See Me After Class(71)

“Just you and Romeo? Does that mean you’ll dish the goods on your best friend?”

A large smile spreads across Gunner’s handsome face. “Anything you want to know, we’re here to hand out all the details.”

“In that case, I’m in.”





“These garlic fries are hitting the spot,” Romeo says, picking one up and shoving it in his mouth.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful for food,” I say, wiping my truffle-coated fingers on my napkin.

Romeo arrived at the Atomic Saloon before us and, like the amazing man that he is, had drinks and an appetizer of truffle garlic fries already at the table when we arrived.

“You know, I’m happy Gunner ran into you at the gym,” Romeo says, bringing his lager to his mouth. “I don’t think we get enough time to sit down and chat with you.”

“Because your overlord is always bogarting you two,” I say with a grin.

“Overlord? You think Turner is our overlord?” Gunner asks.

“Uh . . . yeah.”

Gunner and Romeo exchange glances, playful smirks on their faces, and then they both shrug. “Yeah, that’s an accurate description,” Romeo says. “But he had his chance tonight of breaking up the prank band and he missed it.”

“We should take a picture and send it to him.”

I shake my head. “Or we can keep it a secret and be in cahoots, you know, like the good old peeing-blue days.”

Gunner rubs his chin. “I do like being in cahoots.” He smacks the table. “We keep it a secret.”

“That way we can talk about him and he won’t be the wiser about it.” Romeo lifts his glass and says, “To gabbing all the gossip.”

I can toast to that. I lift my glass, and we all clink right before we tip back and drink.

When we set our glasses down, Gunner picks up a fry and says, “What do you want to know?”

“Oh . . . uh . . . I mean, we don’t really have to talk about him.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Romeo asks. “Is he still being a dick to you?”

Hmm . . . what a complicated question.

After what happened under the desk, I’d say no, but then again, he runs so hot and cold, I honestly have no idea what’s going through his mind. And then he said I looked beautiful. It’s moments like those that have me wondering, craving more.

“Uh, not really,” I answer. “He’s calmed down, but then again, we haven’t been poking the bear, and I haven’t rallied the troops to bang on their desks, so I’m pretty sure he’s content with himself.”

“Sounds about right,” Romeo says. “I swear, that guy needs to loosen up.”

“Oh?” I ask. “What, uh, what do you suppose would loosen him up?”

“Getting laid,” Gunner says, picking up another fry.

“That’s such a man thing to say,” Romeo scoffs.

Gunner raises his brows. “Last time I checked, I have a penis. Therefore, I am a man.”

I chuckle as Romeo says, “Yeah, but show some class, dude.” Turning to me, Romeo says, “In the words of Keiko, Arlo needs coitus.”

I snort.

Gunner scoffs. “How is that different than what I said?”

“Has hints of maturity and refinement.”

“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.”

Chuckling, I ask, “So, how come you two don’t help the poor, cardigan-wearing man out?”

Romeo finishes off the last fry, dusts his hands off on his napkin, and says, “Ever since I’ve known Arlo, he hasn’t been one to talk about relationships, or even getting some, for that matter. I think the only reason I know he’s not gay is because of the way I’ve seen him check out women. Other than that, he’s very private when it comes to that part of his life.”

Huh, that’s interesting.

I can guarantee he’s not gay. I think that was debunked the moment he took me on his kitchen island . . . and on my desk . . . and under it . . .

“Huh. Now that you point it out, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard him talk about a”—Gunner looks me in the eyes—“excuse the indecency, but I’ve never heard him talk about a conquest. Or a one-night stand. Or . . . anything, for that matter.”

“He seems very proper,” I say, trying to add something to the conversation.

“His upbringing made him that way. Rich grandparents, boarding school, all that fun stuff.”

“He went to boarding school?” I ask, not realizing that at all.

“Oh yeah, him and Coraline. When they were old enough, their grandparents sent them to a boarding school in New Hampshire. They came back for holidays and a portion of summer, but they spent a good amount of their lives living far away from home and were demanded to be excellent in everything they did. Found that nugget out one drunken night in his backyard. He had a few too many drinks and was talking about his childhood. No clue why.”

“I brought Hot Cheetos. He said he’d never had one before, and we both took offense,” Romeo cuts in. “We demanded to know why, and that’s when he went on a rant about his childhood.”

“Oh yeah.” Gunners nods as my mind starts to whirl, connecting the dots.