Rob didn’t say anything snarky, but he squinted his eyes at Tanner.I ignored him.
“Me too,” Tanner said. “Have you met Abigail?” He touched theblonde’s lower back, gesturing her forward. Almost like he was giving her to meas an offering. Which was weird, because she was clearly his date.
“No,” I said. “But it’s nice to meet you.” I put out my handto be polite. Not that it was necessary. Tanner went through women even fasterthan I did. I’d never see this girl again.
Instead of shaking my hand she laughed and gave me a hug. “Niceto finally meet you,” she purred in my ear. “Tanner told me you were handsome,but his words didn’t do you justice.”
I did not hug her back. Why the hell was Tanner telling hisdate that I was handsome?
Tanner gave me a thumbs up when Abigail didn’t move from myarms.
Holy hell. He wasn’t seriously trying to set me upwith this chick? During boys’ night. I’d told him I didn’t want to actuallymeet anyone. Several times.
“What do you say we get out of here?” She booped me on thenose like I was five years old.
Nope. I pulled myself out of her embrace. “Sorry, I’vehad a long day,” I said. “I was just hoping to hang out with my friends.”
She literally pouted.
Maybe she really was just a kid. How old was this girl? And ifthis was the kind of girl Tanner thought I’d find true love with orwhatever bullshit he was calling it, he’d lost it. He was as crazy as Rob said.
I sat down on my stool and pretended that awkwardness hadn’tjust happened.
Tanner said something to Abigail, she pouted again, kissedhim on the cheek, then walked away like he’d dismissed her. “Sorry about that,”he said. “I thought she might be a good fit.” He sat down next to me and stolemy drink.
“A good fit for Matt?” Rob asked. “Was she even legal? She lookedlike she was 17.”
“She’s 25.”
Rob shook his head. “She booped his nose. I boop mydaughter’s nose.”
“Well, she has a kid,” Tanner said. “She’s probably just usedto hanging out with little Timmy all day. Anyway, how is everyone? It’s beenforever.”
“It really has,” Mason said. “Bee and I have been so busy. Howis Club Onyx going under new management?”
“Don’t worry,” Tanner said. “It’s still running asefficiently as ever. You’ll have to stop by sometime. It’s been far too long. AndI’ve made some very interesting changes. But no business talk tonight. Whatabout you, James? How are you?”
“Good,” James said. “Penny and I have been busy too, but notwith work. Liam isn’t sleeping through the night. But at least he doesn’t peein my face.”
“Like a boss,” Rob said. “My son is going to go pro. In something.But we’re more interested in what you’re up to, Tanner. Especially on Tuesday nights.”
“Hm?” Tanner laughed. “What about Tuesday nights?”
Rob leaned forward. “Don’t play dumb with me. I saw yourocking a man bun and a leopard printed tux last Tuesday outside of One57. Anda few Tuesdays before that…a maroon tux with black paint splatters all over it.”
“A man bun?” Tanner laughed again and ran his fingers throughhis hair. “I don’t think I could pull that off.”
“It was you.”
Tanner shook his head. “I promise you, young sir, it wasn’t.”
Young sir? Rob was older than him.
“But it looked just like you,” Rob said. “Except without theglasses. And obviously, your clothes and hair were more…extra.”
“Maybe I have a very extra twin running around town then?”
“But…”
“Rob, come on,” I said. “Stop interrogating him. Besides,Tanner was with me on Tuesday night.” Wait, was he? Or was that Monday? Actually,Tanner usually was busy on Tuesday nights. And Thursdays too, now that Ithought about it. But I doubted he was gallivanting around the city in weirdsuits. He owned like a million businesses. He was just a busy guy.
“Enough about me,” Tanner said. “And more about…Georgia.” Hesaid “Georgia” like he was the host of a game show.
“The state or the country?” James asked.
“The woman.”
A girl I hadn’t seen a few seconds ago melted into Tanner’sside. “Sorry I’m late. I had a meeting.”
On a Saturday? What was she…a stripper? She was certainlydressed like it.
“You must be Matthew,” she said and stuck her hand out forme. “Tanner has been telling me all about you.”
I didn’t take her hand, because at the same time another girlwalked up to our table.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Tanner, am I early? I’m always early.” Shelaughed awkwardly. “You must be Matt. I’m Stacy.” She gave me a huge smile.
I turned to Tanner. “Tanner, a word?” I didn’t wait for hisresponse. I just walked over to the bar to get another drink. Since he’d stolenmine.
“What’s up?” Tanner said when he joined me.
“What’s up? What the hell are you doing?”
“Hanging out with the guys…”
“I don’t mean that. Why do random women keep showing upsaying they’ve heard all about me?”
“Oh, those are potential love interests. Sorry Abigail was abust. But if you don’t like Georgia or Stacy, Beatrix is coming by in tenminutes. Give Georgia a go though. She has great ratings.”
“Ratings?”
“Yeah. In my binder…”
“Stop it with the binder!” I realized I’d just yelled and swallowedhard. “Man, I told you. I’m just hanging out with Penny for the sake of hangingout with her.”
“Yeah, but you’re going to have to start going on dates orshe’ll catch on to your scheme. And it’s of vital importance that I’m the onethat finds your match.”
“I’m not finding a match.”
“But…”
“Tanner, get rid of Georgia and Stacy. And call off Beatrix andwhoever else is going to walk into the bar having heard all about me. I don’twant to be set up tonight. I just want to drink.” I lifted up my glass. “Inpeace. And catch up with the guys.”
“Right. But there’s a Jennifer due here at 10:15 that I thinkwould really…”
I ignored him as I downed half my drink. “I don’t want to beset up. Not now. Not ever.”
Tanner sighed. “Very well.” He pulled out his phone to
