I gulped, hopefully not too audibly. Tom smirked and got up from the recliner.

“Well, I’ve got to get ready. My lady awaits.”

As he showered, I flipped the channels aimlessly. The truth was that I wasn’t completely over Jodi. But I didn’t want to let Tom see that. He was a good enough friend that he would drop the plan, not wanting to hurt me. And I couldn’t have that. My slowly mending heart couldn’t have that. The quicker Jodi got her just desserts, the better.

Twenty minutes later, Tom was dressed and ready to go. He was wearing a black button-down shirt and dark-wash jeans. Oh, and about a gallon of cologne.

Coughing, I sputtered, “Well, at least she’ll be able to smell when you arrive.”

“Are you kidding? Girls dig this cologne. Wish me luck, bro.”

“Good luck, man. Remember everything we talked about -“

“I got it, Jordan. I’m cool.”

He flashed his crooked smile and left.

The next thing I knew there was a sound outside my door. I thought it was Tom, forgetting something like always. It wasn’t.