Free The 10 Year Plan by JC Calciano Page A

photos and see if we have any friends in common before I meet them. You know, see if we’re compatible. Find out what you’re into and who you know.”
    â€œSo you do this kind of investigation with every guy you go out with?” Cedric asked. He was newly arrived from Britain and was looking for a job in the film industry. Myles gave Brody extra credit for the adorable accent.
    â€œIt helps me come up with some things to talk about. There’s nothing worse than meeting a guy for the first time and having nothing to say. My research also helps me do things like this...” Myles pulled out a big yellow daisy he’d been holding under the table. “It’s your favorite flower. I also know you love to go camping, and you have a French bulldog named Doug.”
    Jesse’s face held a hint of shock. “Would you excuse me?” he said. “I need to use the men’s room.”
    â€œWant me to order for you? Grande latte with four pumps of vanilla, Right?”
    Matt pulled out his phone and glanced at it pretending to look at a text than never actually arrived, and then glanced up at Myles. He was a little younger than the others, from the Pacific Islands. “Oh wow, my sister just swallowed a rusty nail. I’m sorry, I’ve got to take her to the hospital,” he said with a desperate look around the café, obviously looking for the closest exit.
    This one didn’t even bother with a plausible excuse. Sister swallowed a rusty nail! Yeah, right, Myles thought. Just like you got a real text message . Well, another potential relationship down the drain. He tried to smile. “Call me,” he called sarcastically at his retreating form, knowing he’d never hear from this one again either. He thought the only thing to do was laugh at himself, although he didn’t feel funny or like laughing at all.
    Myles sighed as he sat alone in the coffee shop. Is this really where he was at this point in his romantic life? Was this all real, or was it some sort of nightmare—this carousel of men? Would he wake up in his own bed and find it really was a dream? Well, one thing was sure… he would wake up alone! He was officially finished. This string of dates was the last straw. He knew Brody would blame all these bad dates with great guys on him. He knew that in order for him to be able to defend the last week’s worth of coffee-dates and all the effort Brody put into setting him up with all these guys, he’d have to have this conversation in person. Now was the time to break the news to Brody. He was officially done dating, forever.
    ***
    Myles pulled up in front of Brody’s house. He rang the bell and waited. No answer. But he heard the thumping of attacking zombies and the exploding of grenades. How did he know that sound? It was one of Brody’s favorite video games. Here it was, a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, and Brody was shut inside his dark apartment. Myles banged the door again. Still no answer. Out of curiosity, he turned the door handle. It was open. Myles laughed to himself. Well, that was one of the many ways in which they were different. Brody was fearless; Myles wasn’t. He couldn’t help but laugh at himself for double locking the doors of his home when he’s inside, even though he lives in one of the best neighborhoods of West Hollywood He entered the studio apartment to find a shirtless Brody, face only inches away from the screen. He was playing Zombie Apocalypse 3 on his video game console.
    Myles approached carefully. He felt it was never a good idea to sneak up on a cop. Suddenly, Brody jerked to attention.
    â€œJesus, Myles! You scared the shit out of me!”
    â€œI tried to let you know I was here; I kept knocking.”
    â€œJoin me bud, I’ve got an extra controller here!”
    The only videogame Myles had ever played was blackjack on his iPad. He wouldn’t begin to know what to do