“What’s up?” I try to hide my impatience. “I’m on my way out.”
From the couch, Logan arches a brow. “You’ve been on your way out a lot lately.”
I shrug. “Places to go, people to see.”
“Are you ever going to tell us her name?” Hannah asks in a cheerful voice.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply innocently.
Garrett waves a hand. “I don’t care about Tuck’s mystery girl right now. I need someone to back me up—pronto.”
I grin. “Back you up on what?”
“Dean and Allie.”
Ah. I was wondering when we’d be having this powwow. We all came back from our various Thanksgiving trips to discover that Dean and Allie are officially a couple.
I wasn’t surprised to hear it, because I already suspected they’d hooked up, but I am a bit stunned that they’re actually going out. Dean hasn’t had a girlfriend since I’ve known him.
“Apparently I’m the only one who thinks this is the worst fucking idea since horses,” Garrett says irritably.
“Horses?” Logan and Fitzy echo in unison.
“Like, horses in general?” Morris asks in confusion.
“As in, domesticating them,” he grumbles. “They belong in the wild. End of story.”
“Babe,” Hannah hedges in, “are you just saying that because you’re scared of horses?”
His jaw drops. “I’m not scared of horses.”
She ignores the denial. “Oh my God, it’s all coming together. That’s why you wouldn’t go to the Thanksgiving fair in Philly.” She glances at the rest of us. “My aunt and uncle wanted to take us to this festival thing with all these cool booths and a petting zoo…and horseback riding. He said his stomach hurt.”
Garrett visibly clenches his teeth. “My stomach did hurt. I ate too much fucking turkey, Wellsy. Anyway, I don’t like this. I’m going to be so screwed when they break up.”
“They might not break up,” she points out.
I furrow my brow. “And how would that even affect you?”
Since I’m not seeing his logic, he slowly spells it out for me. “Sides, dude. People break up, their friends take sides. Dean’s my buddy, so obviously the bro code says I have to side with him. But this one—” He jerks a thumb at Hannah, “is my girlfriend. Girlfriend trumps buddy. Wellsy’ll take Allie’s side, and I’ll have to take Wellsy’s side, vis-à-vis, I’m taking Allie’s side.”
“I don’t think you’re using vis-à-vis right,” Morris pipes up.
“Yeah, I believe the word you’re looking for is therefore.” Logan’s lips are twitching wildly.
“I wouldn’t expect you to take Allie’s side on my behalf,” Hannah protests. “And you’re being such a jackass about this. We’re adults. If they break up, we’ll all still be able to co-exist peacefully.”
“Ross and Rachel co-existed,” Logan agrees.
Fitzy snorts.
Garrett is too busy glaring at Hannah. “I can’t believe you’re cool with this. She’s your best friend. He’s going to blow this—you know that.”
His girlfriend shrugs. “All I know is that Allie is happy. And if Allie’s happy, I’m happy.”
“Tuck?” Garrett prompts.
I hesitate. On one hand, Dean seems genuinely into Allie, at least from the limited interactions between them that I’ve witnessed. On the other hand, the guy doesn’t have a serious bone in his body. Allie’s a nice girl. I don’t want to see her get hurt.
Either way, it’s none of my business.
“Wellsy’s right. They’re adults. If they want to be together, then who cares?”
He glowers at me. “Traitor.”
“Dude, the girl TKO’d him yesterday,” Logan says with a grin. “You know how big his ego is—if it could take that kind of hit and he still wants to be with her, then it’s the real deal.”
Despite myself, I start to laugh. Fuck. I wish the other guys were here last night for all the chaos. After the team’s road game to Scranton, Dean and I came home to a dark house where Allie and Dean’s sister were watching a horror movie. The girls freaked, Allie accidentally knocked Dean out with a paperweight, and now I’m equipped with enough ammo to torture him for the rest of his life.
“Oh hey, speaking of last night,” Hannah says. “Did Dean’s sister get back to Brown okay? I wish I got to meet her.”