Page 30 of The Other Plan

“I can’t believe she roped you into this. Poor Evan.” Matt chuckled.

“At least I got a kickass dinner at Alexander’s out of it.”

Jo smirked. “So, you did pay him. Just with food. But still, payment happened, which means he’s officially an escort, and you’re a disgusting creep.”

“I shouldn’t have called you. Why did I think it was a good idea to call you?” I shook my head and laughed. “Never living this down.”

Jo and Matt exchanged a glance and answered in unison. “Nope. Never.”

“Did you tell them the plan?” Evan asked as he stole a sip from my drink.

“What plan?” Jo asked.

“Yeah? What plan?” I looked up at him.

“Our plan to have a big breakup tonight so you can go get together with Carter.”

“What?” Jo and Matt echoed.

“That is not the plan!” I argued back.

Evan just nodded. “It’s the plan.”

“So, you want him back?” Jo asked.

“No!” I struggled to keep my voice down. “I wanted you here to help me stop Evan from doing this plan. Talk some sense into him. Kick his ass. Do whatever you need to do to make sure he doesn’t dump me tonight!”

“You want me to beat up your escort?” Jo snickered.

“Jo! Help me! Please, for the love of God, help me explain to Evan that me and Carter are not going to work and to just stick to the plan.”

“Why won’t you work?” Jo asked, her usual playful banter disappearing.

“Um... because he lives like thousands of miles away.”

Jo shrugged. “So? People do long distance all the time.”

“That’s what I said!” Evan chimed.

“Yeah, for a little while, but in the long run, someone has to give up and move. I’m certainly not moving to New York, and there is no way he’s leaving his big, fancy company to live with me in Door County. I wouldn’t want him to give up something he worked so hard for anyway. So, what’s the point? All I’ll be doing is setting myself up for another disastrous heartache when it inevitably goes south.”

Matt blew out a long whistle. “Damn, you make even Jo sound like a positive peach about relationships. I thought she had a bad attitude about it before we met.”

Jo nodded her agreement. “I told you I wasn’t the only messed up Parker girl. Our dad did a number on us. But, Jenna, you’re the one that convinced me to take a chance on Matt. Hell, you even overstepped and busted out my feelings to him at the bar that night. I was pissed as hell at first that you did that, but look how all that turned out.” She lifted her finger to display the beautiful diamond ring he’d put there a few months ago.

“That’s different,” I argued.

“No. It’s not. We both got messed up by Dad walking out and ditching us all for that other chick, but not every guy is Dad. Matt sure isn’t. This guy will have my back until the end of time.”

“Damn straight,” Matt agreed.

“And it sounds like Carter isn’t the ass we thought he was, and if he’s still into you after all this time, that must be a sign.”

“Oh, he’s into her.” Evan snorted. “Big time. Dude was straight up ready to puke when I put my arm around her tonight.”

“He was not.” I rolled my eyes.

Evan grunted. “Uh, yeah, he was. He’s smitten with you, Jenna.”