Page 37 of Just for the Plot

Don’t see how I can lose in this situation.

Pulling out my phone while Nolan gets even more comfortable, letting his knees fall to the sides, manspreading into my half of the seat, I text Bower back.

Bennett:Let me see what I can do. I’ll ask but not making any promises. Graydon is not the kind of guy who enjoys matchmaking.

She texts back right away.

Bower:Ahh, you’re the best! And I’ll owe you for sure, even if it’s more Moon Pies, I’ll repay you.

Bennett:Don’t worry about it. Just want you to be happy.

Bower:Ahh, I love you! Thank you.

Those three words nearly burn my retinas as I read them, and sure, I know she doesn’t mean it the way I wish she did, but still, seeing her name next to those three words, it drives me to make her mine even more. This idea might be unconventional, possibly risky, but I can see how it might work in my favor. And that’s what I need. I need to create a situation with Bower where she’s so disheartened by the real loser she’s going out with that when she sees me, she recognizes just how good I would be for her.

Simple math.

Now to get Graydon roped in. I have to feel him out first, see if he’s having a good day, because if it’s a bad day, there is no use.

Freshly unpacked in my hotel room, I take a seat on the bed, kick my feet up, and lean back on my pillow as I pull my phone from my pocket.

Here goes nothing.

Bennett:What are you guys up to?

The moment I send my text to the group chat, I instantly regret it, because if I want to keep Graydon in a good mood, getting OC involved is not the way to do it.

OC is like the thorn in Graydon’s side that he can’t seem to get rid of, and sure, there are moments when I think Graydon doesn’t completely want to plow his fist through OC’s face, but those are few and far between.

And why is there so much animosity? Well, it’s because Graydon is the grump and OC is the sunshine. Graydon doesn’t want to talk to anyhumans, and OC called our group chat the Gladdy Daddies, because as he puts it, we’re “daddies” and we’re “glad to be here.” We questioned the name because all three of us are childless, and he pointed out that we’re not daddies in a literal sense, but daddies in a Pedro Pascal sense.

Can you see why Graydon might not want to communicate with OC?

It’s constant with OC, as he’s extremely outgoing, dramatic, fun. He has good intentions, but Graydon wants nothing to do with those intentions. And yet, he still hasn’t blocked OC, so there’s a small piece of me that believes Graydon doesn’t hate OC as much as he makes us believe.

My phone buzzes and, of course, OC is the first to respond.

OC:Grabbing dinner. Graydon didn’t want to grab dinner with me, the dick. How is a guy supposed to make friends in this city if the ones closest to him aren’t willing to share a meal?

See, slightly dramatic. It’s why I could see OC and Nolan getting along. Although, whereas OC is more needy, Nolan has the “who gives two shits” attitude.

Graydon:I was busy.

OC:Yeah, busy with Maple.

Bennett:Really? Did you finally make a move?

Graydon:No, and I don’t want to talk about it.

OC:Edging us, I see. It’s okay, I have a high threshold for being edged. I was once getting blown by a girl when her father called in the middle. She talked to him for ten minutes, naked, breathing over my cock. Kept me hard the entire time.

Graydon:What the fuck is wrong with you?

Bennett:I usually defend you, bud, but…she was on the phone with her dad?

OC:It’s called taboo…ever try anything like it?

Graydon:Girls’ dads don’t turn me on.