Page 40 of Game Changer

AJ scowled, then sighed. “I’m not pissed at you. I’m pissed at me. Pissed at my life.”

“You’re nervous about the bedroom stuff, aren’t ya? It’s been a while, man. Do you even remember where to put it? Do you need me to draw you a map?”

“Thanks, but I think I can figure it out. Jerk,” AJ replied, as he shoved Jeremy playfully.

“Got you to smile though, didn’t it? You had that scowly, furrowed brow thing going on. I thought your face was broken. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you so stressed the hell out.”

“Not sure I’ve ever felt so stressed the hell out either.”

“Keep letting this shit get to you and you’re not going to live long enough to divorce the rich Canadian and marry the feisty Irish…”

“No shit.”

***

How early is too early?he thought as he sat in his car.I’ll give it ten more minutes.

He cracked his neck as he sat anxiously watching the clock on his dash.

You’ve got to take a shit, or get off the shitter here, AJ. You can’t screw things up with Lisa just ‘cause you’re afraid of your ‘wife’ being deported.He willed himself to breathe deeply.At some point you have to put yourself first, right? You love Lisa. You want Lisa.

His stomach flipped over and for a moment he thought he was going to throw up.

Breathe, he instructed himself.

He knocked on Lisa’s hotel door at 5.45 pm.

Please answer. Please don’t ghost me just to punish me – ok, you know she’d never do that. Shake this anxiety off before you drive yourself insane.

Holy crap she looks beautiful,he thought as she opened the door.That smile.

Breathe.

“You’re early.”

“You look lovely, Lis,” he replied, handing her some flowers.I even remembered that lilies are your favorite – does that get me out of the dog house?

“Thank you. What’s the occasion?” she eyed him almost innocently.

I’m gonna guess that’s a no on getting out of the dog house. What about brownie points? Does it at least get me brownie points?

“Do I need a reason to bring you flowers?’ he asked as she let him in. Seeing her unchanged facial expression, he continued. “I feel bad about last night. I just want tonight to be perfect.”

He felt color rise in his cheeks.

“Just give me a minute to get my shoes on and I’ll be ready to go – will you put these in water for me, please?”

“Sure.”

When she was ready, they left the hotel and headed to the car. At first, he was feeling nervous but the longer he was around her, the more all of the chaos melted away into background noise. Before they’d reached the restaurant, his sides were aching from laughing. He spent dinner convinced everyone was staring at him and knew he had a wife. Every time someone opened their mouth to speak to Lisa, his stomach tightened and he held his breath.

You realize this is epically insane, right? None of these people know you, or Lisa, or Britt. You’re paranoid. You need to calm the hell down and enjoy this date with the woman you love or you’re going to ruin it all.

He glanced at his phone while Lisa was in the restroom.

Jeremy: Calm the fuck down, hoser. She loves you. Just breathe and enjoy it.

AJ: Don’t ever become a therapist, or a life coach.

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