Musically in Love

Chapter 4

McKinley's POV

"Steph, come on," I pleaded into my phone. "You gotta know someone."

She sighed. "Sorry, Micky. Look, I'm really busy. I'll call you later." With that, she hung up the phone.

I groaned, flopping onto my bed. I loved my cousin, really, I did, but sometimes she can be so frustrating. Like now, when she won't even try to help me find a girl for Ben. She usually lives for this kind of stuff, so why the disinterest now?

I guess I could ask my sisters too. I'm sure they had friends, although maybe not exactly what Ben is looking for. My sisters tended to be a ton more into makeup and boys rather than gaming, which is why I went to Steph first. Plus the fact that I barely had anything in common with my sisters (aside from liking the boys thing) even though the three of us literally shared a womb together. Although my sisters actually went to the same school as me, unlike Steph. Maybe Steph really wasn't the best person to go to first after all.

It's been a few days since Ben and I made that deal. I've tried talking to my friends and even my coworkers. They said they'd ask around, but honestly, I didn't have too much hope. Most of my friends knew Ben already. They knew what he was like and, honestly, wouldn't really want to set up any of their friends with him. Ben didn't have the best track record with his past relationships. He wasn't a bad boyfriend, per se. He was more inconsiderate and lazy. No one wanted to date that kind of guy, no matter how attractive he is.

But maybe, just maybe, if I could find the perfect girl for Ben, then he'd get his lazy ass off the couch every day he wasn't working (which honestly wasn't that often) or at the gym (which usually only happened after work). And if I could get a good boyfriend out of this too, then it'll be a miracle.

I pressed McKenzie's name on my screen, calling her. I needed to do this, for Ben. She answered after a few rings. "Hey. What's up?"

I sat up, tucking one of my pillows to my chest. "Okay, so this is going to sound kinda out there..."

"Nothing you can say will surprise me anymore, McKinley. Everything you say is very out there."

I sighed. "Fine. But I kinda need a favor. You know my roommate? Ben?"

"Yeah. What about him?"

"Well, he and I kinda made a deal that we'd find each other someone to date. Do you know anyone we could set him up with? Please? You know a ton of girls."

She thought for a minute. "You know... I know a couple people who are looking for a boyfriend."

I sat up a bit straighter. "Really?" I then started saying Ben's requirements, just to make sure I wasn't setting him up with someone completely opposite his requests. "Do you think that's possible?"

Kenzie laughed. "Yeah, actually. Jenna sounds kind of perfect, actually. Let me talk to her, see if she's interested at all."

"Oh my god, Kenz! You're the best sister ever! I love you!"

"Did McKayla not tell you about Jenna?" she asked, referring to our other sister.

I shook my head before remembering I was on the phone and she couldn't see me. "I actually called you first. Well, after I called Steph. She was surprising unhelpful."

"Maybe she's finally done with your shit."

I feigned being offended. "McKenzie Constanello, how dare you."

"Yeah, yeah."

I heard the front door close, meaning Ben was back. I needed to tell him the good news! "I gotta go, Kenz," I said, sliding off my bed and tossing the pillow aside. "Thanks again!"

I hung up the phone and shoved it into my pocket as soon as I was out of my room. "Ben, Ben, Ben!"

"Jesus. What?" He didn't look to be in the greatest of moods. It probably had something to do with actually having to go to work today (which he hated) and, by the looks of him, he just left the gym. "Can this wait until after I shower?"

I sighed dramatically. "Fine. But hurry. It's good news!"

Ben grumbled something incoherently as he pushed past me to go into his room. Oh man, I couldn't wait to tell him that I might have gotten him a date. It was a small chance, but hey - it was something, right?

"Guess what!" I practically screamed the moment Ben walked out of the bathroom, still drying his hair with a towel.

I think he jumped a bit. "Jesus. You have issues."

I laughed. "Ha ha. But seriously. I have news."

Ben sighed, coming over to sit on the couch with me. "What?"

"McKenzie might know a girl for you."

"Your sister? The sorority girl who's all pink and unicorns all the time? You know I don't go for that kind of girl and they only hang out with that type."

"Hey, she's not that bad." She honestly wasn't like the typical sorority girl. Sure, her favorite color was pink and she had a borderline obsession with unicorns, but she had a ton of friends who weren't like that - people like Jenna. "She knows this girl that pretty much lines up with what you're looking for. As long as Jenna agrees to a date, you're good as gold."

"Jenna, huh? Alright." He grabbed his phone. "Know her last name?"

I shook my head. I hadn't even asked Kenz, but I had amazing Facebook stalking skills. Within five minutes, I had found Jenna's profile. There wasn't much on there that was public, but from the couple of pictures that were, she definitely looked like Ben's type. Thank you McKenzie.

"So..." I started, grabbing my phone out of Ben's hand to get him to pay attention to me again. "Any news for me that you'd like to share?"

He sighed, leaning back into the couch. "Not yet." I pouted. "Come on. How many gay guys do you think I know? Or my friends know? It's pretty much just you."

I groaned. This wasn't fair. Why is it so easy for straight people? I just wanted a relationship. Was that too much to ask for?

"I really am trying, McKinley," he continued. "It's only been a couple of days. Give it some time. I'll hold up my end of the deal."

I sighed. "Yeah. I'm just trying to keep my hopes up that you'll come through for me. I've never had a good relationship before. Maybe my standards are just too high. Do you think my standards are too high?"

"I don't know, maybe. Like, do you really need to have him be able to play an instrument? That's limiting yourself a whole lot."

I sat up straight, looking Ben in the eyes. "Yes! It's a huge part of my life. If he can't also see how important music is, he's not important to me."

"You're absolutely ridiculous."