“Please, there’s already too may of us,” I say, before things can get out of hand.
“Let’s not waste time standing here chatting. We have a date to sabotage.”
Shit. I didn’t expect this, especially not after last night. I didn’t exactly think I’d convinced Casey of how superior I am to that fucking surgeon, but I definitely didn’t expect her to be going out with him the next day.
“Maybe you’re just not that memorable, Nick,” Jamie comments.
“Maybe you’ll never find out,” I warn him.
“Can we get back to the problem at hand? We don’t know where this date is going to be – Martin couldn’t find out this time.”
Well, maybe Ryan was right. The doctor isn’t so useful after all.
“What are we supposed to do? Stalk her?”
“Mmm…it’s not the worst idea,” Ryan responds.
“I was joking.”
“Sonowyou decide you have a conscience?” Jamie asks. “Mate, if I were you, I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
“We can’t stalk her. From what I’ve gathered, he always goes to pick her up from her house. And her dad lives there, too. If he finds us…” Ian says.
Right. Coach Madigan. That could be a huge problem.
“So? Are we just throwing in the towel here?” Ryan asks.
“We can’t let her go out with him.”
“Wow. Someone has some confidence issues,” Jamie comments.
“This has nothing to do with my confidence. She’s just confused, and I haven’t had the chance to convince her yet.”
“What are you going to do?”
I reflect for a few moments on what to do. Casey going out with the surgeon could take me right back to where we started. But, on the other hand, it could be the perfect way for her to realise how different we are: to open her eyes, and make her think about everything she could have with me. And everything she’ll never have with him.
“Hello? Nick? What are we doing?” Ryan presses.
“We have to risk it. I need to just let it be this time, and see what happens.”
“Are you sure?” Ian asks.
“No. But there’s nothing else I can do.”
“Can I come along next time?” Jamie asks.
“Don’t even think about it,” I tell him, decidedly.
“Sure, mate. The more the merrier. And besides, it’ll be fun,” Ryan responds, inviting him straight to the top table of dickheads.
* * *
“A stakeout outside her house,Nick? Really? Does this seem like the best idea?” Ryan asks, sitting in the passenger seat next to me.
“Did anyone bring popcorn?” Jamie calls from the back seat.
“Was it really necessary for you all to come along?”
