Becoming a Scott

Chapter 20

"No, I don't think we'll need any more napkins." Ander commented to the waiter. "Are you feeling better?" He was crouched beside Christina with his hand on her back, holding up a napkin for her to grab.

Christina was hunched forward in her seat and trying to regain her breath. Her dress was soaked from the rum and coke but she didn't care. It was all irrelevant. Ander had just told her to shove it up her ass and she thought that was the funniest thing she had heard in her entire life.

"Are you okay?" He asked again, lowering his head to meet her gaze. "You didn't bring a change of clothes did you?"

"No," she coughed, "It's fine, I'm fine." She gestured for him to return back to his seat and he did so reluctantly. With a steady breath Christina finally fell back into her seat. "So this whole thing was your idea? How did you even know Irvin and I would end up speaking?"

"You sure you're okay? I shouldn't have said something like that. If I was gonna insult you I should've properly warned you before hand."

Christina fought to keep the smile from her face. "Don't try to sound regretful when we both know you were happy to watch me suffer. Just answer the question."

He paused for a moment, "Irvin is the most predictable human I've ever had the misfortune of meeting. The moment he spotted you by yourself he wasn't going to walk away without being seen talking to you. It's too good of an opportunity."

"Huh?"

"Christina, you are the newest Scott and there is still a large group of the society that hasn't met you yet. The largest intrigue of the summer had just landed in his lap, Irvin had no other choice but engage you in conversation and try to convince you to stay away from me."

"Then by that logic it should be easy to find me a husband right. Irvin would probably murder you if he knew it would get him a Scott for a wife." Christina said smugly, though she didn't know why she felt so confident while she was essentially defending a potential marriage with Irvin.

"I don't think he'd have to be prompted too hard to contemplate killing me." Ander said under his voice. "Point is, he's not the only option."

"He isn't? Who else would be stupid enough to agree to this?"

"I'm not sure, but we can test the water," he shrugged. "See if anyone is willing to take the bait."

"I've got six days, Ander, in six days if I don't have a man ready to promise his life to me I'm screwed."

Ander gave her a look of reassurance, "Sometimes the best things happen in the spur of the moment."

"So, that's your plan? The spur of the moment?"

"No way," he grinned, "this wouldn't be any fun if I left it up to chance entirely! I love trying to solve confusing puzzles and Christina I don't think it gets anymore confusing than you."

"Great, thanks," she answered flatly. "I'm happy my misery provides some sense of entertainment to someone."

He laughed, "It's just an audience of one and I'm honored that you allow me to be a spectator. Anyway, enough back and forth, I was planning on introducing you to some classmates of mine who happen to be begging to meet you. But it seems your dress it still..."

Christina glanced down at the green dress, it was still wet with a stain that ran down her chest. "Damn,"

"It's not ideal, but you're desperate and I happen to have a solution."

Fifteen minutes later Christina came out of the woman's locker room ready to curse out the powers that be for screwing her over so badly. Ander had nothing but horrible smelling used clothes in his locker so, he did as a gentleman does, he put on the nasty clothes and handed her the ones on his back.

She could barely manage to stand within five feet of him. "Do you really not think to wash the clothes in your locker?"

Ander turned to her and furrowed his brows, "God, my clothes look horrible on women. Makes me wonder how they look on me."

"Just as horrible," Christina answered. "No one will take me seriously in a baggy polo shirt and long khaki pants. There's no way I can meet your friends-"

"Six days," Ander commented. "You only have six days, and I for one am not looking forward to see what you do if you fail."

"Fine, just take me to your friends before I manage to look at myself in the mirror again."

He opened the door out into the back of the club house, "So keep in mind these are men in the midst of finishing college and they're starting to prepare for a role in their family's business. All of them would be acceptable enough for your grandmother but I can grantee with you they wouldn't know how to date a woman even if she smacked them in the face with a manual."

"Sounds like my kind of flirting." Christina commented without much thought.

"Eloquently put, Christina." He sighed as they walked on through the paths. Ander was leading her towards the golf course. "But, I'm being honest, if your hoping to rope any of them into marriage you're practically going to have to spell it out."

Christina squinted her eyes in the sun, "Do you really think this can work?"

"Only one way to find out."

Out on the green field, on the driving range, there was a person on every slot. Striking their clubs against the golf balls and sending them flying. Ander lead her towards a group of three men, they were huddled around one slot, drinking beers and laughing like teenage boys tended to do after doing something dumb.

"Guys! Sorry to keep you waiting!" Ander announced as they neared.

"Does it look like we were waiting for you!" One of them responded, he was a smaller one with curly blonde hair. "Who's the little boy you brought with you?"

Christina cringed.

"Christina Scott didn't want to get her dress stained if she was going to play golf with us." Ander explained and in doing so they all their turned their heads, taking in Christina's appearance.

The group seemed to hesitate for a moment and then all at once they stepped forward, reaching for her arm, offering her their names, and trying to ask her polite questions like: how are you doing today? do you like this type of weather? how are you liking the mainland?

"You'll have plenty of time to talk to her once we set out on the rest of the course." Ander insisted as he walked off towards the golf carts.