Chapter Eight:
The Set Up

"Don't you people have anything better to do than sit on my couch and attack each other? You guys are depressing me."

Greg and Luca were all over each other.

"It's not just your couch," Luca reminded her between Greg's kisses.

"Well, you do have a room, Lu," Natalee told her.

"So do you," Greg said.

Natalee put her hands on her hips. "You do not have clearance to enter into this fight; you don't live here."

Greg shrugged and went on with his business.

"Can we have an emergency apartment meeting?" Natalee asked.

"Can it wait fourty-five minutes?"

"No!"

Greg rolled his eyes. "My apartment next time?"

"Your place is always a mess," Luca noted.

"But it doesn't have Natalee."

"I'm right here, asshole," Natalee reminded him.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks. When you didn't talk for a whole three seconds, I thought you hadleft."

"Did I mention I hate this guy?" She crossed her arms. "I propose nothing past first base on public domain. Couch, kitchen, bathroom."

"Oops," Greg joked.

"You're kidding me right?"

"You might not want to eat on the kitchen table anytime soon," he said.

"Holy shit," Natalee said. "You are kidding me, right?"

Luca couldn't keep a straight face. "Yes, he is kidding. You guys are like children. We're going out to dinner anyway, okay, Nat? You want something?"

"A cute waiter would be nice."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Do you think you could hook Natalee and Nick back up?" Luca asked hopefully.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No! She hasn't met anyone since she's moved here," she said.

"Neither have you," Greg told her.

"I don't need to; I have you and Natalee. That's all I need," she said.

"The last time I sent someone up on a blind date…well, that never happened, actually. But, that's because I know it would be tragic, therefore I've never attempted it."

"It's not a blind date," Luca told him. "They met each other in California!"

Greg looked at his spaghetti. "I can talk to him but I can't make any promises."

So, he did it, but he couldn't just ask Nick if he wanted to go on a date with Natalee. No, where's the challenge in that?

"I don't want to go Luca's place to watch a movie with you guys," Nick said.

"What? Why?"

"I've heard what you guys do in movies." Nick grimaced. "Lindsey with the Disney movie. A Disney movie! That's just wrong."

"That's so not true. I wouldn't do that in front of Lindsey."

"Fine," Nick gave in. "Six?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you want me there anyway?" Nick asked, suspiciously.

Greg thought for a second. "Because I love you, have I ever told you that?"

"No, and please don't say it again."

"Did you set it up?"

"Of course I did," Luca said.

"Six?"

"Yes!"

Mr. Knox sighed loudly. Mrs. Knox looked at him.

"Oh, Frank," she said. "It's cute, they're setting their friends up. Do you remember how we met?"

"You don't let me forget."

"Thanks again for letting us use your apartment as a look-out," Luca said as Greg looked across the hall through the peep-hole.

"Of course, dear," Mrs. Knox said. "Will you two be staying for dinner?"

"No, we have plans. But, thanks."

"Here she comes," Greg said.

"Oh, man," Luca said. "This is so exciting, let me see."

Greg moved out of the way for her.

She watched Natalee unlock her door while she covered her mouth as she squealed with delight.

A few minutes pasted and there was Nick.

"This is the best idea you've ever had, mark my word," Luca said.

"Better than my idea for the science club's terrarium?"

"A million times better."

Natalee looked at the table set for two, complete with candle light. "You're kidding me. They bailed on me so they could eat some romantic dinner together?" She asked aloud. "Perfect. And now I've got nowhere to go." She rolled her eyes and headed to her room as there was a knock on the door.

She walked over to it, puzzled. She looked through the peep-hole before unlatching the three locks.

"Nick?"

"Natalee?" Nick smiled. "I didn't know you were in Vegas."

"Yeah. Yeah, I am." She couldn't help but grin either. "Come in." She stepped aside as Nick stepped in.

Nick looked at the table. "What's going on here? Where's Luca and Greg?"

Natalee paused for a second. "I think we've just been set up," she pointed out with a nervous laugh.