He’s silent for a second. “Throw in an appetizer, and you have a deal.”
I roll my eyes. This one is a piece of work. “You’ve got it. See you there in thirty?”
“Yeah, okay. I need to feed the princess anyway.”
I think he means Juliet. But who knows? “Great. See you then.”
Then, I text Boyd. Can you meet me for a beer? I have a favor to ask you.
Sure. Where?
Hotel lounge. ASAP.
Sounds good.
I take the elevator up to the lounge, grab a table as far in the back as I can just in case, and plan what to say—and what to offer—to both Boyd and James.
Boyd arrives right away, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He looks a lot better than he did this morning. I flag him down. “Thanks for coming, cousin.”
“Where’d you disappear to this afternoon?” he asks.
I try not to show any impatience as I tell him. But I need to talk to him and James and go spend some time with Romeo before showering, dressing, and picking Kathleen up at six. Romeo does fine on his own, but I don’t like leaving him alone for too long in a strange place.
“Beer?” I ask Boyd.
“Sure.”
I flag down the cocktail waitress. “Two Heinekens, please.”
She smiles. “I’ll be right back with those.”
“I thought we were going to hang out this afternoon,” Boyd says. “Go check out Coors Field. You didn’t even thank me after the meet and greet, and I thought that Kathleen chick was going to jab me in the eye every time I looked at her. She really doesn’t like me… I mean you. I mean the Romeo-owning version of you.”
I scratch my jaw, feeling itchy with nerves. “I know, and I’m sorry about ditching you. I went to lunch with Kathleen after the meet and greet, and then I had some things to do. I’m trying to spend as much time with her as I can, but I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.”
“We’re still going to the award ceremony tonight, right?” he asks.
Boyd was going to be my plus one. I wriggle in my chair like a fish in a net. “So, about that.” He instantly looks suspicious. “Kathleen invited me to go to the dinner with her and her brother.”
“Great! We’ll go together. You must have told her who you were and she’s okay with it?”
I squint. “No. Not exactly. I can’t yet, Boyd. She wouldn’t speak to me again. And I only have this weekend to woo her.”
He pulls back, making a face, and then snorts. “Woo?”
“Yes. And I need your help. You did such a great job at the meet and greet . . . can you be me again tonight at the dinner?”
He’s already shaking his head. “No way, bro. Being you is too complicated.”
“Just for tonight. After Juliet wins the award, Kathleen will be so excited that I’ll tell her about Romeo and me and beg her forgiveness. I only need a little more time.”
“And what if Romeo wins?” Boyd asks. I shrug. He grabs the beer the waitress sets down and guzzles it. “Fine, I’ll do it. But I’m going to need several more of these.”
I reach over and grip his shoulder. “Thank you. Seriously. You have no idea how much this means to me. And I will definitely make it up to you.”
He nods and wipes his mouth. “You bet you will. We’re going to the Gator Bar for a week when we get home.”
I groan. He loves that joint. I think it stinks like sweat and spilled alcohol. “Whatever you say.” I glance at my watch. “Hey, listen, Kathleen’s brother James is meeting me here in a minute, and I don’t want him to see us together, so . . .”
“Piss off?” Boyd raises a dark eyebrow with a frown.
I try to look as apologetic as possible. “Thanks again, cousin.”
He stands. “Yeah, yeah. Good luck tonight. With Kathleen and with the award.”
I get up too. “No, not the award. I want her to win that.”
His eyebrows pull in. “Oh right. This weekend is confusing.”
James walks into the lounge, and I step behind my cousin. “Go, Boyd, he’s here.”
Boyd leaves, muttering darkly to himself. Not that I blame him. I wave James and then the waitress over.
“What would you like?” she asks Kathleen’s brother.
He checks out the cocktail menu. “I’ll have a Lint Roller, the nachos, and the flatbread.”
I stare at him. “Aren’t you coming to dinner with us . . . in an hour?”
“Yeah, so?”
I shake my head and ask the waitress for another beer.
“You’re a busy man tonight,” she says.
I smile and turn away, not wanting to invite any more commentary. It works; she takes off.
“So, James, how’s Kathleen?” I ask. “Is she nervous?”
He throws me an incredulous look and shrugs. “How would I know?”
“Haven’t you seen her?”
“Yeah. But I don’t ask how she feels all the time.” He snorts, picks up the silverware, and drums on the table.
I have the urge to lecture him about how the award ceremony is a big deal for her, that she needs his support, and it’s time to step up for her sake, but I don’t give in to it. It’s all true, but I don’t think it will help my cause.
“Listen, James, I have a favor to ask you.” I need lots of favors tonight.
“What’s that?” He picks up the little bowl of peanuts the waitress drops off and pops them one by one into his mouth. Rapid fire.
“I, uh—”
I can’t focus. His cheeks are getting full like a chipmunk’s. When it seems like he can’t squeeze any more nuts in there, mostly because the bowl is empty, he finally starts to chew. I pry my eyes away.
“So, here’s the thing,” I say. “I really like your sister. And I think she likes me, too.”
“What are you guys . . . in high school?” Bits of nut shower from his lips into his lap. It’s disgusting.
I take a long breath. “Okay, if you want to know the truth, I love her.”
He makes a face. “Why?” More nut bits dribble out. “I thought you must have problems to want to take her out on a date, but now I know you do.”
Problems? I think James has the problem. Or more accurately, Kathleen. But he’s her brother, her only family, and hopefully, my future brother-in-law. I’m determined to be nothing but polite to him. I smile thinly.
“I do have a problem, James. I only have one day to convince your sister to marry me.”
He chokes, spitting nuts all over the table. I slide back to avoid getting sprayed. “What?”
“I’m very, very serious. I want to marry Kathleen.”
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Wait until she hears this.”
I hold up my hands. “No! This is strictly between you and me. Please. I’ll ask her in my own time.” And although my own time will hopefully be in the next twenty-four hours, I don’t need him spoiling it. “But I need your help to make sure she knows I’m serious and legitimate.”
“How can I do that?” He still looks stunned, but with a hint of a mocking smile on his face. Maybe this was a mistake.
“First, I wanted you to know how I feel. I meant every word I said. I love Kathleen, and I plan to ask her to marry me.”