Page 6 of I Could Be Yours

“You’re marrying mine,” he reminds her, then turns back to Essie.

“Sorry, Flip, but you’re at the bottom of my list.” She flashes him a coy smile.

“Come on, Ess. I’ve changed. You could be the one for me.”

Essie laughs and rolls her eyes. “We all know you prefer blondes.” She pulls a binder and a tablet out of her purse and sets them on the table beside her. She props up the tablet and opens a spreadsheet.

“What is that?” I’m equally thankful that Flip has stopped flirting with her for five fucking seconds and annoyed that I give a shit.

Flip and I have become good friends since I moved into his place last fall, but he’s no better with relationships than I am. I don’t want him making moves on Essie and finding out how good her lips taste.

“It’s how I keep track of everything,” Essie explains. “You have access. Everyone does. I email whenever I update it with pertinent details.”

“Oh.” I pull my phone out and open my personal email, which admittedly, I don’t check as often as I should. I have thirty new emails, four of which are from Essie with spreadsheet updates. I click on one, and the sheet pops up on my phone. It’s color coded, and there are different tabs, sections, and even dropdown menus.

“Should we discuss the bridal shower first? Since that’s next weekend and it’s co-ed?” Essie asks brightly.

“Sounds good,” Rix agrees.

Tristan kisses her temple.

I have no idea what a co-ed bridal shower is, so I keep my mouth shut.

“The whole team has RSVP’d, and almost everyone is bringing a plus-one,” Essie reports. “Kodiak and Lavender sendtheir regrets, but I’m pleased to report that Lavender can make our girls-only party,andthey can make the wedding.”

“That’s good news,” Tristan says.

“Lavender is so fun!” Rix is all smiles.

Kodiak Bowman, my brother, and Flip all went to the Hockey Academy together before they turned pro. Kodiak plays for New York now, and they’ve remained friends all these years.

“Oh, and I have confirmation from both of your families, including aunts and uncles, that they can attend the shower as well.” Essie flips to the guest list tab.

I’m suddenly on alert. Maybe the phone calls that seemed to come from nowhere aren’t so out of left field. But Tristan would have said something before now. “What do you mean both of our families?”

Tristan holds up a hand. “Mom is excluded, don’t worry.” It’s probably the hundredth time he’s had to reassure me. “I don’t want that drama. Especially with Dad finally dating.”

It’s only been a few months since my dad started seeing someone. Her name is Sophia, and she’s a lot younger than he is. I’ve met her once, briefly. She seems nice enough, even if she is closer to Tristan’s age than my dad’s. They met at the Toronto Terror fundraiser gala in the spring.

“Right. Okay.” Heat works its way up my neck and wraps around my ears. “Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Rix’s tone softens with empathy.

I’d love to be over my mother abandoning our family, but unfortunately I’m not. One day she was there, and the next she was gone. For a couple of years she called on birthdays, but eventually she just…ghosted us. Then last year when our younger brother Brody graduated high school, suddenly she wanted to be involved again. Dad and Tristan shut that down. Thank fucking God. I couldn’t handle her coming back into our lives on top of the breakup with Lisa.

I tune back in to the conversation, which Essie is once againdominating. I wish I didn’t find it attractive that she’s so adept at creating spreadsheets and organizing events. But I do love order and organization.

“As requested, it’s a no-gifts shower, but attendees are welcome to donate to the Food for Kids program or Supplies for Success. I’m happy to report that more than fifty filled backpacks have been donated, and you’ve already raised over four thousand dollars for Food for Kids.” Essie turns her tablet to Rix and Tristan, where the total is highlighted at the bottom.

“That’s incredible. Thank you so much for setting that up!” Rix smiles at Tristan. “Isn’t that great?”

“It’s fantastic.” He kisses her temple. Again.

Essie waves the comment away. “It was just a couple of phone calls and emails with links. It was no big deal.”

I frown at her easy dismissal, and the fact that I’ve had no part in any of this. I scroll down the list and discover there are actual formulas in the spreadsheet.

“Don’t downplay it, Ess. You really went above and beyond,” Flip adds.

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