My hand reflexively flies to my mouth, but they start laughing.
Rubbing his forehead Ethan explains, “My brother thought he’d be funny and throw my keys off the roof.”
Eric grins, rubbing his head and wincing, “I was going to leave him to search on his own but I had to drive back, park the car and come help. Damn conscience.” Remembering Peter his eyes flicker. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
“He had to work,” I remind him, self-consciously adjusting the neckline of my special dress. “I decided to take a walk on my own since it’s so beautiful out.”
The brothers exchange a look that makes me feel like a pitiful, abandoned puppy.
I point between them. “Don’t do that!”
“Do what?” they both ask.
“Look at each other like that! I can walk out here by myself and not have it mean anything. My boyfriend has to work. People work. It’s normal.” Feeling a disappointed lump in my throat I bite my lip and look away.
Eric tromps out of the bushes, his legs scratched up, though he doesn’t seem to notice or care. “Yeah but you guys were going to the Gardens, and now you’re just here by yourself?”
“I don’t need a play-by-play, Cocker.”
He wipes his hands, glancing to them.
Ethan offers, “I’ll find the keys on my own. Why don’t you take her to the Gardens, Eric?”
Surprised, we stare at each other, his hazel eyes lighting up like it’s a great idea.
I quickly refuse, stuttering like a fool, “I can’t. Lot to do today. I’m really busy. Don’t want to trouble you with something like that.”
Eric smiles, “You have nothing to do.”
“I do so!”
“You did, but you don’t now.”
My mouth clamps shut like Beeker from the Muppets.
“I’m a sweaty mess but if you don’t mind, how ‘bout we go check it out? You’ve never been.” He leans in a little. “And that is a crime.”
It hurts to say no when I so wish I could say yes. “It is a crime but I can’t. Thank you anyway.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I have a boyfriend, who is stuck at work, and it wouldn’t be cool if I went in there with you.”
“It’s just a garden.”
“No, it’s a very romantic place if you’re a man and a woman alone. I’ve never been inside but I’ve seen pictures. I wouldn’t want Peter coming here with a girl.” Eric stubbornly crosses his arms. “Just imagine if you had a girlfriend, would you want her going there with a guy as attractive as you are?”
Fire ignites those hazel eyes, turning them almost emerald as he firmly says, “No fuckin’ way.”
“See? But thank you for the invitation. And I would love to help you guys find Ethan’s keys. Six eyes are better than four.” I pass him, and Eric watches my journey. I can feel his stare but I keep going.
“So you think I’m attractive.”
I eye him over my shoulder. “Everyone thinks you’re attractive. Especially you.”
Ethan whoops and points at his brother. “She’s got your number!”
Chuckling while climbing back into the bushes, Eric informs him, “Yeah, she did the same thing to me in front of Ben. He loved it, too.”
Ethan asks, “How is he? Haven’t seen him in person since that stupid elopement.”
“Seems okay. I should have called you, invited you to come to the bar, too, so you could look into his soul like you claim you can.”
“Found a quarter!” I hold it up. They give appreciative nods.
Ethan winks, “Nice, that’s good luck.”
“So Ben just got married?”
Hunched over and digging, they mutter at the same time, “Yeah,” with as much enthusiasm as you’d have for tax time.
“You’re not happy for him?”
Over the scraping sounds of branches Ethan explains, “Ben has been looking for his soulmate for years. Hopefully it won’t take me that long to find these keys. His parents fell in love when they were eight.”
“Aww! Eight years old?”
“Yeah,” they both mutter.
“That’s amazing.”
Over his bent shoulder-muscles Eric locks eyes with me. “That’s a lot of pressure is what it is.”
Ethan agrees, “I think Ben forced something too fast and too soon. He wants what they have. Can’t blame him. But pretty much all of us agree it just doesn’t feel right. We know one thing, in our family when we love someone we want everyone there to celebrate it with us.”
“True,” Eric mumbles. “That’s what’s fishy about it. Oh ho! Found ‘em!” He rises up like a flash, holding the keys above his head in celebration. “Who’s the winner?”
“Me,” Ethan smirks, snatching them from his brother’s grip. “Oh no, what happened?”
Eric laughs and it’s a great, honest sound.
“The way you guys are together makes me wish I had siblings,” I confess as we climb out of the shrubbery, my dress fighting me.
Eric helps, “Wait, I got it,” tugging the fabric free and lifting me up. My heart flutters, no time to object. He sets me down as if it wasn’t a big deal. But it felt like one. “You’re an only child?”
“Mmhmm.”
Up the stairs we go.
Truth is I don’t have anywhere I have to be. No work tonight. No boyfriend to spend the day with like I thought we would. And since the keys have been found, it’s time to get in my car and drive away from what has made me forget everything for a little while.
I’m in my head, wishing I could change my mind and say yes to that invitation. It doesn’t occur to me until we’re almost to the top that none of us are talking. Glancing back I see Eric staring into nothing as well. I meet Ethan’s eyes because he’s watching me.
“I’m on this level,” I tell them.
Eric stops with me and glances to the ground, and then to his brother, head bowed a little like, give us a minute.
“Nice to meet you, Wren,” Ethan smiles, heading up the last flight.
“Bye.” I’m picking my nails, wondering why we’re standing here alone like this.
The cocky quarterback is nowhere to be found as Eric says in a quiet volume, timber deep
