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“What are we—sixteen? Talking about our nightly conquests?” I tear off some paper towels since I don’t think we have any napkins.
“It’s a milestone,” Ashton says solemnly. “Although, in my experience, as soon as someone in the house gets serious, everyone else follows suit and then I’ll have to find new roommates again.”
“I don’t think moving in together is on the table,” I say with a shrug. “We just started seeing each other.”
“She’s Jamieson’s sister, though.” Simon frowns at me. “You don’t want to mess with her if it’s not serious.”
“It’s brand new,” I say defensively. “And we’re both busy. We’re currently living in the same city and we barely have time together. It’s going to get that much harder once she goes back to New York.”
“When is she going back?” Felix asks.
“I don’t know. It depends on what comes up. She has a lot of irons in the fire.”
I should probably ask her but it feels too soon, like I’m pushing for something neither of us is prepared for.
“She seems nice,” Simon says, putting the large plate of pancakes on the island.
“And she’s beautiful,” Blaze adds.
“I’m aware.” I put three pancakes on my plate and cover them with butter and syrup.
“You’re being squirrely,” Ashton says, putting half a dozen pancakes on his plate and drowning them in syrup. “What’s up?”
“Nothing’s up,” I grunt. “Why are we talking about who I’m dating?”
“So we can live vicariously through you!” Simon says with a laugh.
I chuckle. “There are a lot of beautiful women in this town.”
“Yeah, but after one divorce, I’m a lot more careful.”
“I hear you.”
“And with my last name, I’m always wary,” Ashton adds. “One brother is a billionaire and the other is the lead singer of the hottest rock band in the world. I never know if girls are interested in me or my family.”
“I’m in the closet,” Blaze says, “so I’m lucky if I can find anyone to hook up with, much less find a relationship.”
“And I’m just bad at relationships,” Felix says with a sigh. “I think I am too dorky.”
We’re all quiet for a beat because he is a little on the dorky side. He’s also a hypochondriac and terrified of spiders.
But he’s also kind and soft-spoken, generous to a fault.
Not to mention a hell of a hockey player.
“The women who find you dorky are idiots,” I say calmly. “You’re a little quirky, but aren’t we all? None of us is perfect.”
He nods. “Thank you. I guess I am not so lucky with…women.” He speaks English well but his French-Canadian accent is noticeable.
“I’ll be your wingman,” Blaze says, taking a big bite of pancakes. “Women love me for some reason. I’ll just tell them I have a girlfriend and send them over to you.”
Felix looks confused for a second but then nods. “Okay.”
“If Maya has any single friends, I’m in the market,” Simon adds.
“Me too,” Ashton says. “And man, these pancakes are awesome!”
“You did a good job,” I say, grateful for the change in conversation.