“I can’t believe you told Brody I was in love with Nate,” Ramsey told Wes, aggrieved. “Now he’s never going to leave me alone about it.”
Wes shot him an unapologetic look. “Shouldn’t have brought up Marcus then.”
“You play dirty,” Ramsey muttered.
“And I learned from the best,” Wes agreed dryly.
“Fuck, okay. I’ll text him.” Ramsey didn’t say whohimwas, but he thought it was pretty obvious it wasnotBrody.
He didn’t expect Wes to check his texts, but Ramsey still made sure he kept up the charade as he typed a message out.
I’m glad we talked yesterday and that we’re on the same page now. We should hang out tonight.
“Oh my God,” Wes said, absolutely looking over his shoulder, with zero shame.
“What?”
“You can’t send himthat. You sound like you’re still arranging a business meeting. I would ask if you know how to flirt but you flirt every fucking day, with everyone around you.” Weshesitated. “Do you not know how to flirt with someone when you like them?”
“Of course I do,” Ramsey insisted. But he was secretly, terrifyingly worried that maybe he didn’t. He could flirt with lots of people, sure, and like Wes said, he did it all the time. But Nate was noteverybody. He and Nate already had enough water under the bridge that it felt weird to employ his usual tactics, to fall back on his normal patter.
Nate wouldn’t like it; Ramsey wasn’t surehewould like it.
“You totally don’t,” Wes argued.
“Maybe I don’t have to be good at this,” Ramsey said. “Maybe I just have to show up looking hot and kiss him and it won’t matter.”
Wes’ expression was unimpressed. “Alright. You try that. See how well that works out for you.”
“I will,” Ramsey said, glad that this wasn’t actually real, and he wasn’t depending on his face and his skills in the bedroom to close the deal.
Normally, he wouldn’t have worried for even a second, but maybe Wes was right, and he kinda sucked at this.
He pressed Send.
“There,” he said, turning to Wes. “Are you happy now?”
“Yes.” Wes looked smug. “I can’t wait to tell Brody how bad you are at this.”
Ramsey groaned.
Nate was not surprised to get the text.
What he was surprised about was the contents. Stilted and awkward, nothing like the in-person Ramsey who was so amazing at charming anybody and everything within a mile radius of his person.
I’m glad we talked yesterday and that we’re on the same page now. We should hang out tonight.
Nate looked at the text. It said it was from Ramsey. It was right under his stupid, smug,Yes, I dotext.
But it sounded nothing like him.
I’m sorry but did a pod person send this?he sent back.
A second later, another text showed up. Nate could practicallyhearthe exasperation in it.Wes was trying to help me. Insisted I text. All part of our little scheme.
Nate just laughed, leaning against one of the weight machines. It was technically a day off, after a game, but he rarely took one off. Especially now, in the heart of the season. Coming into the gym and working out some of the soreness of the game actually helped him recover better. Keep his body moving, the way it was meant to be moved.
Doesn’t explain how shitty you were at texting,Nate sent back.
