Roommate Arrangement (Divorced Men's Club #1)(32)

“Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.” He winks, and ooh no.

I suddenly understood why he was so intense about me being here. “I’m not in a mood to meet people,” I say, the sudden onset of panic hitting me the way it always does when I’m put on the spot.

“Don’t play. Lee’s a great guy and mentioned he thought you were cute last time you were here.”

“Marty, I …”

“You keep saying you want to meet someone, don’t you? No pressure, but he’s a good guy. At least come and say hi.”

In Marty’s defense, the guys he sets me up with usually are nice. It’s me that’s the problem. He also couldn’t have timed this any worse. Trying to set me up on a date in front of the guy I confessed feelings for last night.

Wow. I should have stayed in bed this morning.

I expect Payne to break away from us as we cross the backyard, but he sticks close to my side. If it wasn’t Payne, I’d assume he was uncomfortable around people he doesn’t know, but Payne isn’t uncomfortable anywhere.

Marty comes to a stop by a group of guys sitting around the paved fire pit area. I recognize most of them as Marty’s work friends, and they say hi as Marty introduces Payne.

“And Lee, Beau. Beau, Lee.”

“Hi.” A guy a little younger than me stands and holds out his hand. He’s … gorgeous. Brown curls and a big smile. Confidence rolls off him, but where Payne’s is a lazy, relaxed confidence, this guy makes it look intentional.

I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

He holds on for a second after I relax my grip before releasing me. “Marty’s, uh, told me a lot about you. Friends from high school, right?”

“Middle school.”

“And what about me?” Payne cuts in. He offers his hand to Lee. “Surely Marty’s told you about his cool older brother.”

They shake hands, and Lee gives him a friendly once-over. “From Boston, right? Go Bruins!”

Payne hums. “I’m more of a New York man myself.”

“Damn. I’ve caught a few live games, and that Ezra Palaszczuk is as hot in real life as he is on TV.”

“Eh. He reminds me of my ex-husband.”

I choke back a laugh. I guess Palaszczuk is known for sleeping around.

Lee’s attention drifts back to me. “Do you follow hockey?”

“How much trouble will I be in if I say not really?”

The look Lee gives me is straight-up flirtation, and even if Marty hadn’t given me the heads-up, I would have picked that he was interested from a mile away. “Somehow I think I can forgive you.”

“So what do you think Boston’s chances are for the Stanley Cup next year?” Payne asks loudly, and Lee reluctantly returns his attention to him.

“As good as any other.”

“My money’s on Vegas. That Tripp Mitchell, am I right?” He pumps his eyebrows suggestively, and all I can do is stare. What is he doing? Is Payne seriously oblivious to what’s happening here? I would have thought he’d be ready to marry me off to the first guy who showed interest after last night.

“Hey, Payne,” Marty says, taking his brother’s elbow. “I think Lizzy needs us inside.”

Payne shrugs him off. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Nope. She definitely called us. Come on, we can’t leave her waiting.” Marty physically yanks Payne, and only then does he move.

Lee rubs his arm. “Is he an ex-boyfriend?”

“Nope.”

“Does he see you like a brother, then?”

After last night, that would be creepy. “Definitely not. I’m clueless what that was.” Other than totally out of character.

“I’d hoped to catch you tonight, actually. I mentioned to Marty that you’re my type, and he said you’re not seeing anyone, so if you were free, did you want to go on a date?”

Ah. We’re jumping straight to it.

Do I want to go on a date with him?

No.

Should I want that?

Definitely.

Lee’s attractive. Not in the rough way that Payne is, but he’s conventionally attractive. He also seems to be nice, just like Marty said he was.

Then why do I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to go on a date with him?

The problem is, I’m not good at letting people down.

And faced with Lee’s kind eyes and hopeful expression, I say the only thing I can. “Sure. Let me give you my number.”





DMC GROUP CHAT





Payne: How do you let someone down easy?

Art: Not my area of expertise.

Griffin: Or mine.

Orson: I’ve never done it either, but I’d assume just being honest about why it won’t work. Who do you need to let down?

Payne: Nobody.

Art: Okay, we’ll pretend to believe you.

Griffin: Why do you need to let this “nobody” down?

Payne: Because he’s … I’m not in a relationship place right now.

Orson: So tell him that.

Payne: Hmm … maybe.





13





Payne


Drinks with Marty used to be fun.