Page 46 of Contingently Yours
“You’re an idiot.” He sighs, shaking his head as he straightens up. Patting Shaw’s shoulder, he tells him confidentially like I can’t hear, “Don’t help him,” and then disappears from the frame, but not before I hear his enthusiastic comment of, “Let him fuck it up and figure it out on his own.”
“Goodnight!” I call. “Shaw will tuck you in under the coffee table in just a few.”
Resting my forearm on the retaining wall off the patio, I close my eyes and sigh. I need another gay cousin. One who’s not married.
“Drew…what’s going on with you?” Shaw asks.
“I told you. I had a one-night hand job, but I need it to end there. What should I do?”
Sighing, he scrubs his hand down his face. “I don’t know. What do you normally do?”
“I leave and never call, but I can’t do that, can I?”
“Then… I don’t know what to tell you. Stage a breakup, but tell the clients you still want to work together to show them the properties.”
“No way. They love TeamDrewcus. They’ll try to play matchmaker and get us back together.”
It’s true. Me and my freaking method acting are what got me so deep into this madness.
“Then tell Lucas it was great, but you’re not interested in anything more.”
Ew. Has living with Terry turned him into a schmuck?
“Why do I have to compliment him?”
“Because you’re still stuck cohabitating with him for the next week and a half?”
“God, you give the worst advice. You know that?” It’s true. Why did I think calling him would help? “Honestly. Your advice is what got me into this mess.”
“Myadvice?”
“Yeah, it all started when I kissed him. He went all doe-eyed and started mouth-breathing whenever we were close, like the sun shines out my ass.”
He snickers at that and covers his mouth.
“I’m glad this is so funny to you.”
“I’m not laughing at your situation. I’m laughing at you.”
“How the fuck is that supposed to make me feel better? And what does that even mean?”
Now he’s rolling his eyes like I’m the one who’s not understanding the situation. “Drew, most peoplewantto find someone who thinks the sun shines out of their ass. I’m laughing because you’ve got one and you’re annoyed about it.”
“Well, yeah, because he’s…he’s…”
“What?”
Good. Patient. An open book. Devoted. Stirs my blood in all the right places.
“Nothing. Forget it.Thank you againfor absolutely nothing.”
He lets out an amused huff and smirks. “My pleasure.”
“Oh, and my parents are having a fifth of July party at their house and asked if you and a plus one want to come.”
“You mean Fourth of July and Terry?” he asks, his face scrunching up.
“No.Fifthof July, noon, and bring someone who’s not obnoxious.”
