Tripp stilled, his hands balling into fists. “What?”
His brother shrugged. “He could find someone totally not Wendy’s type. Make her realize how good she had it with you.”
Tate snapped his fingers. “That’s not a half-bad idea. Sabotage the outing so she doesn’t want to go out on another date with anyone else.”
“I have just the?—”
“No,” Tripp growled.
Three sets of eyes turned his way once more.
Brent tried again. “You realize if Jacob refuses, then Hallie will find someone else who is interested, right? This would be better. More controlled.”
“Isaid, no.”
“This is out of your hands,” Jacob tried again. “You’ve been trying to reach her, trying to figure out what’s wrong. But nothing is working. Sometimes we just have to cut?—”
“Don’t say it.” Tripp closed his eyes tight. “I’m not giving up. I won’t let her go.”
They were all quiet for several moments then Tripp’s eyes flew open. “Actually, you’re going to do it.”
A surprised bark of laughter came from more than one of the men present.
“What?” Jacob asked. “Okay, I’m confused. I thought you were going to wring my neck for even suggesting?—”
“You’re going to set her up with me.”
More deafening silence.
Tripp took a step closer to Jacob. “Think about it. She doesn’t have to know that it’s me you’re setting her up with. She’ll get all ready for the date and she’ll show up. Leaving wouldn’t be respectful. I’m sure she’ll stick around for the date if only to avoid making a scene in public.”
Tate chuckled. “That’s not a bad idea either.”
“Right?” Tripp could feel that glimmer of hope turn into a solar flare. “I’ll go on an official date with her. I’ll ask her to be honest with me. And if she says that she doesn’t want to see me anymore, then I’ll let her walk away.”
Jacob snorted. “I doubt that.”
“I will.”
“You just said you wouldn’t let her go.”
Tripp nodded, his happiness fizzling at the reality of what he was about to say. “Right now, she hasn’t given me anything. She hasn’t told me why she wants her distance or what it is that I did to scare her off. Heck, I don’t even know if I did do anything. If this is a matter of her losing interest, then fine. If she realized we don’t fit, okay. But if this is because she’s scared or hurt then I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it right.”
Jacob let out a low whistle then laughed. “Dude, you really have it bad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so hung up on a woman before. Not even your cousins.”
Tripp glanced over at his brother, surprised to find him actually looking pleased with this plan. “I thought you said she wasn’t worth it.”
“But you are.” It was a simple statement and one that filled Tripp’s heart with more warmth than he’d expected.
“Thanks, man.” Then he turned to Jacob. “Okay, make sure you don’t tell Hallie who you’re picking. It’s gotta be a surprise or Wendy won’t bother showing up.” He almost prayed that Wendy would refuse the blind date as it was, but something told him he knew better. Hallie was a force to be reckoned with when shewanted to be. And if she wanted her best friend to settle down with a man who she deemed better than himself, she would stop at nothing to make it happen.
Brent and Jacob nodded their agreement to the plan.
Tripp finally felt lighter than he had in over a week.
This was his final opportunity to win Wendy over. It had to work. He’d lay his whole heart out on the line. Either she’d accept it, or she’d turn him down.
He just hoped that he’d be ready for the fallout if that was where this went.
