“I dunno. You’re Jeeves. I figured you’d know what to do.”
“Are you looking for help being less nervous or winning her back now that you pushed her away?”
“Is that on the table?” Leo bends forward in anticipation. “Both. Dude, both.”
I keep my face straight to maintain his dignity. I don’t think anyone’s ever come out and asked my strategy on these matters. I respect his initiative. “Alright. Being comfortable around girls is just a combination of practice and self-confidence. Practice talking—not flirting, talking and listening—to girls who aren’t as intimidating, and then work up to the Sophies. And hit the gym every day, but don’t let it go to your head.” I wonder whether he knows his way around a weight room, but I won’t ask. “They’ll be fighting over you in no time.”
Perhaps I’m over-selling it. Kit still makes me nervous after weeks. I find myself speaking like my father when she gets me particularly out of sorts. It never ceases to horrify me. And this morning I completely misread her nonverbals. She makes me feel like I’m sitting in the NFL’s green room, waiting to get drafted. Leo isn’t the only one wanting to win over a girl out of his league.
Lucky for this kid, Kit seems to think he has a fighting chance with Sophie, and she would know better than anyone. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed as much. Why she’d want to match her friend up with anybody over Austin, I can’t imagine, but I don’t profess to understand Kit’s decision-making. With time.
“Practice talking to other girls, work out more, and don’t get cocky. I can do that. I don’t need the fighting. I just want to get Sophie back to talking to me.”
I understand completely. “As for winning her back, ease into it. Girls can be emotional about things, one extreme or the other. She might think you hate her or you’re too good for her?—”
He makes a disgusted face, and I choke down a laugh.
“—Or you have some other girl in mind. Start by looking overat her and smiling a little. After a couple days of that, maybe a wave or a passing comment.”
He’s watches me, enraptured.
“Take a breath and enjoy the chase. Hopefully she’ll come around. But whatever you do, don’t try to act like someone else. Just be the smoothest version of yourself.”
Leo stands, and I follow suit. He shakes my hand hard, like he’s leaving an important business meeting.
“No promises,” I say. “Girls are unpredictable. But I have high hopes on this one.”
“Thanks, man. God bless you. I owe you big.”
I laugh. “He does every day. And no, you really don’t.”
He walks out showing far too much confidence in me.
I scroll through my quickly sent messages. I particularly enjoy my ironic nickname for Kit. I’ll be her friend as long as she needs, though I’m growing impatient for her to come around. If my instincts are right, she’s The?—
No. Way too soon. If I’m not careful, I could be coming to Leo asking how to get myself out of a jam. The right girl really can make a guy act like an idiot.
I send one more message.
Let me know if you see some improvement in the situation.
Another reason to talk to Kit is priceless.
I pull my journal out of the drawer and open to the last page of writing. My letters loop slowly. What am I trying to ask exactly?
She’s here, on my sister floor no less, after those prayers last year. Could it mean what I think it means?
Nothing yet. I move a card and envelope out of the drawer.
Back to my journal.
As I suspected, she loves you with her whole heart. But I wouldn’t want to use you to get a girl. Can I tell her?
With a confirmation of sorts, I write on the card and then tap my phone. No answer to my text. Time to deliver this cookie before getting dressed for practice. I can’t look at it a minute more or I’m going to wreck my own self-confidence.
Another week, another beautiful present on my desk. Can I really accept another of these with nothing to offer in return? I open the card with care, and the message stops me in my tracks.
Friend,
