Page 57 of Game Changer

“I just want to treat her. I got it from her favorite jewelry place, Alyssa someone. Lisa’s got a few of her pieces as gifts, but she’s been wishing the Giants would bring out some jewelry for a while now. I just figured this would be better. Hopefully she will love it more than she wants to kick my ass for it.”

Jeremy looked at him expectantly.

“Smith. Alyssa Smith, that’s her favorite jewelry place.”

“I’ll pray for you, man. I mean, it’s a lovely gesture. But she’s probably going to kill you for spending money on her.”

AJ sighed. “I know. But she’s just going to have to get used to it. I think me paying for those flights for her made her feminist soul ache. She accepted them in the end, but can’t a man just spoil his woman without being seen as sexist?”

“Apparently not. Might have something to do with all that ‘macho possessive crap’ she seems to think you got seeping out of your pores. But I’m just another asshat male, what would I know?”

“I paid you back for the flights by the way – I just didn’t want to get into it with Mom and Dad when they picked up my ‘credit card for emergencies only’ bill and found flights to Ireland on there.”

“No sweat. I always know you’re good for it.”

“That’s what she says,” AJ joked with a wink.

“Hey! Stealing my material now? I need to start copyrighting this shit!”

***

AJ’s anxiety shot through the roof as he rode in the back of the limo to pick Lisa up at her hotel.

The limo was overkill, wasn’t it? She’s going to hate it. She’s going to chastise you for splurging and wasting money.

What were you thinking? You should know she’s not one for needless extravagance, even if you’re just trying to do something nice.

Ok. Calm the hell down. It’s a ball. It’s needlessly extravagant to begin with. Second, it’s not like you do this every week. And third, calm the hell down.

She’s going to feel like a princess tonight. You’re going to have fun tonight. You’re not going to be crippled by anxiety tonight.

“I’m not going to be crippled by anxiety, tonight,” he said aloud as the car slowed to a stop at the foot of the steps to the hotel.

His hand shook as he opened the car door.

Don’t forget the corsage.

She’s gonna hate that too, isn’t she? She’s going to think it’s dumb. It IS dumb. It’s not senior prom, you dick.

Would you just stop it? She’s going to love it and you know it. Get the hell out of the car.

He stopped halfway up the steps and waited, leaning against the handrail. She had texted to say that she was on her way down. Then he turned and saw her.

Holy shit, she’s beautiful. That dress would look way better on my floor, though.

He grinned at her as he hopped up the steps to meet her.

Don’t fall on your face!

He offered his hand to her as she descended the steps towards the car.

“Hey,” he said kissing her cheek.

“Hey,” she said returning his kiss.

“You look… wow. You look beautiful, Lisa,” he exclaimed.

“You don’t scrub up too badly yourself, Pim.” She grinned at him and started to get into the car.

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