“No, it’s not!”I snap.
“Bridge, itis.Because knowing you, you didn’ttellhim you were going on a blind date tonight.”
“I told him I had plans ...”
“But notwhatthose plans were.Bridge, what am I gonna do with you?”
“Tell me how to make this right.”
“There’s no need.Let him ponder.Let him wonder why you’re undoubtedly looking hot in that dress I told you to buy.The navy one?”
“He thinks it’s for the wedding.”
“Then correct him,” she replies without any hesitation.
“What?”
She sighs.“London, you forget that I know you as well as I know myself, and that I’ve been by your side or in your ear throughout this whole ‘Luca crush’ phase of your life.And I may not agree with the way you handle it, but this is the time you have to listen to me as your big sister.Tell him you’re on a date.Tell him you accidentally sent him the photo instead of me and say sorry.That’s it.Nothing more, nothing less.Then you turn your phone off, put Luca Rossi out of your mind for the next few hours, and you give this hot doctor-in-training a chance to get into your pants.”
“Vi!I’m not sleeping with the guy.Just having dinner.”
“Well, right now, you’re not doing anything because you’re sitting in your car outside the restaurant being a chicken.”She follows that up with a loud chicken squawk.
“Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Vi ...”
“Bridge ...”she replies, mimicking me.
I huff out a resigned sigh.“I’m not going to win this one, am I?”
“Do you ever?C’mon, think about it.You’ve got a gorgeouswillingman who wants to buy you a steak dinner and you’re sitting there putting it off because you’re worried about what your belovedLucamight be thinking about.He’s probably not even thinking anything about it; he’ll just be thinking you’re seeing if he’ll like the dress.Nothing more, nothing less.Because he’s made itabundantlyclear that he doesn’t want to risk your friendship by exploring these feelings of yours.”
I open my mouth to argue but slam it shut again.“You’re right.”
“I usually am,” she replies, sounding pleased with herself.
“OK.I’m going to ignore the message, turn my phone off, and go inside.I’ve already kept him waiting for five minutes.”
“London Lee Kelly,” she says like a scolding parent.“You get your ass in there and dazzle that doctor.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“See?I knew you’d come around to my way of thinking.”
“Thanks, Vi.”
“For what this time?”
“For talking me off the ledge.”
“It’s not a ledge, Bridge.It’s a precipice, one that you’ve been inching toward for a while.I know you love the idea of Luca, but there comes a point when you’ve got to see the writing on the wall and focus onyou.You’re beautiful, funny, smart, and a total catch for the right man.If Luca isn’t willing to step up to the plate and see what’s been in front of him for a while now, then it’s his loss.Your job is to turn it into a win and move forward.”
“I’m getting there ...”I think.
“I know you are, honey.And I’m right here to hold your hand while you do it.”