“We’ve known each other since we were eight. First kiss at twelve. Officially boyfriend and girlfriend at thirteen.” As I recite the details, I’m startled to notice the lack of accompanying emotions. My heart didn’t even clench when I listed each Nico milestone.
“Wow,” Roy marvels. “That’s a lot of history.”
The server returns with our beers, and I gratefully accept my bottle. I’m not entirely sure how this date is going, but I’m leaning toward not well.
We clink our bottles together. “Cheers,” I say.
“Cheers.” He takes a long swig.
I do too, and it requires all my willpower not to blanch. I hate the taste of beer. Why did I even order this? What a stupid decision. I wonder if I should flag down the waiter and ask for a glass of water.
“So we’re both unlucky in love.” Roy observes me over the rim of his bottle.
“Guess so. What happened with your girlfriend?”
“She said I didn’t spend enough time with her.” He swallows another quick sip. “She thinks she should be my number one priority and that I focus on trivial shit instead of her.”
I think it over. “Well, she has a point and she also doesn’t. Obviously your partner needs to be a top priority, but we’re in college. We also need to prioritize our classes, our assignments, our social lives—”
“No,” he interrupts. “She means the gym. She thinks I’m addicted to the gym.”
I can’t stop my gaze from lowering to his pecs. The ones that are straining against his shirt, fighting to break free. This shirt cannot hold me! those pecs are screaming.
I think maybe Roy’s ex is right.
“But screw that,” he says irritably. “She should be proud of all the work I put into looking like this. Other dudes pump themselves full of ’roids, HGH. They poison their bodies. But me? This is all natural. My body is a temple.”
A snort rings out from behind me. For fuck’s sake. Is someone eavesdropping on us?
I turn my head—and sigh when I recognize the familiar profile. It belongs to Hunter, who’s lurking at the neighboring table. He was supposed to be at the bar, dammit.
My discomfort only grows at the knowledge that my friend is listening in. But maybe it doesn’t matter, because it’s also becoming painfully obvious that Roy and I will not be entering into a Friends with Benefits arrangement.
“I don’t get why I have to choose,” he’s grousing.
I fix him with a serious look. “Did you love her?”
“With all of my heart,” he says passionately.
“Then how is it even a choice? Cut back on your gym time, you dummy.”
Another snort.
“It is a choice,” he argues. “An impossible choice.”
“Oh, come on now. That’s an exaggeration. You can’t love the gym more than a woman. You can’t get married to the gym, Roy. You can’t have babies with the gym.”
The floor beneath my feet is vibrating, and I don’t know if it’s from the heavy bass track blasting from the speakers, or because of Hunter shaking uncontrollably with laughter.
“You have a point,” Roy says, albeit begrudgingly. “But I don’t see why I should give up my passion.”
“She’s not asking you to give it up. She’s clearly asking you to find a balance,” I answer pragmatically.
“A balance,” he echoes.
“Yes. Listen. What’s your girlfriend’s name?”
“Kaelin.”
“I think Kaelin has a point. If you truly view her on the same level as the gym, then she’s right to be upset. Kaelin is a human being, Roy. The gym is just a room full of machines.”
Behind me, Hunter howls.
I ignore him. “I think you need to examine your priorities,” I advise. “A rebound isn’t the right move for you. Granted, it’ll be a rebound with a ridiculously hot woman—”
“The hottest,” he agrees, and my ego takes comfort in that.
“But it’s not the right move,” I repeat.
He sips his beer. “What’s the right move then?”
“Calling Kaelin and asking her to get together and talk. And maybe actually listen to what she’s telling you. She’s not trying to control you. She simply wants to be with you.” I really hope I’m not misinterpreting this, and that Kaelin didn’t dump him because he’s clearly in love with the gym, and I do mean in love in a sexual way. But heck, it warrants a conversation, seeing as how he’s obviously not over her.
“I know this is totally rude…” Roy reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a twenty-dollar bill, way too much money