Page 35 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Anyone who doesn’t have a superpower has no arch enemies,’ Gunner says casually.

‘We talked about this months ago, Berx. And you agreed to a rebound guy. Well, there he is, I found him. The fact that he and Will aren’t exactly friendly is even better. We all know Will’s still in love with you; if you’re dating his enemy, maybe he’ll finally pull his head out of his ass.’

‘If he signed another contract, his head is going to be there a couple more years so that’s doubtful. Plus, I’m over him.’

She and Gunner both laugh. They don’t even try to hide it.

‘You just nearly had a stroke at the sound of his voice on TV. You’re not over him.’

‘This is where Alex will help!’

‘I can’t do it, Liv.’

‘Why? Because of Will?’ She balks. ‘Honey, I didn’t want to say this to you because it’s uncomfortable, but have you seen how he and Danika get on? I think Will might be moving on too. Why not make him jealous while he does?’

‘I worry about you sometimes,’ Gunner says to Olivia with worry on his face.

‘You need to date more because if you request I buy another jumbo pack of batteries with the store inventory again, I’ll have them delivered care of “Berkley’s love stick” and make you sign for them.’

Gunner suddenly chokes on his drink, coughing as if he’s dying.

In case you’re a total prude, what Olivia affectionately calls my ‘love stick’ is a motorized vibrating contraption meant to de-stress women in the privacy of wherever the fuck they want and lives in my nightstand drawer.

‘Thanks for filling Gun in onthatlittle tax violation. Not at all embarrassing,’ I say, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Yes, he and I are close but not that close.

‘You’re going out with Alex.’ Liv brings the subject back to the date.

‘I said I was ready to live life again; I don’t know if I’m ready to date, Liv.’

‘It’s been long enough, sogetready. I’m not asking you to marry the guy. I’m simply suggesting you let a handsome, hot dude take you to dinner and maybe give the love stick a night off.’

Gunner grunts an uncomfortable laugh. ‘Can we stop saying the words “love stick”? Please?’

‘Prude,’ Liv says.

‘I’m not a prude,’ he defends himself. ‘It’s just way more than I need to know about my friend and boss. Moving on, I worry a love triangle between these three may result in a Norman Osborn, Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy issue,’ he says, stuffing his face with popcorn.

Olivia and I both glance over, confusion on our faces.

He lifts his eyebrows, his eyes now wide as he stares back. ‘The original rivalry of Green Goblin and Spider-Man?’ he asks, concern growing on his face. ‘“The Night Gwen Stacy Died”? A two-part issue: numbers 121 and 122, released in June and July 1973? You two seriously don’t listen to anything I talk about, do you?’

‘We do too,’ I insist guiltily.

He rolls his eyes. ‘They were two friends who became mortal enemies who literally tried to destroy the world over a woman. Does that not seem a little similar here? Berkley will have two rich, influential men fighting over her because we all know the second word of this gets out to Will, he’ll show back up into our lives. The Clark Kent of Berkley’s world. Only one person loses in this. InSpider-Man, it was Gwen. In this’ – he glances at me with an uncomfortable look – ‘it’s you. But I know you two, and I know this is happening no matter what I say, so here’s to you surviving another terrible idea.’ He lifts his beer in the air.

I consider Gunner one of my best friends, and moments like this are why. He doesn’t hate Will with the fiery passion that Olivia does. Liv and I follow the BFF rules when it comes to hating people. If she hates someone, I hate them equally and vice versa. Her hate towards Will is a little more ragey than mine – proof in the fact that she wants me to date someone to both ‘get over’ Willandmake him jealous – but she’s only being protective.

‘Will has apparently re-signed a contract to extend the show, and has heart eyes for the newest city Royal,’ Olivia reminds Gunner. ‘Pretty sure that means he couldn’t give a flying fuck about who Berkley dates so I highly doubt there will be any love triangles.’

‘Men fighting over me? I can’t even imagine that,’ I say with a laugh.

‘Perfect, then you literally can’t say no,’ Liv says. ‘He likes you too. Look…’ She shoves her phone my way, turning her attention back to her hot dog.

I glance down at Olivia’s phone now in my hand, a thread of text messages between Alex and her on the screen. I read through them. He thinks I’m pretty. He wonders what’s up with Will and me. Am I a part ofRoyals? Because if so, he’s out.

Well, we at least have that in common, I suppose.

‘After the game, we’re headed down to say hello,’ Liv says. ‘So, prepare yourself. Give him a chance. You need this, Berx. If for nothing else than to prove that you’re an amazing woman that any guy would be lucky to love.’

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