Fix Me

The old guy stood up and cursed in Italian. “I’m the guy standing here. Please don’t anger the man with the needles near my junk.”

He laughed and walked away. I stood completely still while the man finished the measuring of my inseam. Then he shooed me away, mumbling something about needing thirty minutes. I pulled on my shorts and walked out of the room.

I found Austin lounging in the living room, a drink in his hand as he watched some home makeover show. I was about to sit down and wait for the tailor when my phone rang. I checked the screen, expecting it to be my mother. It wasn’t her.

“Hello?” I answered with surprise. “Ellis?”

“Hi Luke.”

“What’s up?”

“Are you free?” she asked.

“When?”

“Now or tomorrow,” she answered.

I hesitated. Bree wasn’t in a good place. I didn’t want to give her anything more to be worried about. “What’s going on?” I asked instead of giving her an answer.

“Can’t I ask a friend out for coffee?” she asked, with a great deal of flirtation in her voice.

I winced, turning my back to Austin. “I’m working tomorrow and I’m going to a benefit tonight.”

“Oh, well, maybe this weekend. I was hoping we could catch up a little more. You can fill me in on the progress with Bree.”

This was awkward, but I didn’t want to be rude. Ellis was a friend, but I was picking up on something more than just friends. Ellis was an attractive woman and ten years ago I would have jumped at the chance to date her, but not now. I wanted Bree. I didn’t want to give Bree anything to worry about, either.

I cleared my throat. “Ellis, I should have been a little clearer about the situation. Bree and I are together. It would be great for you to have a conversation with her if you’d like to see how she’s feeling about the surgery.”

Closing my eyes, and hoping I didn’t come across as rude, I had to weigh the outcome. Bree was my priority. I didn’t want to alienate Ellis, but if that was the cost, so be it.

“Okay then,” she said coolly. “I’ll reach out to Bree again. I should mention that I plan on going to Chicago soon.”

I grimaced, feeling Bree’s opportunity to get the surgery slipping away. “I’ll let her know. Are you still willing to do the surgery?”

“Absolutely!” she exclaimed. “I’ve been consulting with my friend and we’re excited to do the surgery if she is willing.”

“Thank you,” I said with relief. “I’ll let you know.”

“Have a good night,” Ellis said, and ended the call.

I felt like a dick. Blowing out a breath, I took a seat in the oversized chair in the room. Austin raised an eyebrow. “What was that all about?”

“An old friend asking me out to coffee.”

“You shut her down,” he stated.

“I did.”

“Why? You looked like you were in physical pain.”

I smiled. “She is an old friend. A really old friend and if I wasn’t interested in Bree, I probably would have been okay with it. But I am and I don’t want to give Bree anything to worry about.”

He took a long drink from his glass. “Your client is your girlfriend?”

I tried to think of another way to say it. “Yes. Basically, yes.”

“The blind woman?” he clarified.