She shakes her head, smiling despite herself.
“You are unbelievable.”
“See you soon, trouble.”
And as I step outside into the cold Chicago evening, I realize something I didn’t expect.
I’m nervous.
Not first-date nervous.
Not impress-her nervous.
The other kind.
The kind where something important is about to begin, and I know it.
Chapter 11
Lisa
“I still can’t believe I said yes. Not just yes to a date. Yes toBlake,” I sigh to Anna. Every time I think about it, my stomach does something inconvenient and dramatic. It feels like I auditioned for a romantic comedy I didn’t sign up to star in.
Which is exactly why I text Gwen and Tess first thing in the morning and tell them we’re going shopping.
Retail distraction is a legitimate coping mechanism.
And if that distraction happens to include finding a dress for the first date I’ve agreed to in years with the most persistent hockey player in Chicago, then that is purely incidental.
Mostly.
“I don't see why it’s a bad thing,” Anna tells me over the phone.
“It’s not necessarily bad. It feels weird. He’s my brother’s best friend and a total player,” I tell Anna, and she laughs.
“And yet, you said yes. There must be something there,” she insists, and I take a deep breath again.
“I guess you’re right,” I sigh. “Did you book your flight yet?”
Anna confirmed she is coming to Chicago in three months, and I have been counting down ever since.
“Not yet, but I am doing it tomorrow once I am done with work,” she tells me. The sound of her voice tells me she is smiling just as wide.
“I can’t wait,” I tell her. “I have to go, but I’ll text you later, ok?”
“Sounds good,” Anna replies. “Don’t get stuck in your head. Enjoy what’s coming your way,” she tells me before we say goodbye, and I promise her I’ll try.
“Get in, ladies,” I say as I roll the window down, maybe thirty minutes later.“I got you some coffee. I figured that wouldn’t hurt.”
I assumed shopping would be a great way to distract Gwen from this terrible gossip article about her. The entire story is fake, but the world doesn’t know that. Zane said he would take care of it, but I wanted to help out as much as I could.
Gwen smiles as she slides into the back seat while Tess gets in the passenger seat.
“Thanks,” Gwen says.“And for picking us up. I can definitely use the distraction.”
I glance at her through the mirror. She still looks a little shaken from the party. Softer than usual. Careful in the way people get when they’ve had their confidence knocked sideways.
Which means today officially has a mission.
