I think about his words for a second but don’t say anything. If the party wasn’t going to be offering alcohol, kids would be welcomed, and I could bring Gianna. But since I can’t bring her, he does make a valid point. The party would be the perfect way to get to know her without technically asking her out on a date.
“Bro, check your text. See what she said,” Ryker says, reminding me why I have the phone in my hand in the first place.
I nod and open the message from her.
Carissa: Hey! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond back last night… I passed out and woke up with my phone in my hand. So to answer your question, I was lying in bed myself, not able to fall asleep. :)
Immediately after reading her message, thoughts of her lying in a bed cross my mind. What the fuck? What is wrong with me? I shake my head to get the thought of her out of my mind.
“She passed out while we were talking. That’s why she never responded back,” I say to Ryker, who nods his head.
“Good, now ask her.”
“What?”
He comes forward, motioning for me to message her back. “Let her know about the party. Ask her to come.”
I swallow hard. Do I have the balls to ask this woman to the company party? What are people going to think? Fuck, man. Why is this so difficult?
“I can’t do it.”
Ryker chuckles. “Why the fuck not, dude? It’s just a party.”
“What are people going to think? That she’s my girlfriend?”
“Who cares what the fuck people think! It’s none of their goddamn business if she were your girlfriend. But she’s just a friend, and you can introduce her as that, or fuck it, don’t introduce her to anyone you don’t want to. It’s none of their damn business what you do with your life anyway.”
He has a point. Who cares what people think? And if I really wanted to date five years after my wife passed away, would that be so wrong?
Yes, to me, it would be. But I’m not dating Carissa, and I have the right to have a female friend if I want one. Everyone can go suck a nut.
“Okay, here goes nothing,” I say, hitting the box in the app to type my response.
Me: Hey, it’s no problem. Happens to me all the time. Listen, if you’re not busy this Friday night—
“No, dude! Don’t give her the option to chicken out and say she’s busy. Tell her you want her to go with you. Be bold,” Ryker states, hovering over my shoulder once more.
I move away a bit. “Dude, okay… okay. Jeez.”
I delete the last part of the message and rephrase it.
Me: Hey, it’s no problem. Happens to me all the time. The company I work for is having a holiday party this Friday… I’d love it if you would come and check it out.
“Much better,” Ryker says after I hit the send button.
I chuckle and shake my head. “I’m glad you approve.”
“No problem, bro.”
My phone goes off again a few seconds later.
Carissa: I would love to join you.
“She said yes,” I tell him in shock.
A huge smile spreads across his face, illuminating the entire locker room. “I fuckin’ told you, bro. She wants you.”
I roll my eyes, put my phone away, and we make our way into the practice area of the gym.
Chapter Thirteen
Carissa
“I think I should fake a headache or pretend I’m hugging the toilet from food poisoning. I should cancel,” I say, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
I’m wearing a black miniskirt and a red top with heels to match. Shannon and Emy spent the last two hours doing my hair and makeup.
“Cariss, would you like to get slapped now or later?” Shannon asks, standing behind me.
I flip around with a frown, diverting my gaze from Shannon to Emy. “What if this is a big mistake?”
“Carissa, would you stop second-guessing yourself? It’s just a party. He didn’t ask you to sleep with him, but ooh, if he did,” Emy says, and they both laugh.
“I’m serious, guys. I’m really nervous.” I look at the ground before Shannon places a finger underneath my chin.
“Hey, sis. If I thought this was a bad idea, I’d tell you. But I think it’s great. You keep running into the UFC heavyweight champion, and he’s a damn hot piece of man candy… like, seriously. You’ll be fine.”
“Shannon’s right, girl. The boy is fiiiine!”
Now the three of us are laughing.
I was a little hesitant when I texted him the other night after the incident with Steve; I’ll admit that. But when I awoke the next morning and saw another text sitting there in my inbox from him, something inside me said to go for it.
“Okay, I guess it’s okay,” I say and turn around to get one last glimpse in the mirror.
“Is he picking you up?” Emy asks.
“I’m meeting him there. He offered, but I didn’t want it to really feel like a date. He didn’t seem upset about it at all.”
They nod, and Shannon goes to sit on my bed while Emy pops a piece of gum into her mouth.
“Well, girl. Then you’d better get going ’cause you’re going to be late,” Shannon states.
I look over at the time and notice it is indeed time to go.
The girls and I walk out of my building and then they walk me to my car to make sure I don’t chicken out. I keep telling them they don’t have to, but they insist.
They wait to make sure I pull out of the parking spot, but as I go to start the car, nothing is happening.
“She’s backing out,” I hear Emerson say from right outside my car.
Shannon moves closer to it and places her hands on the ledge of the window. “What’s going on?”
I meet her gaze. “I don’t know. I can’t get it to start.”
“Let me see.”
I hop out and she hops in. She tries to bring the engine to life, but nothing is happening.
“Of course this shit happens to me. Maybe this is a sign from God, low key telling me it’s not meant to be,” I say, pacing back and forth.
Emy leans against the piece of shit that won’t start. “Oh, no. Don’t you do that. Call him and see if he can come pick you up.”
I look at her like she’s got three heads. “Woman, are you crazy?”
“No, Carissa. She’s serious. Now, call or text Lorenzo—I don’t care which—and have him come grab you,” Shannon says.
For a second, I don’t move. The last thing I want to do is call him right now, but they’re not giving me any other option.
“Can’t one of you two just give me a ride? It’s not that—”
“Call him!” the two of them say in unison.
I let out a deep breath and plop my ass against my car. Damn piece of tin that won’t start, I hate you so much right now.
I pull out my cell phone from my purse and call Lorenzo.
“I’m glad you didn’t stand me up. I don’t think my ego could take that,” Lorenzo says with a smile once he pulls into the parking lot.
I chuckle. “I was so close. You have my best friend and sister to thank.”