The Boyfriend Plan Page 16

  I glared at him and hoped to God that he wasn’t going to mention the marathon.

  “How is your book coming along anyways, Maggie?”

  Groan. “It’s coming.”

  “Ready for my agent friend to see it?” He raised an eyebrow.

  I wished I could wipe the smug look off of his face.

  “Very nearly.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. And Stephen tells me we can dedicate an episode of our show to it as well.” Well, he hadn’t exactly said that, but I was sure he wouldn’t mind.

  “Wow, really. A whole episode?” He smiled. I knew what he was thinking, no one was going to be watching public access TV except for perhaps me and 10 other people. And honestly, I would be changing the channel after my own show had come on.

  “We are doing an exposé on the school board as well.”

  “The school board?”

  “I mean the school district?”

  “Which school district?”

  “I mean the Department of Education.”

  “The whole department, or anyone in particular?”

  “I can’t tell you, but Michael Moore is collaborating with us on the project.” The lie slipped out of my mouth, and I was about to retract it when the doorbell rang.

  .Chapter 22

  Dear Diary,

  I am in a relationship. I am in a relationship. I want to sing it from the trees and let all of my friends now, well really all of my enemies and all of the women at the gym who look at me like a fat-ass. Take that, bitches! Okay, that was rude. They haven’t done anything to me, but I just want to shove it in their faces. But I guess I should wait until I am engaged. Just kinda dating someone doesn’t call for anything too extreme as yet. And I’m not really dating the one I love, but many people settle for the guy who loves them. I think that is actually in the Bible, “Marry the one who loves you more than you love them.” Actually, I don’t know if that is in the Bible or ‘The Book of Rules for Women’, but whatever. And actually I don’t know if Stephen loves me at all. But it’s still early on. We’ve only been officially dating for 2 days. Even though I don’t really like him like that. I mean who really wants to be in a relationship with McSalivaman?

  Blake and I ate the pizza in silence. I was really offended by his conversation and actually really hurt. Did he not think I was good enough for Stephen or him? There was something in me that was deeply wounded. I could feel the pain traveling through my body, making me tense up. I had to avoid his eyes, because I didn’t want him to see the very real hurt in my eyes or the wetness of my pupils. I was almost ready to cry. That feeling of not being good enough was hard to shake, and losing some weight hadn’t made me feel any more comfortable in my body than I was before.

  I mean, I felt more attractive in a way, but with that feeling hadn’t come the feeling of confidence and belonging that I had expected. And it hadn’t brought me my true love or Bradley Cooper. Perhaps I was not destined to have a true love; perhaps fairy tales didn’t exist. I mean if they did, I would be lying in Blake’s arms right now instead of tensely ignoring him and yawning as hard as I could to force him into leaving.

  “Maggie, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just don’t think that Stephen is a good guy for you.”

  “Whatever, Blake. It doesn’t matter what you think. Why don’t you spend more time thinking about the one you love instead of getting in my business?”

  Blake looked at me harshly. “This has nothing to do with how I feel, Maggie. This has to do with you being an adult and dealing with your emotions properly and thoughtfully.”

  “What?”

  “You cannot jump from man to man, from bed to bed...”

  “What? Bed to bed?” I was offended again.

  “It seems to me that you were so upset about Ben that you were willing to jump into bed with me pretty easily.”

  “Blake, you slept over because you sent the cab away, and we didn’t even have sex.”

  “Are you sure, Maggie?” He raised an eyebrow at me.

  “Even if we did have sex, Blake, whose fault would it really be? I think if anyone would be coming off badly in that situation, it would be you!” Take that, sucker.

  He sighed. “I know, Maggie, and no, we didn’t, but you seemed willing. And now here you are with Stephen. You are trying to mask your pain over Ben with another guy. You need to get over him first.”

  “Blake, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure?”

  “When did you get your degree in psychology? I didn’t know they offered those classes in law school.”

  “Maggie, I’m just trying to...”

  “Blake, you are not my brother. Or my father. Just because you think you are, doesn’t mean it’s true. You have no idea what you’re talking about.” I don’t love Ben, I love you, you idiot.

  “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Maggie.” He reached over and rubbed my shoulder.

  “Blake, who...”

  “You mean so much to me, Maggie. I just want to make sure you are happy.” He pulled me close to him and stroked my hair. What was he doing to me?

  I snuggled into his shoulder and sighed, thinking I might as well breathe in his scent while I had the opportunity.

  Beep-beep went my phone. Of course. I looked down and saw that I had 2 text messages. One was from Bridget, and the other was from Stephen. Bridget wanted to grab lunch with me the next week, and Stephen was wishing me sweet dreams. It seemed like a sign to me; I guessed it was true what Sister Mary said in ‘The Sound of Music’ - “When one door closes, another one opens.”

  I inched myself away from Blake. The guilt was coursing through me. Why was I snuggling up to another woman's boyfriend? A woman I considered a friend.

  “I’m tired.” I yawned sleepily.

  “I take it that’s my cue to leave?”

  “Unless you want to sleep on the couch...”

  Blake jumped up and ran his hand through his hair. “While that sounds delightful, I have breakfast with Bridget tomorrow morning, and so I’d better go home so I don’t show up looking like I’m doing the walk of shame in the morning.”

  “Yeah. She wouldn’t like that.” I smiled brightly at him to mask the fact that my stomach had dropped.

  “Night, Mags.” He reached over and kissed me on the forehead and walked to the door.

  “Night, Blake.”

  I woke up the next morning with a new resolve to forget Blake. It was obvious to me that he saw me as a little sister and that he and Bridget were happy with their relationship the way it was. I was also annoyed that he seemed to think he could dictate my life and tell me what to do.

  I was at Coffee Bean drinking a chai latte and writing my book when Stephen called and asked me what I was doing for dinner. I was worried that he was going to tell me that Jose had found more receipts, but he didn’t mention work. I readily accepted and told him that I would meet him at the restaurant at 8 p.m. Anything to get my mind off Blake.

  I decided to call Gayle to see if she wanted to grab lunch and that way I could let her tell me about the engagement herself and she could help me choose a dress for tonight. Gayle was excited to hear from me and we made plans to meet at Beto’s for a late lunch.

  “Maggie, look at you!” Gayle squeezed me close when I arrived at the restaurant.

  “Hey,” I beamed. Gayle looked really happy and I was also pleased that she had noticed that I had lost weight.

  “You look great. Really, really great.”

  “Thanks. So do you.” I was taken aback at how she had changed. She seemed so relaxed now. So different from the bossy boots she had been just months ago. “Being engaged suits you.”

  “You know?” She gasped with surprise.

  “Oops. Sorry, yes. Blake told me last night, but I wanted to wait for you to tell me,” I grimaced.

  Gayle laughed. “Is it okay? You aren’t mad, are you?”

  I hit her in the upper arm. “I’m sooo upset, Gayle. H
ow could you do that to me?” I faked a sad face.

  “Oh, Maggie. I’m so sorry. I...”

  “I’m joking. I’m joking!”

  “Oh, okay. Phew!” She grinned. “I was worried you were still mad at me when you didn’t return any of my million phone calls.”

  “Sorry, I’ve been busy.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “Hmm?”

  “From Blake.”

  “Oh. Yeah. I got a new side job.”

  “I know, superstar. Congrats!”

  “Thanks.” I felt a bit deflated that she knew already, but I suppose it was my own fault for not having updated her when it had initially happened. “Seems as if Blake is carrying all the news. I guess he is a carrier pigeon as well as a shrink.”

  “Huh?” Gayle looked confused.

  “Nothing.”

  “So, what’s going on with you and Blake?” Gayle raised her eyebrows at me.

  “Absolutely nothing.” I sighed.

  “Are you sure? You guys looked pretty close that night we all went dancing.”

  “I’m sure. He’s dating Bridget!” Sigh.

  “He is?”

  “He is!”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “You like him though, huh?”

  “Yeah. I really like him.” I wanted to tell Gayle that I loved him but felt that might make me look a bit crazy. I mean how could I love him when I had never even dated him? And would she even believe that I knew this was the real deal after I had said I was in love with so many different guys before?

  “Oh, Maggie.” Gayle grabbed my hand. I looked down at her engagement ring and I gasped.

  “Whoa, that’s huge! Who knew Ben Bonkers had that kind of money?”

  “His family is rich, actually. His dad runs the Bonkers car dealerships in the Bay Area.”

  “No way.”

  “Yeah. I was surprised as well.” She smiled.

  “Okay. Let’s go shop before I get depressed again.” I grinned at her to let her know I was joking.

  “What are you shopping for?”

  “I have a date tonight!”

  “What! With whom?”

  “Stephen! The producer/director of my TV show.”

  “Oh wow, is that a good idea?”

  “Not you, too.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” I sighed. “Let’s go shop.”

  We had a lot of fun going from store to store, and I felt like Julia Roberts in ‘Pretty Woman’ albeit without Richard Gere and thousands of dollars to spend. I tried on about 12 dresses before Gayle’s face lit up and I knew the hot red number was going to be my outfit for the night.

  “Let me know how it goes, Mags!” Gayle hugged me when we arrived at my car in the parking lot. “Call me first thing in the morning and tell me what happened.”

  “I will.” I smiled as I put my key into my car door.

  “Actually, why don’t we go to the gym, and you can tell me the story while we run on the treadmill? The marathon is coming up soon.”

  I grimaced and screwed up my nose at her. I guess Gayle hadn’t changed that much. “We’ll see. I’ll let you know in the morning.”

  I drove off to Gayle’s laughter and Bob Dylan playing on the radio.

  “You look gorgeous, Maggie.” Stephen was giving me the once-over and licking his lips.

  “Thanks.” Did he have to be so crass? I brushed my irritation at his lip-licking out of my mind and checked him out as well. He definitely looked handsome. Really handsome. He was wearing what looked like a very expensive suit and had made reservations at Le Meur, one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles.

  “It’s Armani.”

  “Sorry, what?”

  “The suit, I saw you looking at it. It’s Armani. From Italy.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “It cost 2,000 dollars.”

  “Oh, okay.” What was I supposed to say to that?

  “Maybe if you treat me right, I’ll take you there one day and buy you some clothes.”

  “Oh, yeah, that would be nice.” I laughed, trying to hide my irritation. Who did Stephen think he was? It seemed to me that the joy of being Julia Roberts’s character in ‘Pretty Woman’ was only exciting to think about as a fantasy. The reality of the situation was actually quite disturbing, condescending, and belittling.

  Dinner was delicious and filling, and I was very content by the time dessert came around. I was deciding between an apple tart and a chocolate butterscotch cake when Stephen moved in closer to me. We had spent most of the night talking about his projects and career; well, he had spent most of the night talking. I didn’t mind, because I was satiated with good food and red wine and liked the fact that this very handsome man was giving me all of his attention. Even if he was focused on himself.

  “So, I really enjoyed the other night, Maggie Lane,” Stephen whispered in my ear as he caressed my leg.

  “Thanks, so did I.” I tried not to flinch as he licked his lips again. Seeing his saliva was giving me bad memories.

  “I think we make a good team.”

  “You do?” What was he talking about? I barely knew him, and we hadn’t really done anything together that could realistically lead him to that impression, work-wise or intimately.

  “Yes, I do.”

  I shrunk back a little as he started running his hand all the way up my thigh. I was starting to think that it had been a bad idea to wear a short red dress to dinner with this man.

  “I think we make a very good team. Do you want to get out of here and go back to my place for a nightcap?”

  “You mean after dessert?”

  “Oh, I had a different dessert in mind.”

  I nearly jumped when he attempted to slide his hand down the inside of my thigh.

  “Oh, ha-ha. Well we’ll see. I actually, uh, well, I actually have to go to the ladies room right now,” I stood up as elegantly as I could. “I’ll be right back.”

  I walked to the bathroom quickly. “Shit, shit, shit,” I mumbled to myself. Blake had been right. It had been a mistake to get involved with Stephen. Even though we weren’t really involved at this point, I wasn’t sure how to deny his advances and still keep things civil. He was really cute, and I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better, but I definitely wasn’t ready to have sex with him.

  When I got back to the table, I saw that Stephen had ordered a bottle of champagne and saw that the waiter was just finishing up pouring it into 2 flutes.

  “I took the liberty of getting some champagne for us to celebrate.” Stephen took a gulp as I sat down.

  “Celebrate?”

  “Our new partnership. Here’s to our show, your book, and our new relationship.”

  “Relationship?” Huh?

  “You are my new main girl, Maggie Lane.”

  Oh shit. “Oh.”

  And with that, we both took huge gulps of our champagne, but for very different reasons.

  21

  Dear Diary,

  I am an idiot. A real idiot. Blake isn’t in a relationship. He never was. Bridget is not his girlfriend. Turns out he wasn’t using the term ‘partner’ to refer to Bridget using some modern-day dating terminology, but just referring to them as working professionals. Turns out they are just partners in the law firm together. I wish I could tell you how happy I was when I found out that information. But my happiness turned to despair and frustration when I thought of the new relationship I now found myself in and the fact that I had been boasting to Blake about it just days before I realized he was single. It seems to me I am just doomed to have a crappy love life forever.

  I was able to go home by myself after my dinner date with Stephen. He was so drunk that I was able to put him in a cab and give him a quick kiss on the cheek without him trying to ask for more. I knew when I got home that evening that I was going to have to have a talk with him. No matter how bad I wanted a relationship, and no matter how attractive he was, I knew I co
uldn’t be with him. Not just because I loved Blake, but because he was the most annoying, pretentious, and stupid man I had ever met. I was proud of myself for owning up to the fact that he was not good dating material and actually acknowledging the fact that I shouldn’t just date him anyways. It was unfortunate that Blake had called me right before I went to bed to ask me how the dinner had gone.

  “Moo-moo, I’m surprised you’re at home. Date didn’t go well?” Blake drawled in my ear. I was instantly antagonized by his words.

  “How did you know I was on a date?”

  “Stephen asked me what kind of food you liked.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, the date went fine actually.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, he asked me to be his girlfriend.” Well kinda.

  “His girlfriend? Already? I assume you said no.”

  “You assume wrong,” I didn’t get a chance to say no as he just assumed I would want to date him. I didn’t tell Blake that though.

  “Maggie, have you thought this through properly?” Blake sounded like my father, lecturing me as a child.

  “Yes, Blake. I know what I’m doing, and Stephen and I are fine. In fact, he is planning on taking me to Italy to shop.”

  “What!” Indeed what! I hoped that Blake didn’t mention it to Stephen. Not because I thought that Stephen would be appalled, but because he might just actually plan something like that.

  “He really likes me. He thinks I’m great, and he wants to spoil me.” That wasn’t really what he’d said exactly but wasn’t necessarily a lie.

  “Maggie. I don’t want to sound like your brother again, but I do not think this is a good idea.”

  “What do you know, Blake?”

  “I just don’t think you know Stephen well enough to be in any sort of relationship with him. I mean you just met him a few weeks ago, and as far as I know, you’ve been on what, one date with him?”

  “Like you said, Blake, you really don’t know. Anyways, I have to go. I have a book to write if you didn’t remember.” I hung up the phone, exasperated and confused. I didn’t know why I had reacted the way I had, and somehow cemented myself in a relationship that I didn’t want to be in in the first place.