Page 67 of Spark

“And?”

“She ignored me. Completely. Didn’t take her eyes off the TV for a split second.”

“What?”

“Now you see what I’m up against. At this point, I’m fairly convinced it’s hopeless. A total dead-end. She’s just not into me, Savage, and she never will be. That’s the only possible conclusion at this point.”

“No. No way. I don’t even swing that way, and if you waltzed past me, dripping wet and wearing nothing but a towel, I’d be tempted to attack you like a cheetah versus an impala. At the very least, I’d catcall you. What good friend wouldn’t at do that?”

“Right? It’s the polite thing to do, for fuck’s sake! I’m shocked Ruby didn’t roast me for walking in front of the TV, half naked, while she was trying to watch.”

“That’s a fantastic point,” Savage agrees, leaning forwardwith energy. “The Ruby I know would have said, ‘Jesus, KC! I’m trying to watch a show here, and I can’t concentrate with all those dripping wet, rippling muscles assaulting my eyeballs!’”

“Yes! That’s exactly what Ruby normally would have said to me, in that situation. But nope. Not a word. Not a glance. She gave me no reaction whatsoever.”

“This makes zero sense,” he whispers. “For years, she’s called you ‘hot stuff.’ And she couldn’t be bothered to call you that at the perfect moment?”

“Apparently not.”

Savage twists his mouth. “It’s unbelievable. And I mean that literally.” Suddenly, his face lights up. “What if Ruby did react to you, but she didn’t want you to see it? What if her eyeballs popped out of her damned head so much at the sight of you, she tried her best to overcompensate and act like a robot so she wouldn’t give herself away? And by playing it that cool, she actually did the opposite?”

My heart leaps in my chest. “You think that’s possible?”

“No, I think it’sprobable. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it’s the only logical conclusion.” Savage smirks. “You’ve got her, baby. Right where you want her. I’m sure of it.”

“Holy shit.”

“She’s teetering right on the edge. Clinging to the friendship cliff with white knuckles while her body screams at her to let go and jump her bestie’s hot-ass bones. I’d bet any amount of money on it. Laila’s money, to be clear. But, still, that’s a lot of money that’s half mine.”

I know he’s being funny, but I’m too wound up to laugh with him. “If you’re right about this, then how do I get her to loosen her grip and stop playing it cool?”

“First of all, you need more time with her staying at yourplace. Another week, at least. I know you said no to bribing the building manager, but?—"

“I’ll do it. What else?”

“You’ve got the perfect opportunity today, thanks to the show. Don’t miss out on what this situation has to offer you, Kendrick.”

“I won’t.”

Savage points at me intensely, like a coach explaining the next play with two seconds left in a game. “No matter what, you have to find a reason to kiss her today, KC. Do it at the press conference. Or better yet, at the party tonight. Or both. You’re supposedly her hot and heavy boyfriend for the show, right?”

“Yep.”

“So be that guy, at every turn. Don’t forget, Cooper’s going to be around, watching her like a hawk, which will get Ruby’s motor running. So, use all of that as an excuse to kiss the girl and kiss her right.”

“I’ll do it.” Instinctively, I beat my chest with my fist, like a freaking gorilla.

“Listen to me, Kendrick. Focus. This part is crucial. When you kiss her this time, you have to do it like a goddamn Doberman. You hear me? Like a fuckboy who’s only interested in a tour fling. Like a guy who wrote a song about her called ‘Spank.’ You feel me?”

“I feel you.”

“Last time, you kissed her like you wanted a wife. This time, you’re gonna kiss her like you want to spear her against a wall with the tip of your dick.”

I laugh, feeling hopeful and giddy for the first time in days.“This is a savage plan, Savage. You’re scary good at this.”

“Which is why you need to follow my instructions to a T.”

“I will.”

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