I broke into a wider grin. “You like it? Did it fit? I asked Jules for help,” I quickly added. A man did not want to get size wrong. “I figured because Frankie ruined your other one.”
“You meanyouruined my other one?”
I blew out a breath and reminded myself of how beautiful she was when she laughed at me the other day and how much I wanted to see her smile again.
“She loved it.” The dark-haired girl cut in and leaned forward to shake my hand. “I’m Nikki, nice to meet you.”
I distractedly shook her hand, keeping my eyes on Ellie.
“Okay, well. Goodbye,” Ellie said, still in shock apparently.
Who did she think gave her the dress if not me? Did she already have a guy and that’s why I was continually getting the cold shoulder from her? I couldn’t let another guy win, especially not when Grey said we’d balance each other out. We needed that. And, thinking there was another guy brought out the born competitor in me. I didn’t take losing well, not in hockey, or any area of life.
“My middle name is Jiffy,” I blurted out in a last-ditch effort. “You thought Theodore was funny- Theodore Jiffy Vonnie III is my full name. That’s why I go by TJ.”
That did it. Her stern face finally broke into a laugh at my expense, but it was worth it.
“You two gonna play nice?” Nikki asked- mainly looking at Ellie- I was always nice.
I looked down at Ellie with my eyebrows up in anticipation.
“Thank you,” Ellie finally said to me.
I had to work fast before she changed her mind and thought I was a fuckup again. “Can I take you to dinner?”
She skipped a beat then.
“Because I owe you for the dress or something?” shedeadpanned.
I was taken back by how quickly she jumped on the defense. “No… because…”
“Because?” shequestioned.
As uncomfortable as being put on the spot was, I knew this was the moment Grey was talking about- go big or go home. Get the girl or get my ass on a plane in a couple hours.
“Because I think you’re absolutely stunning and on top of that, you’re real enough to deal with me-andI don’t want to go home with the regret of not getting a shot with you,” I said. I did it, I laid it at her feet, and that’s all a man coulddo.
She twisted her mouth in thought for a moment, and I detected a small blush on her face.
“Well, it might not go well, and then you’ll have missed your flight for nothing… and you’ll probably blame me,” she saidskeptically.
This girl was looking for every excuse in the book.
“And that’s my problem, not yours at all,” I assured her.
She looked at her watch, avoiding eye-contact again. “I get off at 5pm today.”
“Great. I can pick you up around six then? How long do you need to get pretty?” I winked.
Her jaw started to slide out and I quickly replayed what I said and put my hands up.
“Ijustsaid you were beautiful! My older sisters always took over the bathroom for forever before dates when I was growing up, okay? Forget it if a little dude had to take a shit.” I shook my head. “They ruled the house, and I was theirbitch.”
Most of the tension visibly left her, and she pressed her lips together like she was trying to suppress a smile.
“What about your flight though?” she asked.
“I’d skip it for you, babe.”
