Jimmy
A parade of hot women in front of me all night, and the only one I’m interested in doesn’t realize I exist except as a little brother figure. Enya Sears, the leading lady in my fantasies of relationship bliss, claps loudly as Camile takes a final bow and leaves the stage on Leo’s arm. I bet they’ll be getting it on tonight. Meanwhile, I’ll be alone in my cold bed, reliving tonight’s events over and over and playing out a dozen what-might-have-happened-if scenarios in my mind.
What might have happened if I’d reached over and put a hand on her thigh?
What might have happened if I’d been brave enough to go in for a kiss as we left?
What might have happened if I’d finally gotten the guts to tell her how I feel and ask her on a date?
Hell, I don’t know why one woman scares me so much. I can take punches to the face seven days a week, but put me in close proximity to Enya and my brain shuts down. Maybe it’s because I’ve had a crush on her since I was eighteen and saw her on television at a pay-per-view fight event. She’d looked like the kind of cute college girl I’d imagined meeting when I left school, but then she’d downed her opponent with a perfectly executed roundhouse kick and I was a goner.
“I’m so glad it went well,” Enya says as the applause tapers off. “I might see if I can catch Cami and then head home for bed. I’m beat.”
“Me too.”
She gives me a skeptical look, like she expects me to be out partying into the wee hours of the morning. But although I’ve done my fair share of that in the past, I haven’t been with anyone since she transferred to our gym a few months ago. I knew as soon as I met her I’d be celibate until I figured out how to make a move. I don’t want her to see me with anyone else, nor give her reason to wonder if I’m capable of being faithful. With her, I’d be in, one hundred percent. Even if I haven’t told her that yet.
Her phone buzzes. She checks it and scowls.
“What’s up?” Tony asks from her other side.
“Ugh.” She makes a face. “My family are threatening to set me up on a blind date for my sister’s wedding. They think there’s something wrong with me because I’m single.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you,” I snap.
Tony smirks, and I curse myself for being so obvious. I’m pretty sure the guys all know how I feel about Enya. The only one who doesn’t is her.
“Thanks.” She smiles, but her expression is weary. I want to hug her better, but I don’t think she’d welcome it. “I only hope they choose better this time.”
“Wait.” I hold up a finger. “They’ve set you up on a blind date before?”
She nods. “Last year. When I went home for my birthday. He was a nice guy, but we had absolutely nothing in common.”
When she’d first mentioned the blind date, I’d halfway thought she was joking, but she’s serious. My insides knot together. I can’t sit back and watch her be set up with someone else. Not if there’s even the faintest chance they might hit it off. Which means I need to do something and do it soon.
I only hope she doesn’t break my heart.