Page 30 of My December Darling

I flip him off before asking, “What do you suggest?”

“Tell me what you have in mind first.”

“Well, before this chat, I bought the Galactic Command Base LEGO set and planned on inviting her over to build it.”

Both of their jaws drop.

“Is that a bad idea?”

“You bought a seven-hundred-dollar LEGO set for a first date?”

I rub the back of my neck. “Well, I wasn’t going to tell her it’s a date.”

Aiden and Gabriela share a look.

“What?”

Aiden speaks first. “If you’re inviting her over to your apartment to build a LEGO set together, then it’s a date.”

“Do you think she’ll see it that way?”

Gaby looks up at the ceiling and mutters for help. “Yes.”

“What are my chances of her agreeing?”

“Before the conversation I had with her? Maybe twenty percent.”

“And now?”

She makes a face.

I drop my head back against the couch. “Fuck me.”

Gaby frowns. “Let me help you. Please?”

Aiden nods aggressively behind her.Yes, he mouths.Say yes.

“Sure.”

Gaby’s smile returns at full force. “Okay. But first I need to know when the set is being delivered.”

I check my phone. “Tomorrow.” Along with the espresso machine I plan on installing before my next shift.

“Perfect.” Her smile is borderline concerning, but once she tells me her plan, I find myself wearing a similar expression.

“I’ll talk to my sister and do some damage control, and Aiden will help you with the rest.” Gaby rubs her hands together like an evil villain.

Looks like my odds of Catalina agreeing to come over just got a whole lot higher because with Gaby and Aiden helping me, she doesn’t stand a chance of resisting.

10

CATALINA

Icurse with frustration as I reread the opening sentence for my maid of honor speech. At this rate, I’ll never have a speech written in time for Gabriela’s wedding, and I will have no one to blame but myself and my inability to express myself.

A new text from my sister only adds to the growing sense of panic building inside me.

Gabriela

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