Page 194 of How to Win the Girl

Not horrible.

I’m the first one here, having raced through my shower with a simple scrub down. Slapped on some deodorant, pulled on my clothes, and ran out to the car so I wouldn’t be late for our appointment—and ended up being early.

My knee begins to bounce as I wait, impatient to get this conversation started. I slept for shit last night and suspect Daisy most likely did too.

Ryann didn’t tell me much about how Daisy was feeling, but she did explain everything she told her while she was at her house today. Her history with Shannon and her roommate, the way fan girls tend to lay claim to players, and how I hadn’t technically done anything wrong.

Not technically.

Did I lie by omission?

I don’t know.

Is there a good way to tell a girl you just started dating that you had a fuck buddy you’d been sleeping with the past eight or so months but that you ended things with the week before your first date?

No.

Hard no.

You want to have an awkward conversation, make that the first one on your list.

I see her walking at the far end of the park, her pink shirt a stark contrast to the green grass and trees surrounding us, nothing but a phone in her hand.

Jean shorts.

Sandals.

I climb out of my truck, shuffling forward almost bashfully, shoulders slouched, hands stuffed in my pockets, like a puppy that has done something wrong and feels ashamed.

There’s a picnic table nearby, and I head for it, standing next to it as I wait for her to catch up, her long hair catching in the breeze, blowing around her sweet face.

Her eyes look tired.

Like she’d spent the night crying.

Fuck.

“Hey,” she says as she approaches, surprising the fuck out of me by walking up and wrapping her arms around me. Hugging me.

I fold her up, too, squeezing.

Oh my god, it feels good to hug her…having her enfold my waist, face buried in my neck.

Thank god.

A few pounds of weight floats away as we step back from one another, then take a seat at the picnic table, me on one side, her on the other.

“It’s been a long day,” I say as if her day hadn’t also been long andnow I feel like a dumbass. “How did you sleep last night?”

Another stupid question but too late to take back.

“Not great. But I’m feeling much better.”

“Good.” I nod. “I was feeling like shit until you messaged me. Ryann went to see you, eh? I didn’t put her up to it, I swear.”

“Yeah, she came to see me, and I’m really glad she did. It shed light on a bunch of questions I had. Mostly.”

I tilt my head but keep quiet so she can say her piece.

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