Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,119
only just got rid of Wizzy.”
We all laughed.
“But you really don’t have to go through with that charade,” James said. “I can figure something out…”
“I know you can. But you don’t have to,” I said. “That’s the whole point. I’ve got your back, man,”
“This is wonderful,” Tanner said. “Here, Matt, you should celebrate with some green juice.” He handed me a to-go cup filled with Nigel’s secret hangover elixir. “You did have a lot to drink tonight. Just for preventative measures.”
“Where did you even get this?” I asked.
“I slipped out real quick while you guys were talking.”
Had he? Whatever. If he’d made this, it meant Nigel’s skeet wasn’t in it. I’d never drink one of these Nigel made ever again. I took a huge sip.
“What’s up, Mason?” Rob asked. “You look…weird.”
Mason laughed. “Nothing. I just…never really thought about how much Penny reminds me of Brooklyn. In just like…the way she always has all our backs. And her sense of humor. And a little how she looks too.”
We were all quiet.
“Well, James did propose to Brooklyn all those years ago…” Rob said.
James laughed. “Don’t bring that up. Not one of my finest friendship moments. And just for the record, you both married girls from Delaware too.”
“Huh,” Rob said. “I never really thought about it like that either.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Really.” And for the first time, I really meant it. It may have been a good idea to mention the fact that I was dating Kennedy. But I was planning on surprising them tomorrow night. By bringing her to our guys’ night. She was going to have so much fun catching up with everyone.
“So we can tell everyone now?” Rob asked. “About Brooklyn?”
“Just let me tell Penny,” I said. “I owe her an apology too for lying about wanting to be set up. For lying about everything really.”
“Maybe give her a little while to cool down?” James said. “She’s pretty heated.”
I nodded. Penny definitely did seem mad at me. I’d fix that next.
“This was highly productive,” Tanner said. “And I think we’re all even now. My job here is done.” He looked down.
I followed his gaze. “What the fuck?” My pants were tenting. I didn’t even feel a little aroused. What the hell was my dick doing? Shit.
Rob started laughing. “I’ve never seen someone get so excited by an apology before.”
I covered my growing erection with my hand and looked over at Tanner. “You said your job here is done. What the hell did you do?”
He grabbed the green juice from my hand. “Nothing you didn’t deserve.”
“Did you slip something in my drink? What the fuck was it? A boner pill?” If I was still holding the glass I would have thrown the green juice in his face.
“You drugged James at his bachelor party when you were being spiteful. So it only seemed fitting that you got drugged in return. And no one seemed to want to do it. So I stepped up. Like the saying goes…revenge is best served hard.”
Rob laughed. “Okay, I have to admit that’s pretty funny. Nice one, Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “Thanks, Robert.”
“Revenge is best served hard.” Mason laughed. “Have you been planning this since our last guys’ night? When you insisted that was a phrase?”
“Well, it was a simple plan,” Tanner said. “I was just trying to fix Matt’s mistakes. What do you say, James?”
James chuckled. “Honestly I don’t even really remember that night at the Blue Parrot Resort. But we’ll all remember this. Well played, Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “So we’re all good here? Shall we head home, Matt?”
“We’re not all good,” I said. Having a boner in front of all my friends seemed a lot worse than tripping balls to me. No one deserved this hell. They all laughed at me while I tried to get it under control. “Undo what you just did, Tanner.”
“No can do,” Tanner said with a laugh. “You’ll have to…take care of it. Actually, I’m not sure that’s how it works. It might just remain like that for about 4 hours. I didn’t read the label.”
“Four hours?! I can’t let Nigel see me like this!”
“Wait, who is Nigel?” Rob asked.
“My houseboy,” Tanner said.
“Houseboy? What the hell is that even?”
“Like a personal assistant with a bath fetish,” I said. “And I’m not going home so he can see me like this.”
“Whoa, wait,” Rob said. “You’re living with Tanner? When the hell did this happen?”
“Cool your loins, Young Robert,” Tanner said. “Best friends usually do live together.”