Page 89 of Personal Foul

“You don’t?”

“I don’t want her like that. I want… Never-fucking-mind. You don’t fucking get it.” He stares out the windshield.

I look at him and suddenly realize we’re two sad fucking losers in the same boat. We can get all the women we want so long as it’s for a night or two. But when it comes to winning hearts and minds, it’s an entirely different set of skills, ones we apparently both come up short on.

My laugh fades into a sigh as I stare out the windshield with him.

“I get it… That’s why I wanted to talk to you. Because you always seem to have the right thing to say or do. I could use the help. Guess it doesn’t work when it’s your heart in the fucking vice, huh?”

He glances over at me, shaking his head. “It’s a crush I can’t quit. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

“Well I’m serious when I say that she couldn’t stop looking at you. I think it was because she was into you, but maybe she recognized you?”

“Doubt it. Last time she saw me and knew it was me was when I was a teenager. Before the growth spurt and all that.”

“Saw you andknewit? Is this stalking bit a regular thing then?” I can’t help the amused smile that returns to my face.

“It’s only the second time. Just when my sister mentions something’s happened. I tell her I’ll check on her.”

“I see.” I raise an eyebrow.

“Let’s not start with the judgment or we’ll be going back and forth all night.” He levels me with a look that tells me to fuck off.

“Well I’m not judging. But I do need your advice.”

“You and Wren having problems already?” He turns toward me.

“Not exactly. Life is just… hitting her hard right now, and I want to help but I don’t want to overstep or piss her off. She’s so independent and I don’t want to try to take that away from her. But watching her struggle, knowing I could make it easier… It’s fucking hard to do.”

“Can you tell me what’s going on? Without breaking her confidence, I mean?”

“I can give you the highlights…” I say and start to explain the situation to him.

“Fuck, that is rough.”

“Right. And, the thing is… The signing bonus would let me buy the building. I already have an agent ready when it goes on the market. I know she might be freaked out about it, but it would give her time and choices. Plus, I just want her to know that this move to play in Cincinnati doesn’t mean my feelings are changing. I want her. Just her.”

“That’s a hard sell when you are who you are.”

“I know, trust me. I fucking know. But… she knows I love her.”

He stares at me for a minute, and I give him a look.

“Sorry, I just never thought I’d see the day you’d say you were in love.”

“And I’d never thought I’d be helping you stalk a woman, and yet here we are.”

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, a little grunt coming before he speaks again.

“Buy the building. It might freak her out, but even if it does, she’ll get over it and be thankful she has the choice. And you’ll have shown her you’re invested. It’s what I’d do.”

“You sure?” I feel the worry well up in my gut again.

“No. You can’t ever be sure, and you know her better than I do at this point. But it’s what you think will help her most, give her choices—so follow your gut.”

“All right. If she dumps me when she sees it though, I’m coming here and outing your stalking act.”

“I’m not stalking her. It’s only been twice!”