“Hey,” Peter says, lighting up and pointing with his chin. “Isn’t that the quarterback for the Falcons?”
My head turns like someone shot a gun by my ear. Shocked, I lock eyes with Eric as he slows his jog to a stroll, loose tank top blowing in the breeze over running shorts that showcase his legs. His face and neck are beaded with perspiration, hair matted to his temples. And he’s not alone. A man equally as handsome slows down, too, his hair slightly lighter and longer on top. Their skin is the same golden glow, and the glint in their eyes, plus similar bone structure and height, makes me guess they must be related.
“Wren, hey!” Eric smiles, just as surprised to see me but his hazel eyes flicker to Peter’s and my entwined fingers. Like he’s trying to split that up, he extends his palm to my boyfriend, brandishing that charming smile as he says, “Eric Cocker.”
“I know! I’m a huge fan! The game in Miami last week, you were fantastic, man. You scored two touchdowns all on your own.”
Eric’s smile is colored with his undisguised inspection of Peter’s hair, then to the two tats on his right arm. Blinking back to the present moment, he mutters, “Right, thanks. Never on my own, though. It’s a team effort.” Eric glances to me and holds my eyes a second too long. “This is my brother, Ethan.”
“Nice to meet you…” Ethan says, his manner easy and friendly, but his eyes are so sharp it’s like he’s suspicious of Peter and not just asking, “What’d you say your name was?”
“Pete! Sorry, didn’t say that did I?”
I reach out to touch his back and as I do, I notice Eric’s eyes flick to the action. “Peter and I are both huge fans of the team. I told him I’d met you and he really hoped he’d have a chance, so this is…very cool.”
Very awkward.
Very much needs to end.
Ethan crosses his arms, legs hip-width apart. “And your name is Wren? How do you know my brother?”
“I bartend where the team hangs out.”
“Ah,” he nods.
Eric asks, “You guys come down from the gardens?” He motions to what I’m wearing. “Pretty dress, not something you wear to the park. Figured it has to be a special occasion.”
“Turns out I have to go into work early.”
Eric’s eyes flicker from my boyfriend back to me. “You’ve been though, right? I know you were raised right around the corner.”
“When I was younger I was more into being a tom boy,” I smile.
Peter says. “I’m from here, too. Never been to the gardens though. Not my thing.”
Glancing back toward the entrance, which I can’t see from here, but nevertheless there’s longing in my eyes as I remember aloud, “My mom tried to take me all the time, but I fought her on it. So stupid.”
Eric hits his brother’s chest with the back of his hand. “We’re members.”
“All our life,” Ethan beams before they exchange an amused look and he laughs, “Mom makes sure of that!”
“We should probably start paying for the membership ourselves soon, huh?”
Ethan makes a face. “And rob her of her greatest joy in life?”
“That’s why I haven’t done it.”
“Bet Emma feels the same way.”
“Dunno. Never asked her, but I would bet money, too.”
“You bet too often. You’ve gotta be smarter with your money, like me.”
Eric’s eyebrows rise. “You installed a bowling alley in your house.”
“Pfft. Yeah, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re a hypocrite. But can you imagine Mom’s face if we bought our own cards?”
“So disappointed,” Ethan agrees.
“You guys all have ‘E’ names?”
The brothers glance to me, both nodding, both crossing their arms. Two sweaty hunks with shining eyes and loads of love for each other.
Eric explains, “My dad’s one of six brothers, all ‘J’ names. So Dad did the lame thing and named the three of us all with the same first letter, too. A sucker for sentiment.”
“I don’t think it’s lame,” I say, feeling self-conscious because Eric has been staring at me in a pretty obvious way. I don’t know if Peter can tell because he’s so starstruck. But I don’t want to chance it. “We have to go. Don’t get to see each other too often.”
Peter glances to me. “Yeah we do.”
I stare at him. “No, we don’t.”
“We just hung out three nights ago.”
Surprised I blurt, “Yeah, but we used to see each other every day.”
Instantly I want to suck those words back into my mouth and not sound so needy and hurt.
My boyfriend’s lips go thin.
Eric saves us both by grinning that famous smile, “Pete, you take care of this girl. She’s a special one. Wren, say hey to Mike next time you’re working. Friday right?”
I hesitate because it feels like he’s checking so he knows when to show up. He’s been doing that a lot lately. I’ve begun to look forward to it, without meaning to, so I wish he would stop. “Um, I don’t remember my schedule. But I’ll tell him you said hi. Nice to meet you, Ethan.”
“You too, Wren. Have a good one.”
They jog off and we hear Eric challenge, “Beat you to the parking lot?”
Ethan shrugs, “Fuck no,” then shouts, “Go!” They explode into sprints with Eric taking the lead pretty quickly. “Oh right! How good are you behind a computer?!”
Eric laughs, “What’s a computer?” He spins around, running backwards. Seeing me watching, he gives a head nod that seems to have meaning behind it. Not just a see-you-around tip-up, but more like he just figured something out.
Peter mutters, checking his phone for the time, “Oh shit, I have to go soon. Can’t believe we ran into him. What a lucky day.”
Chewing on my tongue is the only thing that stops me from heavy sarcasm.
CHAPTER 16
ERIC
Up the old stone staircase I run and don’t slow until I hit the entrance for the Botanical Gardens. Families, tourists and couples dressed in nice, casual clothing mill about, either leaving the shop after a
