Page 47 of The Future Play

She’s amazing, and any guy—any person—would be lucky to have her. I have the whole damn world to compete with. Luckily,competition motivates me. Not as much making things right—better—with Amanda does.

Now I have to figure out how.

And I think I know the perfect person to ask.

“Ouch.”I rub the back of my head where Trevor smacked me.

He sits back down in his chair across the table from me, arms folded over his chest. “You’re lucky that’s all I did. After everything you just told me, you’re lucky I don’t kick your ass for hurting Amanda. She’s awesome. You were a dick.”

Something like a growl rumbles in the back of my throat.

Wow. It’s safe to say my feelings for Amanda are on a whole new level. I’ve never felt possessive over anyone before. Never wanted to claim them as mine. Suddenly I understand how Aaron is with Rae in a way I never have before.

“I know I was a dick. That’s why I’m here. I need your help.”

While Aaron might love Rae and has done a lot of things that make her—as she says—swoon, they’re a mess, so I don’t fully trust his judgment on this one. But Trevor dated Sarah for like three years in high school. Even though they broke up, it’s not because he did anything wrong, it was because as they got older, they realized it wasn’t the right fit. While they were together, though, I remember Trevor always going above and beyond to do things for her and setting the example of what a good boyfriend should be.

I’ve decided that’s how I’m going to treat this. Like Amanda is my girlfriend. Call it manifestation or setting up the right play, but it’s what I’m doing.

She deserves to be treated like the queen she is, and unless she looks me in the eyes and says no, I’m going to be the one to do it.

“I’m not going to talk to her for you,” Trevor says, looking out the large picture window next to us. We’re at a sandwich shopin downtown Ida—The Pit—which is owned by one of our friend’s family. “This isn’t seventh grade, and also I don’t think you deserve to be defended.”

“Thanks for kicking me while I’m down, but I’m not asking you to talk to her. I need help with ideas. She said she’s not going to believe any apology I make?—”

“Fair.”

“But that I need to show her. And I want to. I’m just stuck on where to start.”

He grumbles. “Fine. But just for that, you’re buying me dessert too.”

“Whatever you want. Just help me. I’ll get on my knees and beg.”

He arches a brow, a smirk breaking through his grumpy expression. “No offense, but you’re not the kind of redhead I want on their knees in front of me.”

I squint at him. “You don’t have a thing for Amanda, do you?”

“No, jackass. And that’s not the kind of red hair I’m picturing.” He looks lost in thought for a moment before he snaps out of it. “But yeah. Fine. I’ll help you. Where do you want to start?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you for help. There’s no hope for me if I can’t get her to let me in. But I don’t know where to start.”

“You need to reconnect with her.”

“Obviously. But how do I do that if she won’t talk to me or do anything besides glare at me from across the room? Help me. Teach me. Explain it to me like I’m stupid.”

The derisive look he gives me tells me there’s nolikeabout it.

I’m a fucking idiot.

Like I don’t already know that.

“If you want her to open up, you need to meet her where she is.”

“Literally?” I ask, and he looks like he might strangle me.

“Find what’s important to her and figure out how to… I don’t know. Get involved? Give that special thing to her—not a metaphor for your dick, by the way. I can’t do all the work for you.”

“Okay. I get it. I’m thinking I should ease into it. Maybe thaw things between us first before I try to talk to her again. So I want to start with something where she doesn’t have to see me, but will know I’m thinking about her.” He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “Not flowers. Penny nixed those. They’re too impersonal, apparently.”

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