Chapter 24
Kimi let herself into the loft and saw Jack sitting on the couch, plucking at a guitar, looking mopey. She shimmied a happy dance and he looked up at her, almost sullen.
“Jack, who’s your favorite girl?”
“Eve,” he answered instantly.
Sighing, she said, “And who’s your favorite girl that you don’t want to sleep with?”
“My sister.”
“Ok, fine. Your favorite girl that you’re not related to that you don’t want to sleep with?”
“That would be you, Kimi. Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?”
“I’ve got the answer you want to hear, Jack. How to save things with Eve.”
He set the guitar aside and sat up quickly. “What? What did you find out?”
She sat on the other side of the guitar and walked her fingers up the strings, drawing out the suspense. “It’s really simple, Jack. You already have her.”
“Kimi, she drop-kicked me into the friend zone. I don’t remotely have her.”
“No, doofus, you did that to yourself. She’s carrying a torch for you bigger than Lady Liberty’s.”
Hope and doubt warred on his face. “But she’s always pushing me away. She basically said she doesn’t trust any man.” He ran his fingers through his hair and gave an exasperated sigh. “Why don’t women come with instruction manuals?”
“Because men would never read them.” She smiled and preened. “Anyway, I gave you a sterling character reference and assured her that you were the best of the best. And I have a plan. It’s simple, but it’s expensive.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “You know I’ve got money, Kimi. What is it?”
She pursed her lips then smiled wickedly, “Oh, it’s not going to cost money…”
He growled warningly, “Kimi…”
“Fine, I’ll tell you. But only because you’re my second favorite person on the planet.”
She leaned across the guitar and whispered in his ear, secretively, as if divulging the nuclear codes.
His face went blank with shock, his eyes wide. “Really? Do you really think so?”
“Jack, you doubt me? I know so! Now get on it, lover boy! And don’t screw it up! She’s my new bestie.”