I tip my head back and groan. “Fuck you.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. You aren’t my type. Now spill.”
“I asked Iris to go to a charity event with me, but she already has a date,” I mutter.
“Well, shit. When did you ask her, and when is it?” he asks.
I tug on my ear and wince. “This weekend, and I asked her tonight.”
“Dude, please tell me you’re joking,” he groans.
Even though I can’t see him, I know he’s pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I know. I know, okay? I just forgot about it until today when Chad reminded me. He said my tux was cleaned and was going to be returned to my closet for this weekend. If he hadn’t said that, I would have forgotten about it completely.”
“Well, you can’t be mad at her for making plans, bro,” he tells me.
“I’m not. I just wish I would have remembered sooner.” I can hear the pouting in my voice.
I fucking hate it.
“Me too,” he sighs. “Okay, does this suck? Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage. Is she interested in this guy she’s going with?”
“She was dating him. She had stopped talking about him for a while, so I figured they parted ways, but I guess they are still talking. She claims he is a friend, but look at her. What guy only wants to be friends with a woman like her?”
“True. Okay, so here’s what you need to do, and hear me out because I know you aren’t going to like it.”
“Okay…”
“You need to befriend him,” he says, catching me off guard.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. If they really went from dating to friends, that means he means something to her. Iris isn’t the type to let an ex hang around otherwise. So keep doing what you’re doing with her and show him that you aren’t bothered by their friendship and want in too. Think of it like you befriending Bethanie,” he says, referring to her childhood friend.
She doesn’t see her really at all anymore, but I know they still talk. Could I befriend Bethanie? Honestly, probably not. She seems like a bit of a basket case.
Can I befriend this Clint guy?
I sigh. I might be able to. He’s in some sort of business role. We would have something to talk about at least.
“You really think that will work?” I ask in disbelief.
“I’m not sure of shit. I haven’t seen her with this guy, but I do know it would be worth the risk. I mean, if anything, you can prove that you are right for her and he’s not.”
Groaning, I tip my head back as I let the thought marinate. I just don’t know.
“Enough about me, tell me something. Anything,” I beg.
Brantley laughs. “You really hate the attention, don’t you?”
“You have no idea.” I mutter, making him laugh harder.
“Poor baby…” he teases before launching into giving me a life update.
By the time I get off the phone with him my mind has gotten over not going as her date and is back on the goal at hand.
Winning Iris over and proving to her that I’m the only guy for her. It’s hard, but it will be worth it. I know it.
