Dream On(29)

“Not yet,” says Devin.

“We’re still trying to figure out how we might know each other,” I add. “Any bright ideas?”

“Besides the one I floated earlier about you being an Internet stalker? None whatsoever.” His grin is all teeth.

“Lay off her, Perry,” Devin warns.

Perry raises his hands in a placating gesture. “No offense. If Devin believes you’re telling the truth, who am I to question?” He swigs his beer. “So what made you want to check out Kinetic Kanteen anyway?”

“It was Devin’s idea.”

“I thought it might be.” Devin’s jaw tightens, but Perry either doesn’t know or doesn’t care, and barrels on. “You know I made a bet with myself earlier today: ten bucks says he takes her to Kinetic after drinks. And hey, I won.”

“Why?” I blurt.

“Because when you make a bet with yourself, you always win. That’s the beauty of it.” His mischievous eyebrows bounce.

“No, I mean why did you think we’d be here before Devin told you?”

“Because this is where he takes all of the women he likes. Oh look, he even gave you calla lilies. Typical Devin.”

My stomach tightens at the idea that there might be a revolving door of women in Devin’s life all receiving lilies and meeting him for quirky pinball rendezvous, but I shove my doubts aside. Everybody has a past. And hey, it’s kind of sweet he has a go-to routine of drinks, flowers, and pinball for impressing the ladies.

I shrug. “So what you’re saying is he likes me then.” I flash an exaggerated wink.

Laughing, Devin slips his arm around my shoulders. “Heck yes, I do.”

“Touché.” Perry purses his lips. “Excuse me, I’m being rude. Would you care to join me?” He motions toward his table near the bar.

“Only if you promise to leave soon, brother.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” He pouts.

“Do you want a drink?” Devin asks me.

“Sure. Whatever they have on tap is fine, thanks.”

“I’ll have anoth— Never mind.” Perry lifts his own nearly empty bottle and lowers it when he realizes Devin’s already halfway to the bar and purposefully ignoring him. He clears his throat. “My table’s over here.”

I follow Perry and settle into one of the three empty seats. Drumming my fingers on the table, I scan the crowd. “So, you’re here on a Friday night—alone?”

The apples of Perry’s cheeks redden. “Of course not. I was catching up with my dude, Sam.” Twisting around, he waves at the bartender, a black-clad hipster with a mohawk who looks like they’d rather swallow a jar of pickles than engage in conversation with anyone. “Yo, Sam, how’s it going?”

With a grunt, the bartender gives Perry a wordless salute and begins pouring a beer for Devin. “Sam and I go way back.”

Uh-huh. I brace my elbows on the table. “Let’s cut the crap. Why are you really here? Is it because you don’t like me?”

“It’s not that I don’t like you. I don’t even know you.”

“Precisely.”

“Point taken.”

“And look, I realize this situation is… abnormal… but I’m not out to ‘get’ your brother or whatever. We’re talking, that’s all. Besides a little inexplicable mystery of the universe to solve, it’s an easy-breezy get-to-know you sort of situation.”

“It looked like you were getting to know him pretty well outside.”

Narrowing my eyes at him, I fold my arms across my chest. “You know, I can’t believe I considered for even a second saying yes to going out with you when you asked me at the flower shop the other day.”

I’m gratified when Perry snorts into his glass and beer runs down his chin. He scrubs the moisture away with his fist. “I didn’t ask you out.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I was making conversation. Like I do with all my customers.”

“Uh-huh. So you’re here again… why?”

“Ask him about Sadie.” He jerks his chin toward Devin, who’s handing a credit card to the bartender.

I blink. “Who’s Sadie?”

“The worst thing that ever happened to him, and he never saw her coming.”

“There’s two sides to every story, you know. Maybe she wasn’t as bad as you think?”

He shakes his head. “Just ask him, then you’ll understand why I’m protective of my brother.” His expression darkens, but before I can probe further, Devin returns, hands me a beer, and claps Perry on the shoulder, making him wince. “Well, this has been a hoot, Perry, but I think it’s time for you to go.”

Peeling Devin’s hand off his shoulder, he lets it drop. “I was here first.”

“How about this,” I interject before the situation gets even more awkward. “Since you like bets, let’s make a wager, Terry.”

“Perry,” he corrects.

I smirk. “You. Me. Pinball. If I win, you leave us alone to enjoy our evening. If you win, we’ll leave, and you can hang out here in pinball bliss.”

Devin groans like I’ve punched him in the gut. Perry’s angular lips split into a grin so wide I can see every one of his white, even teeth. Interlacing his fingers, he stretches his arms above his head and his bicep muscles pop. “You’re on. I’ll get us some tokens… and another round. You’re going to need one when I’m through with you.” Hopping off his stool, he strides to the bar with a definite bounce in his step.