Page 106 of Bump and Run
“This is good, Jonesy,” Charlie commented, his fingers combing through my hair.
I nodded. “It is.”
“So, you two.” Ezra dropped into the chair next to me that Matthias had vacated when he went to put Archer to bed. “Is Ollie single, and is he one of us?”
Carson groaned loudly. “Princess, don’t meddle.”
“Uh...” I wasn’t sure how I should answer that. “You should talk to him.”
Ezra crossed his left leg over the other, his dark eyes sparkling. “I tried, and he only grunted at me. I’m going to make him my bestie, just like I’ve made everyone else, but first, I need to know what he likes. I have friends, you know.”
“Why is this any of your business?” Ollie was suddenly glaring down at Ezra, his giant arms folded over his massive chest. “I’m not interested in dating anyone.” His green eyes flashed angrily.
Ezra batted his lashes. “But you might change your mind, boo.”
“You think you’re cute, don’t you?” Ollie snarled.
Carson climbed to his feet. “Watch it.” He was a few inches shorter than my best friend but didn’t back down.
“Baby, it’s fine.” Ezra placed a hand on Carson’s arm. “Ollie’s not going to hurt anyone, are you, big guy?”
Ollie’s nostrils flared, and I swear it was like looking at a stranger. What happened to my golden retriever?
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Am I okay? Am I okay?” Ollie barked out a bitter laugh. “No, Jones, I’m not fucking okay. I’m broken inside. I married someone who said they loved me, and look what happened. They lied. They lied, and now I’m alone while they’re doing god only knows what with who the hell knows who.”
Oh no. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know!” Ollie shouted, then realized everyone was staring at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t... I don’t want to be like this. This isn’t who I am.”
Ezra quickly stepped in before I had the chance and wrapped Ollie in a hug. Maverick soon followed, then Seth and I quickly joined in, because this was my best friend, after all. When I looked up, Ollie had tears in his eyes, but at least he was smiling.
“Better, boo?” Ezra asked.
Ollie nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry.” He nodded at Carson. “I hope we’re still cool.”
“We are,” Carson assured him.
Ezra patted Ollie’s chest as everyone took a step back. “So, you’re going through something. I can respect that. Sometimes I can be a bit nosy.”
“Understatement.” Seth coughed and then giggled when Ezra’s eyes widened. “What? Am I lying? You and Maverick meddled so hard trying to get Noel, Wyatt, and me together.”
Maverick shrugged. “Yeah, and it worked out because we’re smart. Don’t complain.”
“I’m bi,” Ollie suddenly blurted, and then he turned red. He ducked his head and gripped the back of his neck.
Ezra clapped his hands with excitement. “I can work with that.” He hooked an arm through Ollie’s. “This person you had a thing with is over, right? Because I know people. If you’re ready to get back in the saddle again.”
I shook my head as I watched them walk away, and everyone settled back down. That’s when I found Charlie grinning at me.
“What?”
“That was something to witness.” He kissed me softly and then hauled me into his lap. “You’re really part of their little group, Jonesy.”
I shrugged. “I mean, I guess.”
“There’s no guessing about it. You and your WAGs just hugged the grumpiness right out of Ollie. You watch...” Charlie jutted his chin toward where Ezra and Ollie were talking with Maverick, who had joined them. “Ezra is goingto set him up with someone. And Ollie is going to marry this person.”
I watched as Ollie shook his head at something Ezra said before he shrugged his shoulders. Maverick touched Ollie’s arm lightly as he spoke and then my best friend nodded.
“He’d have to divorce Kit first.”
“Fuck yeah, he will,” Charlie hissed. “Guy is a dick, and he doesn’t deserve Ollie.”
I pressed my mouth against Charlie’s. “You’re so amazing, baby. We’re going to have such an amazing ever after together.”
“Yeah, we totally are,” he assured me.
The End