Page 78 of Win Big

We order different kinds of beer from the many they have on tap so we can try one another’s.

Once that’s done, I relate the story to them. They listen, mesmerized, then kill themselves laughing.

“Jeez, you’re so funny,” Taylor says, wiping her eyes.

“Did you see the picture of him in that neoprene singlet?”

“Nope.” But Lacey’s already got her phone out and it takes her no time to find it. Her eyes pop as she stares at it.

Taylor leans over for a gander as well. “Holy shit!” She throws her head back to laugh again. “I have to say, he looks amazing in that.”

“I thought so too. Oh my God, it was so crazy.”

“Okay, so I’m not sure I totally buy this whole PR thing,” Lacey says. “But the more important point, which you skimmed over, iswhy were you out with him before that?”

“A moment of weakness.” I smile as the waiter arrives with cold, frosty beer glasses. We pause again to order food.

“Go on,” Taylor says.

“Okay, I’m attracted to him. He asked me out, and I knew it was a really bad idea, but I just... wanted to. Then I had second thoughts and I tried to get out of it, only he wasn’t having it.”

“It sounds like you had fun, though.”

I sigh. “Yes. It was crazy. But fun. And hey, you know what? He doesn’t have a son.”

They both frown.

“Oh, right,” Lacey says. “You saw him with a little boy.”

“It’s a friend’s kid.”

“Ah. You believe him?”

I jerk back. “Yes.” I divide a look between them. “Wyatt’s a smart-ass and a partier, but he’s not a liar.”

Once again, they slowly nod in unison.

“What? You think he is?”

“No, no,” Lacey says quickly. “I like Wyatt.”

“He’s extremely bangable,” Taylor adds. “And I mean that in an objective way. Not that I personally want to bang him.”

“Oh. Yeah... he is.” I say it with such heartfelt emotion, they both straighten and fix their gazes on me intently. I realize what I just gave away.

“You banged him?” Lacey gasps. “Already?”

“What do you mean already? We’ve been having foreplay for months.”

Taylor bursts out laughing. “That is so true.”

“I didn’t mean to sound judgey,” Lacey says apologetically. “There’s not a waiting period before you can bone someone.”

I laugh. “Okay, thanks.”

“Um, that could make things messy, though, if you’re only doing this for the PR.” Taylor’s eyebrows slant down.

“I know.” I sip my beer. “I thought of that. Apparently my determination to never screw up isn’t that robust. My vagina betrayed me.”

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