Nick tossed the vegetables into a bowl before grabbing an onion. They really needed to change the conversation, and do it quickly. “I was a kid. I loved her. I took that seriously.” When Nick cared about someone, he cared one hundred percent. He didn’t play games.
The look in Bryce’s deep brown eyes changed. His forehead wrinkled, and before the man could say anything, Nick spoke. “Shut the fuck up. Don’t feel sorry for me or I’ll have to kick your ass. The fact that she was the only woman I’d been with never bothered me while we were married. Now, can we stop talking about my love life, or lack thereof?”
“No, because as fucked as it is to be talking to my male neighbor about his sex life, I’m trying to make sense of it all. I can’t figure you out. Are you still in love with her?”
Onion in the bowl, Nick pushed it away. He’d thought he would always love Jill, but after seeing her callously walk away from him and into the arms of the man she’d been fucking for over a year, no, he didn’t love her anymore. “No. Shouldn’t you be taking notes, since you’re so intent on figuring me out? Maybe I’m not even human.” Nick cocked a brow at him.
“I’m starting to question whether you are.” Bryce picked up his bottle, which was empty, grabbed Nick’s as well, and then walked over to the recycling bin and tossed them. “Well, hell. I am sorry about the divorce, but if you don’t love her anymore, sounds like it was for the best. And hey, you’re still young, at least you can go out and make up for your serious lack of female experience.”
Fuck. Nick turned away from Bryce and began wiping down the counter.
“Noooo.” Bryce sounded shocked. “No, no, no, no. Don’t tell me you haven’t gone out and gotten a piece of ass since you’ve been divorced.”
“Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” Nick teased him.
“The women I’m with want to be with me just as much as I want to be with them. They’re not looking for anything serious, just like I’m not. It’s a win-win for both of us.”
“I was giving you shit.” Nick walked over to the fridge to get a few things out. He felt like he should be annoyed, but for some reason, he wasn’t. Bryce had this passionate energy about him that Nick enjoyed. It made him feel electric, like he could and should go out and do all the things Bryce spoke about. It was like Bryce knew how to live, and he was teaching Nick with his words.
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“Do you always talk to your friends about their love lives?”
“We often talk about getting laid, yes, and I’m definitely talking about it with you. We need to take you out and get you laid, man. What are you doing next Saturday night?”
“Working,” Nick told him, though he really didn’t have to be.
“Can you get the night off?”
Nick sighed, closed the fridge and then leaned against it. “I don’t need help getting laid.”
“I beg to differ. Going off your experience, I’m thinking you do.”
A laugh jumped out of Nick’s mouth. Jesus, he hadn’t laughed this much in a while, but he could see what Bryce was saying. It was pretty fucking ridiculous when he thought about it. Why in the hell hadn’t he gone out and gotten laid? Dated? Something?
Shaking his head, Nick said, “I can get the night off.”
Bryce clapped his hands together. “Fuck yeah. I’m taking you out to show you what you’ve been missing all these years.”
Nick was looking forward to it.
***
Bryce left not long after they made their plans for the next weekend. He knew Nick had a few things to get taken care of before his mom showed up for dinner. His cell rang as soon as he got comfortable in his chair. He pulled it out to see Christi’s name on the screen. “Hey you. Did you see the game today?” Christi asked when he picked up.
“I didn’t. About to watch some highlights. I was helping my neighbor move a few things.”
“Sexy, tall guy with the short, brown hair?” she asked. “He’s hot. I’ve seen him a few times.”
Bryce laughed at her. “I can’t tell you if he’s good-looking or not, but yeah, tall with brown hair. You’re not hitting on my neighbor, though.”
“Aww, you’re no fun, Bry. Why not?”
“I don’t know...it’s just weird. I have to live next door to the guy.” Though he still wasn’t sure why that mattered. “He’s a good guy. You’d like him. I’m taking him out next weekend. He just got out of a bad marriage.” Bryce was looking forward to it. He enjoyed Nick’s company.
