I pat her shoulder in sympathy as she leans on the bar and holds her head in her hands. “Why didn’t you suggest dinner or a movie instead?  Outdoorsy guys have to eat, too.”

“I was so excited he asked me out I didn’t think about it. I figured I could do it; I mean, I used to roller skate when I was little.”

I smile. “So, what happened?”

She peeks at me from beneath her hands. “I put the rollerblades on, stood up, and started rolling backward. The parking lot was on an incline, and I didn’t know how to stop. I was picking up speed and a car pulled in, so I ditched.”

My eyes grow wide. “Did the car hit you?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “But the driver got out to see if I was okay. Talk about embarrassing. Then, Logan came gliding over all professional-like to see if I was hurt. He helped me up, and I couldn’t put pressure on my foot.” She gives me a miserable glance. “We spent the next six hours in the ER. He got to witness a nurse bandage my scraped elbows and knees. I felt like a ten-year-old. It was incredibly sexy.” She pauses. “Not. It was my first date in over six months and I ruined it.”

I shouldn’t tell her I had a date, too. Not only did it go well, but I’m not sure I’m ready to spill about Latson. I have, however, had my share of bad dates in the past. “Listen. If this Logan gives up on you because you fell over, he’s not worth the trouble. If he doesn’t check on you in the next twenty-four hours, forget him. We’ll find you someone new.”

“Good luck with that.” Gwen stands up straight. “I’ve been trying to find someone new for freaking ever.” She ducks beneath the bar. “Where are we at with set up?  I don’t know how much help I’ll be tonight, but at least I’m a body.”

“Maybe you should go home,” I suggest.

“I wish I could, but I need the cash.” Gwen gimps over to look at the wells I’ve stocked with alcohol. “I’ll just stay immobile on this side and you take the other.”

“If that’s what you want,” I say skeptically. I feel bad for her. It’s obvious she’s in pain. “Do you have any medicine?”

“Generic oxy.” She pats her pocket. “They’re my new best friends.”

“Do I have to remind you two that Torque has a strict no drug use policy?”

I turn around and come eye to eye with Latson. My stomach flips. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since we got out of bed yesterday morning. I can tell he’s joking with his words, but I can also sense some emotion behind his question. “Gwen twisted her ankle,” I explain. “It hurts.”

 He frowns. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story.” Gwen waves her hand as if to say ‘forget about it’. “Rest assured I’m only popping doctor prescribed meds.”

Latson nods toward her feet. “Are you sure you’re okay?  I don’t want you hurting yourself any worse.”

Gwen hops over to me and puts her arm around my shoulders. “Jen’s got my back. We make a great team. She’ll work this side, and I’ll work the other. Besides, I need her dating advice.”

Latson’s eyebrows shoot up. “You do?”

Gwen nods. “She’s going to help me find someone new if Mr. Outdoors doesn’t work out.”

Latson looks at me and tries to hold back a smile. “Well, I’ve heard she’s pretty good in the dating department.”

The tops of my ears start to get hot. “Don’t you have some work to do or –”

“Oh, hey. That reminds me.” He steps back. “What do you think of my new shirt?” He looks down at his chest and points. My eyes travel from his face to his pecs. I licked it so it’s mine is printed in bold white letters.

The heat from my ears travels to my cheeks. “You …” I close my eyes to keep my composure. I didn’t expect him to be this blatant. I open my eyes to Latson’s crooked smile. “That’s a little unprofessional, don’t you think?”

“Why?  Oliver says it all the time.”

My eyes bug out of my head. “He does?  Why would he say that?”

“So I won’t steal his Oreos.” Latson looks at me like I’m overreacting. “He likes to lick the filling before he dips them in milk.” He turns to Gwen and shrugs. “I guess she’s never eaten an Oreo.”

Gwen looks at me. “Haven’t you?”

“Of course I have. The statement just seems a little … I don’t know. Inappropriate.”

Latson tsk-tsks. “Jen. Are you thinking dirty thoughts again?”

Gwen shoots me a questioning look. “Again?”

“No. I –”

“You can admit it,” Latson says. “I’d like to know what’s going on in that head of yours.”

He purposefully bites his lower lip as he smirks, drawing my attention to his mouth. Thoughts of kissing him cloud my mind, so I get sarcastic to push them away. “I bet you would.”

Latson backs away from the bar. “I won’t keep you ladies. I’m getting dangerously close to violating the three foot rule.”

Gwen’s confused. “The what?”

“It’s five feet,” I remind him.

“I believe we negotiated three.” He grins. “Oh, and I already talked to Pete. I’ll be driving you home later.”

He will?

Latson looks at Gwen. “Speaking of home, let me know if you need to leave early. Don’t overdo it.”

“Got it, boss,” she says as he turns and walks away. When he’s out of earshot, Gwen lowers her arm and wobbles a few steps away from me. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but something happened between you two.”

I debate telling her. Pete, Jules, and Heidi already know we went out. Latson isn’t acting shy about us, although he is being vague. “He’s full of innuendo,” I say, playing along. “You know that.”

She narrows her eyes. “What’s the three foot rule?”

I decide to busy my hands and grab some cocktail napkins to place around the bar top. “It’s five feet, and it’s a good distance to prevent touching.” I try to change the subject. “So, what do you think Logan is doing right now?”

She doesn’t fall for it. “Touching?” Gwen’s mouth falls open. “Something did happen!”

I shake my head like she’s being silly. “I want to talk about Logan.”

“Liar.” Her eyes light up. “Tell me what happened.”

I try not to laugh. “No.”

“Yes!”  She points at her ankle. “I’m in pain. Humor me. I’ll make it easy for you and play the opposite game.”

“The what?”

“It goes like this: I ask a question and you give me the opposite of the truth. That way you don’t have to actually say what happened.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Have you lost yours?” She leans close so she can whisper. “Something happened with that fine specimen of a man and you don’t want to talk about it?  C’mon!”

It would be a girlie thing to do. Obviously I didn’t talk specifics with Pete. I told him the date went well and to be prepared – I was going to see Latson again. Jules has family visiting from out of town, so I only shared a few brief texts with her, although she wants details when her sisters leave on Friday.

“Okay,” I concede. “You can ask a few questions.”

Gwen smiles. “You can trust me. I’ll share a secret of my own to prove it, too. No opposites.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You didn’t hurt yourself rollerblading?”

“Ugh!  No, that’s true.” She shakes her head. “I slept with Carter.”

My jaw drops. “You what?  When?  What about Logan?” I hiss.

“Please.” Gwen rolls her eyes. “The Carter thing happened over a year ago.”

I’m floored. They get along like brother and sister. I would never have guessed.

“Your turn,” she says. “I already know something happened, so when?”

I think about how to answer in an opposite. “Um, not Monday night?”

“The day after the jam session?  I knew something was up!  The way you two played guitar together …” She drifts off with a dreamy look. “Okay. Did you run into each other in your building?”

“Yes.”

“So, no.” She puts her finger to her chin. “Did he send Oliver over to lure you to his place?”

“What?  No. I mean, yes.”

I start to move around the bar to finish setting up before the doors open. Gwen limps a few steps behind me. “Was this a planned event?”