double take, confused about what she was seeing. And she’d peel back layers of his personality, curious as to what else she’d been missing out on.
Layers!
Ah-hah! Lex had said something about layers, and Ian had immediately referred to Shrek, but I had tuned them out shortly after that.
“I’m going to lean in, alright? Don’t stiffen up.”
I did just that, leaning over his shoulder while my eyes locked on Charlie. She didn’t look away, but her face fell just enough for me to know that my actions were working.
“Hmm . . .” I wrapped my arms around him, hating that I was basically acting like my ex-boyfriend’s wingman. He returned the hug, then stood to embrace me.
Charlie slowly made her way over to us. “Hey, Mark.”
“Oh hey, Charlie.” Mark turned bright red. “I didn’t see you.”
Her lips pressed together in a firm line. “Who’s your friend?”
“I’m an ex.” I held out my hand. My response was perfect; she’d wonder about our history. “We dated for two years.”
Mark swallowed hard as he glanced between the two of us.
“I’m surprised he never mentioned me.” I laughed. “You know, since there was talk of marriage.”
“M-marriage?” she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. “Wow, you guys must have been serious.”
Channeling Legally Blonde more than the Wingmen Inc. playbook, I shrugged and let out a long sigh. “Yeah, best two years of my life. I mean . . . maybe this is inappropriate, but I compare every guy’s kisses to Mark’s, every man’s touch.” Another sigh. “Well . . .” I tried to appear dejected. “Are you, um . . . his girlfriend?”
“No.” Mark’s lips turned up into a smile. “She’s not.”
“But”—Charlie’s forced smile wavered a little—“we’re really close.”
“Hmm, what did you say your name was, again?”
“Charlie,” she mumbled.
“Sorry, Charlie.” I smirked. “So, Mark, we should catch up, tomorrow night maybe? There’s this sushi place near campus that’s amazing!” Mark hated sushi, so in a way that was my payback. “Maybe we can ride bikes after?” Mark also hated exercise and anything that messed up his emo hair. “Since you’re allergic to chocolate, we can’t do that kind of dessert, but I have something else in mind.” I bit my lip.
Charlie looked ready to punch me in the face, while Mark rocked back on his heels in silence as if contemplating my idea.
“Here.” I shoved the Wingmen card into his hand. “If you wanna take me up on my offer, just send me a text or e-mail. Cool?”
“Yes,” he blurted. “I mean, I want to. I just have to make sure I’m not doing anything tomorrow night.”
“Great.” I really had to force myself to look happy at the prospect of sacrificing one of my free nights so that Mark could get the girl of his dreams, the girl he’d already told me was way prettier than I was. Thanks for that, Mark. “I’ll see you guys later.”
I excused myself before he could have any second thoughts and smiled brightly down at my phone when it buzzed two minutes later with Mark’s number and the enthusiastic text:
You’re hired.
“Looking at porn? Dirty girl.” Lex fell into step beside me.
I recoiled sideways and stopped short when I found myself heading, nose-first, for a fat tree. “Lex!” I gasped, as my heart struggled to pound free of my chest. “You can’t just . . . lurk!”
“Gabs, I’m over six-three. I can’t help but lurk.”
I was still having a hard time catching my breath when he reached for my hand. “So, how did the meeting with Dickface go?”
“Lex, tell me you weren’t spying through the window.”
“Fine.” He was so beautiful. I loved the way his smile spread to his eyes, and I hated that we had wasted so much time fighting that I was only now noticing the way his face lit up. “I wasn’t spying through the window.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“I was spying through the back kitchen.”
“Lex!” I released his hand. “Come on! I’m a big girl. Gotta cut those apron strings.”
He stopped walking and braced me by the shoulders. “If I cut the apron strings, can I substitute them with rope? I could do a lot with rope.”
“You aren’t tying me up either.”
His face fell.
“Be serious.” I slugged him in the chest. “And I’m happy to announce that I didn’t kill my second male client, though he did call me a seven.”
Lex crossed his arms. “A seven? So you were reciting numbers in order to turn him on? Weird kid, but okay,