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We reconveneat Jasper’s the next night with a plan in place. Or at least a semblance of a plan. We don’t yet have any kind of consensus on Ava’s bigger issue, but we do know that, in the short term, we will do anything we can to stop her from going on any online dates she might have set up.
And according to Jasper’s reconnaissance, there are quite a few.
We’re standing around the kitchen in our basketball clothes, Ethan holding a ball under his arm like a damn prop, when Ava comes out of her room in slim, skinny jeans, high-heeled boots, and a leather jacket over a plain T-shirt. She looks like almost any other girl in Manhattan, clad in her casual ‘going out outfit,’ but so much more.
Classy. Smart. Exceptionally beautiful.
Shit, I’m as attracted to her as the other guys. I don’t see how this can end well.
But first things first. We need to save this lovely lady from disaster, from spending any amount of time with a stranger from Craigslist, most likely one who doesn’t deserve her.
“Hey guys,” she says, putting in an earring, “thought you were going out to play basketball or something.”
Ethan switches arms holding the basketball as a polite way to correct her, but she makes no notice.
Jasper scrapes his fingers through his hair and gives a big, fake yawn. Ethan follows him with his own, both the worst acting jobs I’ve ever seen.
So, I jump in before we completely give our lame selves away. “You know, Ava, we were about to head out, but Jasper’s tired. Ethan, too. You know, working really hard.”
Just now realizing how shitty our script is. But too late to stop.
Jasper shuffles his feet, all casual and shit. “Yeah, I think we’re gonna get some eats from a food truck and head over for a walk on the High Line.”
The funny thing is, none of us guys would probably ever do something like this. Not that Ava is aware of that.
“Sounds nice,” she says, scrolling through her phone, completely uninterested in our plans.
“Hey, Ava!” Ethan says with so much enthusiasm it scares us all. “Join us. It’d be great to spend time with someone from one of our sister magazines.”
Fuck me. He did not just say that. He couldn’t give a shit aboutGlistenor any other Bonded Crest publication. He only cares aboutSports Inc.because he makes so much fucking money off it.
She finally looks up from her phone and hoists her purse over her shoulder. “Sorry, can’t, I have plans. But you have fun. See ya later.”
Jasper jumps in front of her before she can reach the door.
This is so not going to work.
But when I picture her spending time with some lowlife from Craigslist, I kick my ass in gear too.
“Yo, Ava,” I call. “Come with us, it will be awesome. You know, hanging out in the city, doing all the city shit.”
And... I sound like an idiot.
“Cancel your plans, Ava. We’re way more fun than anything else you’ve got going on,” Ethan says flirtatiously.
Maybe that will work?
“Sorry, guys, but I’m gonna be late.”
Jasper puts his hands on his hips and does his best to look insulted beyond reason. This slows her down.
“Seriously, Ava. Go put on some more practical shoes and join us. It’ll be so much fun,” he insists.
She looks from one of us to the next, her expression part confusion, part pity.
Yeah, I love it when women feel sorry for me.
