Page 21 of A Play For The Heart
After spending the night staring at my ceiling, trying to come up with a game plan, I quickly realize I am way out of my league and need some serious manpower to pull this off. If Sawyer ends up dating someone other than me, I might dig myself a hole, crawl into it, and stay there forever. I will not recover. Which is why I need help. So, I text the only two people I know and trust besides Sawyer.
Jack and Deon.
Me:I’m calling an emergency dude meeting.
9:30 AM. Donna’s Diner.
Jack:Oh, hell ya!
Deon:A what?
Jack:Just show up Deon, it's important.
Deon: Fine. but you’re buying my meal.
Me:Fair.
I sit down at a booth in the back of Donna’s Diner, a cute 1950s-themed restaurant that makes the world’s most amazing French toast. No joke. I have to watch myself or I’ll scarf down six whole pieces without taking a breath. While I wait for Jack and Deon to arrive, I wave the waitress down and order a coffee. This whole situation is way outside of my comfort zone. I was so ready to tell Sawyer how I felt six months ago. But then she started dating Declan. I had spent weeks on end hyping myself up in the mirror, practicing my speech, even though I was relying heavily on adrenaline to get me through the whole experience. I had time to prepare.
Now, I don’t have time. And I’m slightly—alright, very—terrified that if I tell her and she doesn’t feel the same, our friendship will blow up. Kaboom! Goodbye best friend, hello sadness and despair. I’m still going to do it. Signs from the universe and all that jazz, but I definitely need a game plan or else this will end in disaster.
Jack is the first one through the door, immediately spotting me and making his way to my booth. He slides his bulky frame into the seat across from me, his signature goofy smile plastered on his face when puts his elbows on the table and head in his hands then singsongs.
“Henry has a crush…”
If I didn't need his advice on what I should do about this so-called crush, I would slap him upside the head, but he clearly understands his value to me right now. Annoying asshole.
I shoot Jack a look telling him to shut up before I do it for him. He just shrugs off my death stare and laughs at my distress over this situation. Fortunately, Deon saves me from having to deal with any more of Jack's looks or childish comments. Deon slides into the booth next to Jack and gets right down to business.
“Why am I here?”
I have to respect how efficient Deon is with this whole situation, but a little small talk before I spill my little secret—again—would be appreciated.
“Oh, nothing major,” Jack replies, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, “just that Henry here is in love with his best friend who was dating Declan, but then broke up with him last night. So now she’s single and he’s trying to figure out what to do.” He smirks at me. “Did I cover most of it?”
“Yeah,” I say meekly. “Pretty much sums it up.”
Deon looks between us, eyebrows raised, clearly not expecting that to be the reason I forced him to meet me at a diner early on a Sunday morning.
“Okay. Well, I’m still not sure why I got the bat signal for this, but I’m here, so I’m all in now.” He pours out the coffee creamers and begins to stack them in a tower. “Have you ever tried to scope out the vibe with her before?”
“No. Well kinda. I was going to tell her but then Declan asked her out.”
Deon grimaced, clearly sympathizing with that. “Tough break.”
Jack smiles mischievously before he creeps his finger over the table, flicking Deon’s tower, causing it to tumble down. Jack snickers, amused by the childish act while Deon beams lasers at Jack.
“Not cool, man. Not cool.” Deon shakes his head, rounding up the small, white containers and starting to stack them in a new shape.
“Focus!” I whisper yell, snatching the creamers away, “I need help.” The two of them frown at me. They have no reason to be frowning. I am the one deep in the friend zone. Not them. I need to go from the friend zone to the end zone as soon as possible before I lose my second chance.
“Oh, I know!” Jack exclaims, clapping his hands together. “You need to do some of the things they do in romantic comedy movies and see how she reacts.”
I open my mouth to shut down that idea because it has to be about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.Do some things from romantic comedy movies?Jack clearly has a screw or two loose because there is no way that would work. It’s all the blocking and repetitive hits. Has to be.
“I think Jack may be onto something,” Deon agrees, leaning back in the booth.
Oh, just great. They’re both losing their minds.Next, they’re gonna suggest I serenade her with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” while she’s at soccer practice. Which would be absurd since she doesn’t play soccer and I’m not Heath Ledger.
