hold up the six-pack. “Blue Moon was half off at the corner store so I stopped and grabbed you some.”
“Really? Thanks.”
He’s typing again, distracted. That won’t do. I pop the top off one of the beers and slide it into a koozie.
“Here you go,” I say, walking over to hand it off to him. “Still ice cold.”
He takes it without looking at me. I glance at his screen, but I can’t tell what’s keeping his attention.
“Work stuff?”
“Yeah, I just have to fire off this email then I’m done and we can eat. You want to get started without me?”
I grin. “Now what kind of friend would I be if I ate before you? Take your time! I’ll wait!”
My tone says I’ve never been less inconvenienced in my entire life, but the truth is, I’m starving. Elise voluntarily got me lunch again today: tofu burgers, no fries. Instead, it was paired with unsalted edamame. I’m going to be a waif by the time she’s through with me.
“Okayyy and…sent,” Aiden says before shutting his laptop and setting it down on the coffee table. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
I wave my hand for him to walk past me. “You first.”
He smirks and holds his hand out for me to go ahead. “After you.”
I tsk. “No no no, I insist.”
Then he shakes his head, takes a sip of his beer, and walks past me. “I swear you’re on something this week. What is it with you?”
“Can’t I just be nice to you without you thinking I’m on drugs?”
“No.”
I roll my eyes when his back is turned then make sure to have a peachy keen smile on my face by the time he glances back at me.
“The last time I tried to cut you in line to get food, you nearly stabbed my hand with a fork,” he points out, handing me a plate before getting one for himself.
Damn. Am I that impatient?
“Wow, I can’t believe I have such bad manners. I’m going to work on that. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
My voice holds no hint of sarcasm, only appreciative praise for his very good constructive feedback.
He starts to take food out of the bags so we can dish it out and heat up what’s gone cold.
“What should we watch tonight?” he asks after testing the green curry.
“I was thinking another episode of Alone. I just really want to see if that one guy worked out how to snare properly.”
Internally, I’m clawing my eyes out at the prospect of watching another episode of the survival show, but hopefully Aiden can’t tell.
“Up until recently, you made fun of that show. Now suddenly you’re addicted?”
“What can I say? The History Channel knows how to put out quality programming.”
I’m surprised I don’t swallow my tongue in the process of getting those words out.
He puts his plate down then and walks over until he’s right in front of me, no escaping. I back up to the island, and he follows.
“Okay, tell me what you want.”
“Want?”
“You’ve either had a lobotomy or you want something from me. Which is it?”
“I’m just being nice.”
His green eyes capture mine. “You’re nice, but not this nice. I couldn’t stand you if you were this nice. It’s like being roommates with a robot I created for my own pleasure.”
Crap. I overdid it. I thought I was toeing the line, but apparently, I majorly overstepped it.
“Okay, here’s the thing,” I say, using my real voice for the first time since I’ve been home. No more high-pitched politeness. “I have a favor to ask, and it’s kind of a big one.”
His gaze doesn’t waver, but he crosses his arms as if preparing himself for what’s to come.
“It would mean a lot to me, which is why you can’t say no,” I continue.
“Tell me what it is.”
“First you have to agree to do it.”
He grunts and moves around me to start filling his plate.
“My friend Stephanie wants me to go on a joint bachelor-bachelorette getaway,” I blurt out.
“Okay, I’ll hold down the fort. Is that all?”
“She wants you to come too.”
He laughs. “No can do. Work’s crazy right now, and besides, why would she want me there? I barely know her, and I’ve never met her fiancé. What’s his name again?”
“Elliot.”
“Right.”
“They invited you because…well…it’s a couples’ weekend.”
“So?”
He’s not catching on.
“So…you and me”—I wring out my hands—“there are two of us. Two people make a couple.”
He stops spooning rice onto his plate and glances over his shoulder at me.