He shrugs one shoulder. “Could be. It made Briar pledge not to date anyone for a year, but look how long that lasted. I’d say if you’re interested in her, be there for her. Support her.” There’s a rustling noise from the front of the gym, distracting me, but Liam continues, undaunted. “Words are cheap. Show her you’re a man who’s not going to run away or fuck around.”
Mick appears in the doorway, groaning, and rubs the back of his neck as if we’ve caused him physical distress. “Come on. Are you giving relationship advice? What the fuck? This is a boxing gym. You get out of here with that shit.”
Liam laughs it off. “Yeah, man. I’d buy your BS a little more if you hadn’t let me propose to Briar in here.”
“You proposed to her inhere?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. Bell’s isn’t what anyone would call a high-quality establishment. I don’t feel guilty for thinking so, because Mick would be the first to offer up that assessment. It’s part of the reason I feel comfortable here, but it wouldnotbe a romantic setting for an engagement.
Mick beats his fist against his chest. “Yeah, he did. What better way to find out if your woman really wants to marry you than to ask herin this dump?”
He has a point.
Mick releases a jaw-cracking yawn that makes me flinch. “I’m bored. You want to get drunk? Maybe go get a discount tattoo?”
“Not me, I’m out.”
“Me too,” Liam says. “I told Briar I’d bring home dessert.”
Mick shakes his head sadly. “So it goes.”
“Did Haley ever call you?” I ask.
“Hazel,” he corrects. “I’m never gonna hear from that girl again. Whatever. Good riddance.”
It sounds like there’s a story there, but he seems pretty bitter about it, so I don’t ask.
“Want to play the muscle with Liam and me on Saturday?” I ask, because I sense it will cheer him up. There’s nothing Mick enjoys more than being asked to use his muscles to intimidate assholes.
Sure enough, he perks right up. “Yeah, all right. What are we doing? Is someone bothering one of your lady friends?”
“Something like that,” Liam says, giving me one of his shut-the-fuck-up looks. “This lady’s single, though.” He says this last part with a suggestive wink.
Judging by my past experience with Liam’s sense of humor, I’m sure he thinks it would be hilarious not to share the exact nature of our mission until Saturday. Fine by me. I won’t interrupt his fun.
“All right, guys, I’ll see you later.” I wave as I head for the door. I’ll shower at home, where I can be reasonably certain bacteria has not created colonies in the shower pan.
I’m in the car, just about to drive off, when I decide to check my phone first. A message from Bradley Ruche is sitting on the screen:
Who the fuck are you?
Progress! I know Nora will be thrilled, so I immediately text her?—
It took long enough, but first contact has finally been made.
Then I respond to Bradley:
I’m Cormac. My name is attached to this message. I figured you’d be more likely to respond if it wasn’t an anonymous message.
I drive home, feeling a twinge of excitement when my phone buzzes again. We’re actually getting somewhere.
It’s not as if I suddenly care about the Pansy and José ordeal, but Nora is invested in the outcome. I guess I’m far gone enough for her that I’ve decided that’s enough.
After I park in the driveway, I check my phone again. There’s a message from Nora that I immediately respond to:
I hope you’re not talking about aliens…
Aliens would be cool. But I was referring to Bradley Ruche. The one with the gym videos.
Oh, I remember.
