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And since time is of the essence for a particular hockey player in hot fucking water, I don’t have time to explain how one night with Trent has made it so that I can never fuck anyone else again in the foreseeable future either.
Eager to get down to the real reason why I set up this lunch date, I start complaining about my current woes and show her Nathan’s video so she can see for herself what a clusterfuck I’ve got to untangle. Inside, I’m a ball of nerves because I need her to see past Nathan beating up a guy with glasses and concentrate on his true potential.
What I wasn’t counting on was Lottie seeing through the sham and calling me out on it.
“Wait… are you asking me to take him on as a client… for a publicity stunt? No. Hell to the no.”
Busted.
That’s the other thing about Lottie—she’s too damn smart for her own good. Or, in this case, formyown good.
To do some quick damage control, I go into a rant, explaining the deep shit that Nathan has gotten himself into and that I don’t see how his image will ever be repaired without her help. I also highlight Nathan’s good qualities and why I believe he would benefit from a little female company.
“Piper, this is not what my business is about. I’m trying to find love for people who are genuinely looking for it. People who are ready to build a life with someone. It’s not a gimmick or something you can use to trick the media,” she continues to scold. “If your hockey player needs a woman to hang on his arm, as you so put it, then there are plenty of escort services around that you can call and give him the girlfriend experience.”
“That’s not what I need, and that’s not what I’m asking of you, Lottie. You saw the video. Can you honestly say that the man you just saw wouldn’t benefit from being in a warm, loving relationship?”
When I see her telltale sign of chewing on her cheek, I know I almost have her.
“All these hockey players know is how to beat their way against their opponents in an ice rink just to hit a puck into the back of a net. Very few of them have any time to date, least of all, find a good woman willing to put up with their busy schedules of arduous training and traveling around the country all the time. These guys need a break on the ice, but they need one in life, too. All I’m asking is for you to at least interview Nathan. See if he’s a good fit. If not, then don’t take him on as a client. But at least talk to him,” I plead while inwardly praying that she gives him a shot.
Just one.
“That’s all you want?” She eyes me suspiciously. “You just want me to interview him?”
“Yes. That’s it. I swear to God,” I promise, making a cross sign over my heart to show that I mean it.
“And if I get any bad vibes from him or he doesn’t pass my red-flag questionnaire, you won’t give me a hard time if I send him packing?”
“You won’t hear a peep out of me. Pinkie swear,” I say, holding out my finger for her to take.
“You’re so lucky I love you,” she grumbles in defeat, intertwining her pinkie with mine.
“Don’t I know it? I’ll owe you big time for this.” I laugh, feeling like a weight has been taken off my shoulders.
“Oh, you better believe it.” She groans. “And you can start by paying for lunch.”
“You got it!”
I’d pay for that and then some.
Hell, if this works, I’d buy her a goddamn car.
I did my part.
I got my heart-of-gold best friend to concede in interviewing Nathan.
It will be up to him to do the heavy lifting of winning her over.
With Lottie now in the bag, all I have to do next is convince Nathan himself.
That’s going to be a whole other painful conversation.
Luckily for me, I have a church date coming up this Saturday.
How much hell can he give me inside a church anyway?
Apparently, a lot.
