When he spotted me, the corner of his mouth lifted, as though I’d amused him in some way. He was business casual, in a button down and slacks, looking professional and boyishly cute all at once.
In a chipper mood, I plopped down next to him as the warm summer sunlight beat down on my face, forming little beads of sweat on my forehead. I pulled my tube top a little lower, as I didn’t want any tan lines while I let the sunlight wash over me.
“Hiya,” I said as I opened a bag of chips. “No suit or tie?”
“No client calls today, plus Fridays are usually our laid back days at the office,” he said smoothly, eyeing me as I chomped away. “Are you going for a run or something?” He eyed my short workout shorts and gym shoes.
I looked at him like he was crazy. “Kendy does not run unless she is being chased by a wild animal.” I pulled at my tube top. “And run in this? My boobs would be bouncing everywhere.”
A flash of humor crossed his face. “I’d like to see that.”
“You and the rest of the males at Central Park. Chip?” I pushed the small bag in his direction, chewing animatedly.
He squinted against the sun and shook his head.
“More for me.” I shrugged. My bag was dwindling down to crumbs anyway.
I had come here on a mission, not to shoot the shit, so I angled toward him, getting down to business. “Okie dokie, so let’s talk about this deal.”
He was still smirking at me, and I had no idea why.
“What’s so funny?”
“You.” He grinned, but he motioned for me to continue.
“So I narrowed down my proposition, and you’re going to love, love, love this one.” I laughed, because he was still smiling at me. I guess he must’ve been in a good mood, too. “So, as you already know, I’ve been secretly stalking Dr. Klein.” I popped a half chip in my mouth. “And so far I’m having a little difficulty.” I scrunched my nose, because, seriously, I had no idea why I was having a tough time with this guy. They must be built different here in New York.
“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 planned. After I show up, flirt with me like you normally would, but this time it would be staged. We can go over your exact pick-up lines. This’ll get him jealous and badda-bam, badda-boom, he’ll ask me out, and then it’ll be happily ever after from there.” I raised both shoulders to my ears and pointed to my cheeks where dimples would be if I had any.
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 funny. Her idea was humorous, and the funnier fact was her certainty that her foolproof plan was going to work.
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.”