Page 10 of Guys Can't Write Romance
Chad spread his arms, ready to lunge in whichever direction Rhino took. Rhino had about two inches in height on him and about twenty pounds more muscle. He still looked like the linebacker he’d been in college before an injury sidelined his career, while Chad was built more like a baseball player or surfer.
“She’s too uptight to ever go near a bar that didn’t have a wine list and valet parking,” Chad said. “So, no.”
“But if she did go to a bar, and you didn’t know about all the baggage and neurosis, would you hit on her?”
Rhino made a sudden sidestep past Chad and dribbled the ball in for a layup.
“You’re doing this just to distract me, aren’t you?” Chad said, catching the ball as it fell through the net.
Rhino shot him a grin. “It’s working, too. So, what’s your answer?”
Chad groaned as he walked out to center court. “How many beers have I had in your hypothetical bar?”
“One,” Rhino said, stepping between Chad and the basket and extending his arms like a gorilla.
“Why only one?”
“The beer goggles need to be off for this.”
Chad took a breath and let out a long exhale. “I don’t know. Maybe. But then she’d open her mouth and start talking about color-coordinating closets, and I would be so out of there.”
“So, she’s not ugly.”
“I didn’t say she was.”
“You didn’t say she wasn’t either.”
“She’s cute. But the whole neurotic, OCD thing kills it for her. And now she’s going to screw up my book.”
“Describe her like you would in your book.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. Let’s see your talents at work.”
Chad dribbled for a moment as he thought about it. “I don’t know; long, wavy brown hair, green eyes, short, petite. She’s not bad until you actually meet her.”
“You noticed her eyes?”
“Dude. She sits across the table from me. How am I not gonna notice?”
“Uh huh.”
“Don’t give that ‘uh huh’ crap.”
Chad made a sudden fast break past Rhino and dribbled the ball in for a layup. The ball bounced off the backboard and dropped in through the net.
“That’s game,” Chad said, catching the ball as it dropped and spinning it on his finger. “Even with your distractions, you still suck.”
They headed over to the bleachers, where they grabbed towels and patted themselves down.
“So, you’re actually serious about this romance novel?” said Rhino.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Having to give up your man card, for starters,” Rhino said, opening a bottle of water and guzzling half of it, then pouring the rest over his head.
“Guys can write romance,” Chad said, opening his own bottle and guzzling down a gulp.
