Page 40 of Forced Proximity

I’m not letting anyone ruin tonight for me. My unstable mother, included. I exhale the tightness in my chest and push out a smile that I’m sure Doc will know is fake. ‘Ah, we’re good. Someone’s challenging me to a dance-off tonight, and I take my reigning championship very seriously.’

Before she can respond, the driveway alarm pulls our attention away, and a moment later, Conner stomps through the door and gives me a one-armed bro slap. It only takes him a second to turn his attention to Doc. ‘Hey, Doc.’

She nods.

‘Are you as stoked as me for this weekend? Dancing tonight. Sunday, football.’ Conner tosses his phone and keys on the side table and flops on the couch. ‘You’re gonna watch the game with us, right?’

A sticky heat flickers in my chest. Am I really that guy? I’m not. I promise I’m not. But I hate that Conner even acknowledges Doc. It’s not jealousy. I mean, a little, but not really. But my stomach knots when he’s around her and an innate urge to block her from him kicks in. It’s not logical. I know. But it still happens.

She barely lifts her eyes from the laptop, and this makes me happier than it should. ‘Who’s playing?’ she asks.

‘Vikings versus Packers. Packers are gonna kick the Vikings’ ass.’

‘No chance.’ Doc shuts her laptop and folds her arms across her chest. ‘Vikings all the way. I can’t believe my dad didn’t text me. He bleeds purple.’

Conner looks at me and back at Doc. ‘You from Minnesota?’

‘Didn’t I tell you that?’ I say, grabbing a handful of snacks from the table. I know I didn’t tell him that, because I knew exactly what he’d do. Midwesterners have a weird bond, and he’d latch on to their shared geography.

‘Nah, I would’ve remembered.’ Conner cracks open a Coke and slurps the fizz. ‘I’m from Wisconsin.’

‘No way. Which part?’ she says with a huge, definite spark that I rarely see. Apparently mundane escape route preparation can wait. Bonding over humidity, freezing lakes and cheese curds is clearly taking precedence. I swallow back how ridiculous I feel and reach for another handful of snacks.

Conner rests his forearm against the back of the couch. ‘North of Milwaukee. You?’

‘About four hours north of Minneapolis.’ She’s damn near glowing. I know her sweet spot is talking about her family and hometown. But now Conner knows it. Let it go. ‘Did you come here as a kid?’ she asks.

‘Nah. Just when I got recruited to play at USC,’ he says. ‘Been here ever since. Once I got used to the weather, I couldn’t go back home.’

And here it goes. Next up, food bonding.

‘What, snowplows, mosquitos and tornados no longer good enough for you?’ She grins. I don’t like that she’s grinning. I want her grinning at me. Only me.

Holy shit, I am that guy.

‘Did you trade in tater tot hotdish for sashimi?’ she asks.

‘Hotdish! Damn. I haven’t had that in so long.’ Conner slaps his hand against his heart. ‘Now I’m craving it.’

I lean on my elbow and force a smile. ‘What the hell is tater tot hotdish?’

‘You California natives have no idea what you’re missing.’ Doc slides her laptop into her backpack. ‘It’s the best comfort food in the world. Ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, whatever veggies you have, throw it all together, top it with tater tots. Heaven in your mouth.’

‘Would you ever put shredded cheese on top?’ Conner has now shifted completely to face her, and my shirt collar feels like a noose. ‘Just to level it up?’

‘Hell yes, if we had it around,’ she says. ‘Guess I know what I’m making for dinner on my nights off this week.’

‘I think you better toss me your address, Doc. I’ll come over. Maybe bring lefse and bars.’ Conner says it like a joke, but he’s not joking. What the fuck? Should I say something? Warn Doc to stay away from him? Warn Conner to stay away from her? My face burns. I’ve known Conner since I was eighteen and he’s absolutely fucked his way through half of LA by now. The last thing I need is Doc falling victim to his bullshit good old boy facade.

But Doc’s an adult and can do whatever the hell she wants. This burrows into me like a snake bite. I toss the couch pillow in a huff. ‘I’ll be at the pool.’

Both Doc and Conner immediately stop talking. Good. God, I’m a dick. But still, good. Behind me, Conner clears his throat.

‘I’ll join you,’ he says. ‘Doc, you coming?’

I’m almost out of the room, but freeze. I don’t want her out there. I mean, I do, but I don’t. I absolutely cannot witness those two bonding after meeting once, when I’ve tried to bond for two months.

‘Not in the job description,’ she says, and I exhale a tight breath.