Page 13 of Playing with the Heartbreaker

I could have punched him. Wanted to. Instead, I buried the truth. “Nah, man. Thanks for looking out. It’s all good.”

Now, in the diner with Dillon, I drop the mutilated napkin on the table and focus on the indie rock crackling through the speakers.

“That’s not happening. Not again.” I let out a breathy, self-deprecating laugh.

Dillon points another salty fry at me. “Good. Because if it does, I’ll beat you up.”

“You’re a good friend.”

“I know.” He shoves another handful of fries into his mouth and chomps thoughtfully.

I shake all thoughts of Graham and Chloe together out of my mind. If this is going to work, I’m going to have to forget they ever had a relationship. That he and I ever had a friendship.

“So, what’s your plan?” Dillon asks. He mops up the excess ketchup on his plate with the rest of his fries.

I think back to my conversation with Chloe’s teammate, Piper, over the summer during the school trip to the amusement park. I accidentally let it slip that I’m into Chloe. Well, I never said her name outright, but Piper is smart, and she guessed it pretty much immediately, and I didn’t deny it.

“It’s pretty half-baked right now, but she loves soccer and she loves breakfast.”

“So do you! There you go. Built-in connection.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be enough to convince her to give me a chance. Over the summer she was pretty adamant about not dating anyone. At least, from what Kyle said.”

My teammate Kyle’s sister is one of Chloe’s best friends, so I got a bit of a scoop on her this summer. There were a few guys hanging around, but Chloe wouldn’t give them the time of day. She’s been completely focused on her training regimen, and it paid off.

“It’s a start, though. All you need is time with her. You’re Rhoads Simpson! Every girl in this school who likes guys has flirted with you and probably dreamed about dating you.”

I grimace. It sounds terrible when he says it out loud, but he continues as if that’s actually not an issue.

“Unfortunately for them, you’ve been stuck on this one girl. So make it worth it, my dude.”

Everyone deserves a hype-man like Dillon. Already my confidence is boosted.

“Kendry was giving me the side-eye in last period.”

“You think Piper told her? You think she told Chloe?”

“Nah. Piper’s chill. We had a pretty good heart-to-heart. She promised to keep it to herself.”

“Well, then maybe you’re not as smooth as you think you are.”

I run a hand through my hair, messing it up even more. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want to spook Chloe, you know? Kendry even came up to me after class and whispered out of the side of her mouth about Chloe and me and vibes.”

Dillon laughs. “Dude, if Kendry’s calling you out about vibes, there is no way this thing is staying a secret anymore.”

“I even tried to laugh it off and flirted with her a little to throw her off.”

“Did it work?”

“Heck no.” I laugh again. “She just rolled her eyes and patted me on the back as if she thinks I’m hilarious.”

Maybe Kendry is right, and the universe will provide me with some way to get to know Chloe.

Regular charm isn’t going to work on her. She’s seen me flirt with other girls too often. Recently, even. No, what I need is a way to show Chloe that she’s special.

My remaining hash browns spark an idea. She gave me the tip about Peggy’s. I bet she knows all the best breakfast spots in town. Maybe there’s a way to get her to share her intel with me without it being an official date. That’d be less intimidating.

Like Dillon said, all I need is time for her to get to know the real me.