Mr.Right

Note to self: If someone asks you how your France trip is going, never utter the words 'I think my best friend is being cheated on'.

There's a big problem there. First, what happens in Jim's relationship is none of my business and I wouldn't want to go poke nosing around... Who am I kidding? Poke nosing is my thing, so I think it's normal fo me to want to know why the hell there's a shirtless dude answering Jacqueline's door.

I look over the address Jim sent me again to verify I'm in the right place as my eyes roam over his half-naked body once more.

"Good morning," I start slowly, not sure if he's an English speaker. "I'm here for Jacqueline, does she live here?"

His bored expression brightens up at the mention of her name as he yells some French words over his shoulder. I could hear a faint female's voice replying to him in the background before I see a mop of dark hair appear at the entrance.

The one and only Jacqueline Pierre.

"Oh my God," She appears to be surprised at my arrival as she throws herself at me for a bear hug. "April fucking White!"

"That's me," I laugh. She squeals into my ear and I see the guy retreat into the house like he owns the damn house. How dare he!

"You never said you were coming."

"Well... surprise?"

"Come on in." She grins and steps aside for me to enter. My eyes roam the apartment as I take off my jacket. The place is homely and elegant, just like Jim's house. "Did you come alone? Why didn't Jim come along?"

"I'm here with someone, Jim couldn't make it," I accept the mug of coffee she offers me and press my lips to the tip of the cup, enjoying the heat radiating from it.

"Someone? You mean him?"

"There are so many 'hims' in the world. Be specific."

"Bullshit. You know who I'm talking about, Jim's been giving me a lot of details," She smirks. That blabbermouth. "We FaceTimed last night where he told me everything and I'm surprised he didn't say you were coming."

"The idiot's just whipped."

"Speaking of you, how would you like to be featured in my next book?" She plops down on the couch beside me.

"Excuse me?"

"Why? Did you burp?" Jacqueline does an eye roll. "I've been a Fantasy author for a long time and I think it's time for a change. Readers love versatile authors right?"

I give her a look. "I'm still not sure how I got involved in this."

"I'm getting there. What if I venture into a real-life romance story, you know, with real people and places? And then, you get to be one of the main characters."

"Yeah, like anyone would want to read that," I snort. This girl is sick in the head.

"Just shut up and have a look at what I came up with," She hands me her laptop as I set it on my lap. I scroll through the list of books she's written and already published in hard copy as I spot a newly typed

one.

"Oh my God, I sound lame," I say after reading the synopsis.

"Would it make you feel any better if I make Tony pot-bellied and bald-headed?"

"Count me in."

"So here's what we're going to do..." Gulping the rest of my coffee, I scoot closer to her as we both focus on her laptop.

It's pretty weird at first but it gets better when we get to the part where Tony appears as a bald-headed prick. Now looking back on my own story, I perfectly understand the reason why I was fired from my job. First, I was too forward. My boss didn't even get to review the article I was about to publish before I went ahead to upload it online. That was a big dick move.

My perspective of the way I see my boss changes. She was only saving her company and I shouted 'TROUBLE'. Although, the way she went about the whole firing thing was still sort of harsh. I'm still pissed of she got my name wrong.

But we still had to write that she was a mean lady to make it look more... dramatic is the word Jacqueline calls it.

Jim. Jim remains the cool guy and even if he's not, Jacqueline wouldn't want her boyfriend sounding like a bonehead.

"The guy you saw earlier is Antoine, my cousin. It's not what it looks like," Jacqueline says, her eyes glued to her laptop and her hands typing fast on the keyboard like a pro.

"Did I make it that obvious?"

"Yeah, the look on your face shouted 'THIS BITCH BE CHEATING ON MY BEST FRIEND"" She closes her laptop and turns to face me. "Do you not trust me? Are you doubting us?" "Why would you even think that," My eyes soften at her words.

"I don't know. I just feel insecure sometimes. I'm feeling the reason why he hasn't popped the big question is because of... you?"

"Now that's totally crazy." Would this be the right time to tell her about his plan?

"Wait!" She suddenly exclaims and my eyes widen at her outburst. "I think I just figured something out. We do have a lot of things in common, right?" "Quite a lot, we're like soul sisters."

The inquisitiveness in her eyes tells me to think further and when I do, my eyes snap wide open.

The only thing I can say

differentiates me from Jacqueline is

my physical appearance but other than that, we're totally alike. That is to say, it's like Jim and I never really left ourselves, we just found each other in someone else. I thought Maverick acts like Jim sometimes because they spend the most time together but the real truth is, they do have the same qualities as a person.

We are way more connected than I think and that's the most fascinating thing I've found out all year. Well, it's just the beginning of the year...

"Give me your laptop," I tell Jacqueline and she quickly does so.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm changing the plot."

Having a goal is one thing, but having a bucket list filled with crazy doings is a whole different thing entirely.

Two and a half weeks goes by quickly. Almost too quickly, but you know what they say about time flying out the window when you're having fun. Wait... I think it was time flying fast... "And then I got grounded."

"Of course you'd get grounded,

you're so stupid," I laugh. It's a Saturday and Maverick and I chose that we bunk in today, meaning we're staying in the villa all day. He's telling me about his teen years and how che snuck out in the middle of the night to go to an underground party. He told on himself the next day to his Mom because his

conscience wouldn't let him be and eventually got himself grounded.

"Did I tell you my mom's in France for a business trip?" Maverick asks as I jump up from the bed where we're both cuddled to gape at him.

"We're both in France!!" Does that mean I'll have to meet her? Oh lord.

"No, I thought we were at a Taylor Swift concert in Mexico," He deadpans.

"Would she want to meet me?"

"Yes, in like four hours," He glances at the watch on his hands.

"Four hours??" I snap. "You knew your mom wanted to meet with us and you're just saying that??"

"Before I continue, chill out, you're beginning to look a little blue. I found out yesterday she was in the country. Nothing to worry about, she just wants to have lunch."

"But I'm not ready to meet her yet.

What if she doesn't like me? What if

she does like me and then I blow everything up? What I'm I supposed to say when we meet? What I'm not supposed to say when we meet? I

literally know nothing about the

woman who gave birth to you naked!"

I'm getting mad and he can sense it. I wouldn't be having this semi-panic attack if he had even told me what his mom looked like. Just like Troy Bolton, my crush during my preadolescent years, my head is definitely not in the game right now.

Maverick walks up to where I'm pacing on my feet and drapes a towel on my shoulder like a cape. "Now you're SUPER ANGRY."

I try to keep a straight face, believe me, I try but my stupid body reflexes cause me to start laughing like a donkey.

"This situation is in no way funny. I am so screwed." He kisses the top of my head when I bury my face in his chest. "She'll love you, I know so."

Even with his reassurance, I still can't ignore the bad feeling growing at the pit of my stomach.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐