Page 2 of Big Nick Energy

“I have three or four backup plans. Plan A is to get him to fall in love with me?—”

“What if you get to know him and he isn’t who you’ve made him out to be?” she interrupted.

“Then I’ll shift to Plan B—have sex with him.”

Paris giggled.

“Plan C—get him to kiss me,” I continued. “And Plan D—get him to ask for my number.”

“I love how the plans start high at love and then drop to you settling for exchanging numbers,” Paris laughed.

“But it all starts with catching his eye.” I turned around in the faux leather leggings I’d just hopped into. “How does my ass look in this?”

“I mean, it looks good.” She looked at my open suitcase on the floor and then back up at me. “But how many outfits are you taking with you?”

“Ten. At least.” I pointed at her. “And you should be taking at least ten, too.”

“For three days, Asha?” My best friend’s eyebrows flew up. “You don’t think you’retaking thistoo far?”

I put my hands on my hips. “Too far? Too far?” I shook my head, my lightweight hoop earrings bumping each cheek as I swung my head from left to right. “I might not be taking things far enough!” I dropped to my knees in front of my suitcase and held up outfit after outfit. “When I see Nick at the panel, at the networking mixer, at this mystery kickback that was alluded to on Jason’s page, at the brunch, at the game, at the party, at the picnic, at the?—”

“Okay, okay,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “I get it. You want to look good for Nick.”

I stood up and turned to face the mirror. “I sure do.”

“Are you going to finally tell him how you feel?”

“I sure am.” Swinging around, I faced her. “And while I’m doing that, you need to tell Tuck how you feel. I didn’t shoot my shot with Nick because he had a girlfriend, so I was in the friendzone. Actually, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t even a friend. I was just zoned. Tuck, on the other hand, was in most of your classes and single. Youchoseto be in the friendzone.”

“It’s not even like that with me and Tuck. I laid that crush to rest a long time ago.”

“Mm hmm. Well, you saw him every day for two years and you didn’t say anything to him. Don’t make that same mistake this weekend.”

Shifting her eyes and looking down bashfully, she replied, “If I see Tuck at homecoming, I'm going to say something.”

“I’m going to hold you to it.”

“Anyway,” Paris segued. “Why are you planning this elaborate meet-cute with a married man? That’s not your style.”

“That’s why I called you earlier.” I walked over to her with the biggest grin. “They aren’t together anymore!”

“I know you always hope that man is single but?—”

“No, it’s confirmed,” I interrupted gleefully. “Social media confirmed it!”

She paused, cocking her head to the side with pursed lips. “You sound a little too excited for someone’s marriage to be over.”

I immediately frowned. “When you put it like that, it sounds bad.” I reached for her hand. “Let’s bow our heads for a moment of silence.”

“Stop it!” She cackled, slapping my hand away. “I’m just saying you sounded a littletoohappy for someone’s sad news.”

“I’m excited he’s single again.” I pointed my freshly manicured finger at her. “There’s a difference.”

“Oh God,” she groaned in amusement.

“And, he’s not divorced. His engagement fell apart before the wedding,” I explained.

“That doesn’t make it better.”

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