Page 34
West and Mitch grin. Not sure I’ve ever seen Mitch smile this big. But he’s a happily engaged man, after all.
“And another thing, she told me there’s this professor she’s into. She wants me to teach her how to get his attention.” I look down at my feet. It’s embarrassing to admit.
The guys wear matching grimaces.
“Dang,” Remy says. “That’s rough. This is going to be a challenge for sure.”
“Yeah,” I admit. “But I thought it would at least force her to talk to me, and maybe even go on some practice dates.”
Bruce chuckles. “That’s brilliant. Use the dating lessons, or whatever you want to call it, to win her heart and show her how much you want her.”
“Exactly.” I smile.
I drag a hand through my hair, remembering our conversation at Pancake Palace. “And it pisses me off that this guy made her think she needs to change. He must be the biggest idiot alive.”
“Noel’s going to a fantasy convention this coming weekend,” Mitch says, and we all stare at him, shocked he’s adding to the conversation. “What?” He throws his hands up. “Andie told me.” He shrugs. “What if you showed up at the convention, dressed up and everything? Show her you care about her interests.”
West and Bruce slap Mitch on the back with good-natured pats.
“That’s perfect,” West says. “She’s taking her little sister too. Win over the sister and you might earn Noel’s approval too.”
I pat my athletic shorts and shirtless chest as if searching for a pen and paper. Bruce holds one finger up like he has an idea, then grabs a dry erase marker from the floor that Remy used to write out our workout.
Bruce pulls the cap off and writes, in huge, sloppy letters, becoming Noel’s Knight in shining armor. Beneath that he writes:
1. Fantasy convention, show her you know and enjoy her interests.
Remy stares at the messy mirror with a horrified expression and I wonder if he’s going to clean it spotless with Windex the moment we all leave.
West grabs the marker from Bruce and adds a number two under the first item on the list. He continues writing, and when he pulls back, we read what he wrote.
2. Show Noel she’s perfect the way she is, and she doesn’t need to change for Dr. dickhead.
We laugh as we read his handwriting, which is just as unkempt as Bruce’s. Except Remy, his eyes are still wide, staring at the mirror.
Mitch grabs the marker next, surprising all of us. He hunches as he writes, and Bruce reads it aloud,
“3. Read all of Noel’s favorite books.”
He elbows Mitch playfully. “Mitch ‘The Machine,’ You’re good at this!”
Mitch shrugs off the compliment.
With a heavy sigh, Remy finally joins the fun and grabs the marker. He adds a number four to the list and writes:
4. Show her she’s the only girl you have eyes for. Don’t touch, or even look, at another woman.
“I know this one seems obvious. But with your past escapades, I’d imagine it would be extra important to gain Noel’s trust,” he says seriously, looking straight into my eyes for a beat too long.
The intense eye contact and the no-nonsense expression is terrifying. I gulp. “Yes, sir.” Remy keeps writing.
5. Earn Noel’s trust.
West breaks the tension by yanking the marker out of his hand. “I have one more!” He then proceeds to write a number six:
6. Win over her family, win over the girl.
Bruce holds his hand out for the marker, and I withhold an eye roll. This list is getting long, but I did ask for their help. Bruce pauses with the marker close to the mirror then taps it against his strong, dimpled chin. “Would you say you’re a good kisser?”
