stick for the past twelve years, he’s not ugly. At least when he’s not frowning.
After a few wings and some beers, I notice Cora tapping on her phone.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Nana was out to dinner with Roxie. She’s stopping by to show me her new beret.”
My stomach clenches a bit around my hot wings. If Blanche mentions my dick pic in here, what’s going to stop one of the guys who knows the truth from shooting off their mouth in a buzzed state and blowing it all sky high? But Cora’s sitting right here so I can’t really warn them. Guess I’m just gonna have to roll with my current situation.
“She sewed a beret?” I ask, not sure how Blanche managed that.
Cora tugs at her scarf. “Nah. She knitted one to match a scarf during class. It’s made out of yarn, not felt. So more like a fancy winter cap than French artiste headwear.”
I lean to my right and gesture Dylan and Max to the bar with me. As I rise from my seat, Cora’s head snaps up. “You’ve got a full beer and men don’t travel to the bathroom in packs.”
My heart pounds an uneven rhythm. “Guy talk. Dylan’s having woman troubles. Can’t you see he’s the only one alone?”
I ignore D’s sneer and just jut my thumb toward the bartender. Once we’re safely out of earshot, I say, “Blanche is on her way over. If she whips out her phone, make sure none of the other guys see it or say anything about it. The last thing I need is Cora figuring this out before I have the time to do damage control or even realize the extent of the damage.”
“I love Blanche!” Max says, grinning. “You can count on me. I’ll knock it out of her hand if I have to.”
“Everybody loves Blanche. Just like everybody loves Cora. But I’m begging you to keep your buzzed ass out of this. You don’t have to be funny and the life of tonight’s party. Not when everything’s on the line.”
He twists his lips. “Sue-Ann won’t let me anyway. She doesn’t like it when I get full of myself after we win.”
The twang of an electric guitar warming up draws my gaze to the small stage in the corner.
“There’s a band!” Max exclaims, rubbing his hands together. Sometimes I wonder if he ever stops smiling.
Dylan claps me on the shoulder. “Seems your problem of Blanche being overheard has automatically solved itself. And as for women problems… you can’t have those when you don’t have a woman. I would know. You could try that out, you know. Set Cora free. If you’re not going to claim her as yours, you should let her find her own special someone. Treating her like your celibate girlfriend isn’t really fair to her. Or to you for that matter. I hate to see two people I care about wallowing in the sea of unrequited love.”
I blink, staring at him to the serenade of Money Honey, the house band. Is Dylan right? Is my friendship with Cora keeping her from finding someone she could marry and have kids with? I imagine her holding a beautiful baby in her arms with a toddler pulling on her leggings. Her husband leans in and kisses her on the cheek, caressing the baby’s head.
And that man is not me.
Ignoring the pinch behind my ribs, I shake my head. “Nah, she’s dated people over the years. If she found some nice dude to go out with, I wouldn’t stop her.”
Dylan walks away, calling over his shoulder, “You just keep thinking that, Rice. You call yourself a friend, but you’re more like a cockblocker.”
I spear Max with my gaze. “You and I have known each other since Milo’s youth program. Is he right? Am I a cockblocker?”
Max sighs low and deep. “Because we’ve known each other since childhood, I’m going to reserve my right to remain Switzerland on this issue. I love both of you. Every answer in this situation is wrong. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”
Weaving my way through the thickening crowd, I find my seat occupied by a tiny lady wearing a silvery purple beret and matching scarf. I hug her from behind and kiss her soft cheek. “Long time no see, Blanche.”
She pats me on the shoulder. “Ah, there’s my second favorite person. How are you doing, Blaine Joseph?”
“Better now that you’re here. What’s new?”
I press my lips into a thin, white line.
Did you