Page 36 of Forever Only Once
“So, if you aren’t here to tell me that news, why are you here?” I asked again, suddenly a little nervous.
“You’re going on your second date with this woman. We want to make sure you don’t fuck it up,” Prior said, grinning.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you think I’m going to fuck it up?”
“Because you’re stressed out about work and probably about us because you’re always messed up over family, and you’re going to be more focused on that than making sure you treat her like you could have a future together,” Nate said.
We all looked at Nate, blinking.
“I can’t believe you just said that. You’re not always so insightful.”
Nate flipped us off.
“I am the most insightful brother. It’s the twin thing,” he said, looking at Arden.
She shrugged. “He’s right.”
“Hey,” Macon and I said together. And then we looked at Prior, who hadn’t complained.
Our other brother just shrugged. “I’m the funny one, Macon is the quiet, growly one, Cross is the loud, growly one, and I guess that makes Nate the sensitive one. Although I suppose, sometimes, that could be Macon. I don’t know, there are a lot of us. It gets confusing at times.”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, though, why are you here?”
“The honest answer is that we were on our way out to dinner, and we figured we would stop by and annoy you,” Liam said, and I laughed.
“That is an honest answer. I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“No problem. However, just remember that all of my siblings were up in my business the entire time I was seeing Arden, and are pretty much going to be that way for the rest of our lives. It’s going to be an issue forever, but I like it. You’re the eldest, like I am. You’re going to have to get over it. While you’ll likely want to growl and take care of everyone else, they’re going to want to do the same for you. It’s payback.”
“Now, who’s the insightful one?” Nate said, and I shook my head.
“You guys go get food. Do your thing. I’m off to meet Hazel.”
Nerves made my belly clench, but I ignored them. Just because this was our first date—well, our first real date rather than an accidental one—didn’t make it any different. It was just that I didn’t have time to get nervous before. It had been a while since I had been on a date, and I wasn’t sure I was any good at it.
The fact that I wasn’t sure she even wanted to go on a date with me, that she hadn’t simply been talked into it, worried me too.
But it was fine. I just had to keep from thinking so hard.
“So, do you need help getting ready?” Nate asked, his gaze searching mine.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Um?” Arden began. “How do I say this delicately?” I looked at her, putting on my best innocent and confused face.
“What? I don’t look ready for my date?” I looked down at my track shorts, flip-flop slides, white socks—because my feet were cold, and I apparently wanted to look like a fashion faux pas that made even my teeth ache—and shirt with bleach on it.
“I don’t look ready?”
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Prior implored.
“He’s joking,” Macon said, deadpan. “You’re not that much of a fucking idiot.”
“Of course, I’m not,” I said. “For the love of God, I might be out of practice with dating, but I’m not that bad,” I said honestly.
The others looked at me, and I threw my hands up into the air.
“You’re wearing sandals with socks,” Arden said. “How am I supposed to keep from questioning your motives? What’s the plan here? Seriously, you are wearing sandals with socks.”