Perfect by Design

33: Luca James

"Gianna, as in ex-girlfriend of Suns superstar Andrew Miller? That's who you're picking to be my fake girlfriend?"

I pass Schy's phone back to her; surely she can't be serious. That guy has not only Phoenix but the entire country eating out of the palm of his hand.

A basketball player hasn't been this big of a deal in Arizona since Bryce Matthews. Everyone has definitively taken his side in the breakup. This move is supposed to help me with the media, not make everything worse.

"Think about it, Ollie. Right now, she's the embarrassed, jilted throwaway of Andrew Miller."

"Wow, Hayes. You sure know how to talk a girl up."

"Like I was saying." She rolls her eyes. "Her image needs this just as bad as yours, so it's a win-win. She was New York's it girl, and she followed her college sweetheart here only to end up heartbroken and alone. It's the perfect story. The guy no one thought was capable of love and the girl who was ready to give up on it." She's smiling from ear to ear. At this point, I'm convinced she has a fake house Gianna and I live in with our fake kids.

"So now I'm not capable of love? You know, some people have best friends that actually like them. What lucky people."

"Who said we were best friends?" She smirks at me.

"Touché, Hayes."

She draws her knees up to her chest and leans her head on my shoulder. We've found ourselves in this exact position one too many times. Sometimes it's my couch. This time it's hers. "I think it could work, Luca. At least meet her for lunch."

"Fine. I'll meet her for lunch—somewhere private. I don't want people catching wind of this in case I decide not to go through with it."

"One more episode?" She smiles up at me. Schy and I always watch The Nanny. It's our comfort show. I haven't actually seen a single episode. Schy can quote them all. She knows I'm not actually watching—not the show, at least.

"Sure, Hayes. One more episode."

She runs her fingers through her hair attempting to tie it up. I reach into my pocket and grab the hair tie, sliding it her way. She turns and smiles her Hayes smile at me before quickly focusing back on the TV.

"How does he not realize he's in love with her." Schy giggles a little as something happens on the tv. I know the gist of what's going on in the show because we (she) have seen it so many times. But this time, for the first time, I decide to actually tune in.

One episode turns into three. It's never just one more. Hayes is fast asleep, knees still drawn up to her chest and her head still on my shoulder. I move myself just enough to turn and scoop her up, carrying her to her bedroom.

She sleeps like the dead, always has. So, it doesn't surprise me that she barely budges as I lay her in bed. I venture into her bathroom in search of her silk scarf. When I find it, I return to her room and tie her hair up. Again, she barely moves. Once I make sure she's securely tucked in, I plug up her phone up—she is a big time important attorney, after all. Never know when someone (me) will need her to clean up a mess.

Finally satisfied that she won't want to kill me when she wakes up, I head out of her house, locking up behind me. I notice myself yawning and begin dreading the commute I have up to the 42nd floor.

Oh, did I forget to mention that Hayes lives in my building? My mom thinks we have a codependency issue. I've chosen not to have that conversation with her because she and my dad practically share the same skin. So, maybe it's a battle of codependency. Whatever.

I hop in the shower the moment I'm home. It's been a long day. I mean, first, Schy and I made breakfast. She doesn't have the comfiest bar stools, and it took us (her) longer than expected to finish cooking. Seriously, I was drained before ever taking a bite of food.