Page 80 of Even Ground

“I did!” Pania places her elbows on her table and rests her chin on her linked fingers. “It got there just in time. She sent me photos tonight. I can’t wait to see her on the red carpet.”

“I’m sure she’ll look amazing. You always do good work.” I suck my top lip. “It’d be better if you lived here.”

She snorts. “I still have the rest of this year with dragon lady. You know I’m determined to see that out.”

“I’m always unsure if it’s because you’re stubborn or just want to flout it in her face when you walk straight into a big design company.” I shoot her a pointed look. “Or come here and take the fashion world by storm with your own.”

Pania waves my words away, but the smile on her face tells me different. There’s no way she doesn’t think about a time where she moves here. I know she misses Delaney and Amelia, and maybe, just maybe, there’s room in there for me.

“Give it a few years, and you’ll be dressing half those women on the red carpet.” I wink, and she blushes. I take a look at the clock on the computer. “Give me a minute? I just need to make a call.”

She nods, and I grab my phone, heading for the bedroom.

Once I’m there, I dial Josh.

“Reece? Everything okay?”

“Hey. I know I was supposed to come over to your place for us to go together, but I’m tied up with something. Meet you there?”

Josh chuckles. “What’s her name?”

I glance back into the room. “I’m on a Skype call, smartass. I’ll see you on the red carpet.”

“Sure thing. Ready to party?”

“Always.” I grin. “What about you two?”

“I’m going to try and keep Delaney off her feet as much as I can. She’s had swollen ankles the past few days, and I know she’s putting on a brave face. But I think we’ll be good.”

“This must be unreal for her.”

He laughs. “It’s unreal for me. But I want her to have the night of her life.”

“You’re a good husband.”

“That’s what she tells me. I’ll let you get back to your call, and finish getting ready.”

“See you later.”

After the call’s ended, I pause for a moment to take a breath before heading back into the living room.

“Back.” I smile.

“Don’t you have to go?” I check the clock. If I give myself another fifteen minutes here, I’ll still be there in plenty of time. “I don’t have to leave for a while. And talking to you is calming my nerves.”

Pania’s lips twitch. “Since when do you have nerves?”

You still have no idea.

“I know you think I’m an overly confident asshole, but underneath is a pretty sensitive guy.”

She leans back in her chair, and her tongue slides across her bottom lip, making me draw in a deep breath.

“It’d be good to see more of that.” That adorable dimple on her left cheek pops up as she smiles. “Show the world who you really are. And for the record, I don’t think you’re any kind of arsehole.”

“Not arsehole. Asshole. There’s a difference.”

Pania clasps her hands together as she leans forward again and laughs. “What’s the difference? Apart from your terrible pronunciation.”

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