The Scheme

“Anywho,” I continued, “I’ve tried every play in my playbook. I’ve flirted sweetly. I’ve worn fitted scrubs, which are very uncomfortable, by the way. And outside of the hospital, I’ve kind of secretly stalked him at that one bar. I’ve done everything shy of stripping naked and asking him out.” I raised my pointer finger for emphasis. “But . . . now I have a plan.”

Brian displayed a wide grin, most likely at my enthusiasm. I placed my bag of chips on the bench and shifted to tuck one foot under my butt. “Men like competition, right?” When he didn’t respond, I continued, “I think we should pretend to date. I mean, you have to pretend to be interested in me. And also, we have to formulate a plan where he sees the both of us together. We have to make him believe you want to get with me.”

I extracted the crinkled piece of paper in my back pocket. “This is a rough draft. The key is to show up wherever he’s going to be. Maybe you can come to the hospital a couple times? You know . . . pretend to court me?” I peered up to gauge his reaction. Judging by his happy-go-lucky smile, I went on. “Maybe come with flowers or presents, like you want me bad.”

I folded the piece of paper within my fingertips. “I mean, of course I wouldn’t want you to buy me things. I’d be buying them and signing the card with your name.” When I locked eyes with him, my insides soared knowing that he was on board.

He laughed when I was finally done. “Why can’t you just ask him out?”

He made it seem so simple.

I shook my head, my cheery mood slipping. He obviously didn’t know how the chase worked. “Guys like him want to feel like they’re in charge. No one likes an aggressive girl. You bang those types of girls; you don’t marry them.”

He raised a curious eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you weren’t against sleeping with him on the first date?”

“That’s different!” I sighed heavily, my face pinching together. I didn’t want to go into details on how Evangeline’s prediction had foretold that our relationship would be purely physical at first, but would blossom into more than anything I could ever imagine. This was what I had, so this was what I was going with.

His eyes lit with curiosity. “When do we start?”

I let out a squeal and threw my arms around his neck. “So you’ll help me?”

He faked a longsuffering sigh. “I guess. If good boy me is your only option, how can I say no?”

I knew he was joking, but I couldn’t be happier. “Ahh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

At that, I pulled away and got down to business again. “Well, I have the inside scoop that he’s going to Bartlett’s again tomorrow. Sarah, my former wing-woman, says so.” I looked to the crowd of people as I spilled the plan in my head. “You can go to the bar, too. Be there before me. This time, our meeting will be pla

This was so going to work. I just had the best feeling.

***

BRIAN

There was a carefree lightness in this girl, but most of all, she was just plain fu

I still didn’t like that it was Stiff she was going after, but the overprotective side of me was agreeing to her deal just to prove he wasn’t who she thought he was.

“What is it about him?” I felt like I’d asked this question a million times. “How are you so sure he’s the one?”

She softened like he was already her world, and a sudden but fierce pang of jealousy coursed through me, making me uneasy. There was absolutely no reason why I should be jealous.

“He’s obviously good looking and smart.” She stared into empty space, falling into a dream-like state. “And he’s sweet and charming.” She turned to me then. “The way he cares for his patients. I especially swoon every time he handles children.” She slumped against the bench and sighed. “Let’s reiterate again; he’s a doctor. Plus, I think I just love him.”

I wanted to tell her, ‘To be nice to people and fix them up is his job.’ I still didn’t understand her obsession with this guy. I probably never would.

“Like I said before, I’m not a gold digger.” She sat straighter in her seat and jutted out her chin. “I’m like the song; I work hard for my money. If I’m in search of a guy who does the same, what’s wrong with that? If he wants me to retire so I can raise his babies, what’s wrong with that, too? So quit trying to make me feel like I’m a gold digging hoe like Chlamydia Clary.”

I blinked at her, trying not to laugh. “Who?”

“Never mind,” she muttered, but clearly I’d struck a nerve.

“I never said that, Kendy, and I don’t think that of you.” Moving on. “So . . . what’s in it for me?”

Her eyebrows pulled into a V as she placed her fingers on her lips, in deep concentration. “Hmm.” She let out a carefree laugh that lightened my insides. “And here I was thinking all about me.”

Just like that, her smile stretched across her face, and if I could have bet my last paycheck, it’s as if she found another great idea. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’m going to find you a girl.”

“Go on,” I prodded.

“I’m going to teach you a little about how to play the game, which in turn will land you that forever girl.” Her face brightened.

Did this girl only think in forevers? “Okay,” I said hesitantly.

“Don’t be like that.” She gave my shoulder a lighthearted punch. “Nice boys always finish last, right? So, say we make you not so good. I can show you pointers or something. Maybe we can even head to the bar and find your ‘it’ girl.”

I cocked my head. It didn’t sound like much, but if it revealed what an asshole this guy was, it’d totally be worth it. Besides, I had been so work focused I could use a change in my day-to-day. Maybe I needed this.

Trey was right. I deserved to have a little fun.

I gave her a light shoulder punch back, ready to commit to this. “Tonight it is. I’ll see you then.”

SEVEN

BRIAN

Showered and clean, I tugged up my jeans. The tightness in my muscles told me that maybe I overdid it at the gym today. After slipping on my button down, I applied a little of Trey’s hair product to the tips of my hair and stepped out of my bedroom.

“Whoa, hot date?” Trey was slouched against the couch, beer in hand, while the TV blasted in the background. I was surprised he was chilling tonight, staying in. By this time, he’d be ready to hit the clubs. Maybe he had a lady friend joining him.

“No, just going out,” I said, fixing the buttons on my sleeves.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Going out alone looking like that? Someone’s on a mission,” he said, tipping his beer back.

“I’m just going out with a friend.” Glancing at the Miller Lite in his hand made me want one for myself.

“Do I know this friend?” Trey asked, prodding for more information.

I squinted at the clock on the wall. I still had time to chill, so I strolled to the fridge and grabbed a beer. “Yeah, remember I was telling you about that nurse I met at the hospital?”

“Nice,” he said, nodding in approval. “Finally. I like seeing you putting yourself out there.”

Sure. Putting myself out there. He had no idea what Kendy had pla

I plopped next to him and zeroed in on the soccer game he was watching. “So, where’s Je

In the six months I’d been here, I’d seen a revolving door of women come in and out. Most were models. Trey had high standards, and I swore every girl he dated had been as tall as him, with legs that went on forever. Je