Page 86 of Personal Foul

“You going somewhere?”I ask when I show up and see Ben looking dressed up.

“Yeah. I’m headed out to an art thing.”

“Date?”

“No. Just going by myself.”

“What?” I stare at him like he has two heads because while Ben is a far more sensitive soul than I’ll ever be, I didn’t exactly picture him wandering art galleries alone in contemplation.

“I’m… It’s…” He trips over his words, and I raise a brow in response.

“You all right there?”

“I’m going to see someone. Not see them, like talk to them see them. But just, check on them. From a distance.”

“That… sounds a lot like stalking.” I try to stifle the amusement I know is showing on my face.

“I’m not stalking her,” he grumps at me defensively.

“Whoa.”

“She’s just a friend of my sister’s. She’s had a rough week. I just want to see if she’s okay.”

“But you don’t want to talk to her?”

“No. She won’t recognize me.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I do. Why are you interrogating me anyway? Don’t you have better things to do?”

“I need your help.”

“With what?”

“With Wren.”

His mouth flatlines and he gives me a look.

“I don’t know who else to go to. The girls won’t want to meddle on my behalf and Liam and Waylon are useless. You’re the closest thing to the girls.”

“You’re not selling this.”

“I just mean you’re better at the relationship side of things.”

“I haven’t had any more relationships than you.”

“Right. But you’re better at the romance thing. At the talking. At the nonphysical side of things with women. Is that better?”

“Slightly. You’re bad at asking for help. That’s part of your problem.”

“I’m fucking aware.”

“If you want the advice now, you’ll have to go with me.”

“Fine. Although this sounds fucking terrible.”

“You could use some culture.”