Page 13 of Game Changer

“Loyal to a fault, Pim, you really are. I think the semantics are being somewhat misconstrued. I don’t think she’d get kicked out of anywhere, at least not right away. There are other options for her, this is just the laziest and the easiest one, for her.She's a fuckin’ rich Canadian, like me, Age, she'll be completely fine if you don’t marry her. She doesn't need you. Even if she says she does.”

“Semantics? Misconstrued? Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

“I haz smarts, man. I just don’t like to use them too often, people have expectations ‘n shit. And I care about you. I think she’s manipulating you here. You don’t have hidden feelings for her, do you?”

“What? No! Of course I don’t.”

“Just checking. You don’t think she has feelings for you?”

“Hell no. That’s just… weird.”

“Well. Something stinks about this whole thing and I really do think you’re going to regret it. Check the floor behind my seat. I got you something.”

AJ reached behind Jeremy’s chair and felt around on the floor. He found a grocery store bag and lifted it onto his lap in the passenger seat. Opening the bag, he found a bottle of tequila and a shot glass.

“I figured you’d need some Dutch courage to go through with this. I know you don’t want to marry her, not even for a day, never mind ‘a few years.’ Even if you claim you’re ok about all of this, I know you’re not. Drink. We’re nearly there.”

AJ nodded in response and twisted open the lid of the bottle with a loud crack. He ignored the shot glass and drank straight from the bottle. He had eaten a light breakfast and an even lighter lunch as anxiety clawed at his stomach making him feel sick. Lisa had gotten up early and called him before he went to bed, hearing her voice before he slept was bittersweet. He could see himself already getting used to having her around. He enjoyed talking to her. Usually after a crappy day, he wanted to be alone, but spending time with her, even at a distance was all the cure his crappy days needed. And on his good days, her upbeat personality and contagious laughter made him soar higher. They’d made the change from voice calls to video calls at some point recently and he couldn’t imagine a day going past where he didn’t see her smiling face. Despite his best efforts, he was falling hard for the Irish girl across the ocean. She occupied his thoughts regularly, and he’d even found himself thinking about marrying her one day.

So, of course, you run off to marry another woman, makes total sense.

He took another swig of tequila.

I don’t even like tequila,he thought as the golden liquid warmed the back of his throat.

They arrived at the courthouse and he looked at his phone, he had a message from Britt reminding him of the time and telling him not to be late.

As though I could possibly forget this prison sentence.

He took another drink and opened a message from Lisa.

Lisa: Hope you’re having a good day, Pim. I miss your face.

He wiped a tear away with the back of his hand and took one last mouthful of tequila.

AJ: I miss your face, too. Can I call you later, before you go to bed?

Jeremy is right, this is a terrible idea.

I have to go through with it though. Maybe Lisa will understand? Maybe Britt won’t need you for as long as she seems to think? Maybe you’ll wake up tomorrow and it’ll all be a really fucked-up dream?

Lisa: I’d love nothing more.

He wiped away another tear, took a deep breath and opened the car door.

Let’s get this over with.

Chapter 4

Closing the car door behind him, AJ looked across at his friend. Concern was clearly written across his face. Sadness, too. Jeremy was obviously hurting for him.

As though he could tell what AJ was thinking, Jeremy spoke. “I’m sorry, man. This really sucks.”

AJ bit his lip, nodded and fought back more tears,stupid tequila.

“It does, but it’s temporary, right?” AJ managed to reply. “And if it turns out that Lisa’s the right woman for me, she’ll wait, I guess?” His voice cracked and he closed his eyes for a moment as though to try and convince himself that he was right.

This is insane. You barely know this woman. She lives across the world. We haven’t even met in person yet. How can I have such strong feelings for a woman through a screen?

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