Chapter 10 #2
“And my friend, Lettie’s.” Jane gave Charlie a quick kiss on the cheek. “Babe, you really are the best matchmaker.”
***
“Greg really screwed Caroline over,” Charlie explained after taking a second serving of flank steak with chimichurri sauce. “He broke up with her so many times. She was always jumping to his tune, trying to keep him happy.”
“I know. I watched. I hated it.”
Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve liked Caroline for a long time, haven’t you?”
I shrugged. I wouldn’t be telling them about the mistaken kiss, even though I knew Charlie and Jane would gobble up that story. I settled with a vague answer. “For a while.”
But Charlie saw right through me. “Well then... you already know how to play the long game. You just need to play a little longer.”
“I don’t know what to do next. This Ed guy is everything she thinks she wants.”
“May I make a suggestion?” said Charlie.
“Shoot.”
“Do the stupid makeover.”
I sighed. “I’ve considered it.”
“What do you have against it?” asked Jane.
“To begin with, I’m not sure if she can date her clients.”
“No, that’s a good thing,” said Jane. “Caroline needs time. She needs to get so used to having you around that she’s miserable without you. Have you even seen My Fair Lady ?”
“Yes, my mom loved that movie.” I fell asleep watching it with her as a kid. But when she was sick, we watched it over and over again. My mom always sang along, even with her frail, sick voice. “A flower girl gets a glow up.” I summarized.
“Not how I would describe it,” said Jane. “But that works. The important part is that Henry Higgins falls in love with the flower girl. By the end, he can’t imagine life without her. You’re the flower girl, and Caroline’s the professor.”
“Sounds like you need to be made over,” said Charlie with a calculating grin. “What do you have to lose, My Fair Wyatt?”
“My pride.”
“Just think of all the alone time you’ll get together,” said Charlie. I thought of Caroline going through my closet. That was some quality time.
“She’s really excited about this project,” added Jane. “She showed me her Pinterest board for you.” The two bombarded me with ideas.
“The thing is, you need to pretend to be not that interested,” said Charlie.
“Yes, let her pursue you!” added Jane.
This was all foreign to me. With the women I had dated before, I had been completely upfront and straightforward: a date, a kiss, a conversation, and then exclusivity. I didn’t know the first thing about playing games.
“Are you sure?” I asked. This was far outside of my comfort zone.
“Yes, Caroline needs time to build her trust,” said Charlie.
“Be her best friend. Make her dependent on you,” said Jane. I nodded along. I could do that. Caroline had already parked me in the friend zone.
“Isn’t there some other girl you’re supposed to steal from Greg?” asked Jane.
“Emma Woodward,” I offered.
“Yeah, make Caroline think you’re after her,” said Jane.
“Exactly! When Sticky thinks she’s in a competition, she won’t back down.”
Now that made me nervous. If I were to do anything like that, I would need to explain the whole thing to Emma.
“I don’t want to trick Caroline into liking me,” I said.
“You’re not tricking her,” assured Charlie. “We’ve already established that she likes you.”
I gave him a challenging look.
“Trust me. I know my sister.” His words lifted me, more than I would ever admit.
“Okay, I’m in. But if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it my way.” I started hatching a plan. “Do either of you have haircutting scissors?”
“My stepmother does,” volunteered Charlie.
“Yes!” Jane clapped. “Carmen will be all over this.”
***
The next day, I sent Caroline a text:
Wyatt:
You win. It’s time for my glow up
My phone buzzed. It was Caroline calling.
“I am so excited for this!” she launched in before I could say a word. “I have so many ideas. What changed your mind?”
I paused. I didn’t love what I was going to say next. But I was trusting Charlie.
“Don’t tell my dad, but I’m going for the car.”
“You are?” Was it my imagination, or did she sound a bit disappointed?
“Yes, I bumped into Emma yesterday. And I think you’re right.
I think she’s into me. We could be a couple by the reunion.
” The day before, I had called Emma and told her all about My Fair Wyatt.
She thought the whole thing was hilarious and was all in.
She also seconded what Charlie said about Caroline liking me.
“She’s totally into you,” Emma reassured me. “She just doesn’t know it.”
“So what do you think?” I asked Caroline.
“About you dating Emma?” Her voice was satisfyingly wobbly.
“Yeah, do you think I can make her fall in love with me?” I asked, trying to sound vulnerable.
“Um... sure... of course she likes you.” Caroline sounded a bit deflated. “Are you serious about dating Emma? I didn’t think you wanted a serious relationship?”
“Yeah, totally serious. So what’s next?”
“Okay... I’ll need to sort out your closet—all three items. And then take you shopping. I’m going to order some things right away. Your dad has already pre-approved a generous budget. I’m pretty sure I have your sizes.”
This surprised me. “When? How?”
“Wyatt, you left me alone in your closet the other day. I’m resourceful.” My qualms about this plan were quickly fading. It was so good to talk to Caroline again. It had only been a week. But I missed her. “And we’re going to buy you at least three suits. I cannot wait to get my hands on you.”
“Careful, Sticky. You know how that sounds.”
“Do not call me that. That’s rule number two.”
“And what’s rule number one?”
“I can’t say; that would be breaking the rule.”
For a minute, I had no idea what she was talking about, and then I remembered. “Oh, the kiss!”
“Wyatt! You just broke it. We’re going to need consequences every time you break that rule. Like a swear jar.” There was a short pause on the line. “I know, I’ll get to throw away one of your ugly T-shirts.”
“That’s up for negotiation.”
“Whatever. Are you free Tuesday?”
“Sure, come by the shop around four?”
“Make it three?”
“Caroline, I have work . . .”
“This is for your work. I promise. Remember, this is not just about the car or the girl, but also about growing your business.”
“Fine.” I sounded put out. But frankly, I was chomping at the bit. I couldn’t wait to see Caroline and for her to see my new haircut.