, so she’s not around as much.”

Oliver looks happy about that fact, but I don't miss the look that crosses Grant’s face. There’s a history there, but I’m not going to ask about it. “Ella isn't my girl.”

“Keep lying to yourself, buddy.”

“Grant, stop.” Oliver smacks him on the arm. “Leo, how are you enjoying the States?”

“It’s fine, I guess. I miss my family a lot, but having my sister here helps a little bit.”

“Do you still wanna hit the gym tomorrow morning?” Grant asks me, and I forgot we were going to work out together tomorrow.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I tell him. “Oliver, do you want to join us?’

“No thanks,” he says.

Grant smacks him on the shoulder. “This guy? In a gym?”

He shrugs. “I prefer the pavement.”

“Ah, that’s understandable,” I say as I sip the last of my drink. “I’m gonna get another. Either of you fancy one?”

“I’m good,” Oliver says.

“Yeah, I’ll take one.”

“Cool,” I say as I head up to the bar. It’s not too loud in here, but music is playing that I don’t recognize, and that makes me feel old as fuck. I shift my gaze around the space, hoping someone catches my eye. A few girls are already staring at me, and I try to think of something I can say to any of them, but my mind draws a blank.

Am I never going to be able to flirt with anyone ever again? What the hell is wrong with me?

I know what I look like, and I used to be able to smooth talk my way into anything. I don't know if all this shit with my family has fucked with my head more than I thought, or what. I don't know what my issue is, and it’s pissing me off.

The only time my dick has been hard over a woman lately is when I’ve been fighting with Ella in our stupid prank war. Maybe I’m ill. Maybe that’s why my dick seems attracted to the person who pushes my fucking buttons more than anyone on the planet.

That has got to be why.

I somehow need to get out of my own head enough to be able to talk to normal women again. I tilt my head from side to side, feeling my neck crack, and some of the tension loosens as I grab the drinks and head back to the table.

“Do you guys ever have a hard time flirting?”

“Well, not really. It’s easy to flirt with my girlfriend. I just—”

Oliver almost shoves Grant out of his chair. “If you talk about what you and my sister do in your free time, I’m going to have to kill you.” Oliver turns to me. “I was terrible at it. Are you out of practice or something?”

“I don’t even think you have to flirt. Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

“Yes, Grant. This morning, and I looked fucking fantastic, as usual.” I run a hand through my hair. “But that’s not enough.”

“Maybe you need practice,” Oliver says, and Grant and I look at him like he’s crazy. “Or maybe you have to get your confidenceback. When was the last time you talked to someone one-on-one?”

This morning, with Ella.“I can’t remember.”

---