Page 145 of The Wingman

“I missed you, too,” I say.

What is happening? I’m not sure, and I don’t really care. I just want Darcy to call mebabyagain.

Darcy turns and meets eyes with Jess. “Hi.” She sticks a hand out. “I’m Darcy, Hayden’s girlfriend.”

Confusion rolls through me, but I’m still smiling, and when I catch the hardened edge of Darcy’s faux-friendly smile, it dawns on me.

She’s staking her claim. She’sjealous. Amusement whirs through me and I smile, feeling the back of my neck go warm. I stifle the urge to laugh. Finally, she’s getting a taste of how it feels to watch her get hit on. I shift her hand to my other palm and bring my arm up around her shoulder, tucking her into my chest.

“Jess.” She sticks out her hand to shake Darcy’s and looks between us. Her eyes bug out. “Youhave a girlfriend?” she repeats to me.

Against me, Darcy stiffens, and a sick feeling spikes inside me. This is it, the moment where Darcy turns to me like she’s seeing me in a new light and goesoh yeah, you’re right, Jess. Why would I ever commit to this guy?

Instead, she smiles at Jess, and something in her gaze feels predatory.

“We’re just looking for some things forourapartment.” She holds Jess’s gaze. “Where we live. Together. And share a bed.”

The knots in my chest loosen with relief. Not mad, not changing her mind about us, but territorial like I’ve never seen her. Ilikethis side of her. My grin widens as I look down at her. What a little tiger.

“Okay,” Jess says, looking weirded out, glancing between us. “I didn’t think you were the girlfriend type.”

“I am.” I suck in a deep breath, squeezing Darcy’s hand.

“I mean, I know youthoughtyou were,” Jess starts, laughing a little. “But a guy like you?” Her eyes move over me, eyebrow arched, and I tense. “No way. But,” she shrugs, perking up, giving Darcy a bright smile, “maybe people change.”

Nausea gathers in my gut and I swallow hard.

Darcy smiles up at me, innocent as a kitten, but with protective rage in her eyes. “We should get going, baby.”

There’s that word I like again. I swallow the weird feelings and nod. “You bet.” I give Jess a tight smile. “Nice running into you.”

“You, too.” Jess watches us with a puzzled expression as Darcy gives her a quick wave, slips her hand into mine, and pulls me out of the store.

“Girlfriend?” I ask on the sidewalk.

She shrugs like it was nothing, but she doesn’t let go of my hand. “I didn’t like the way she was talking to you.”

Warmth radiates through me. “Jealous,” I tease.

Her eyes flick up to mine. “What if I am?”

My eyebrow goes up, along with my smile. “Thought we were just having fun, Darce.”

Her cheeks go pink and she looks away, but my fingers come beneath her chin, tilting her face up so our eyes meet.

“Thank you,” I tell her. “No one’s ever gotten protective of me like that.” I give her a smug smile. “It was nice. I could get used to it.”

She studies me for a long moment, sadness rising in hereyes. “You deserve it, Hayden.” She glances at the furniture store half a block away. “Who was that? And what did she mean, she didn’t think you were the girlfriend type?”

The muscles in my chest pull tight, but her hand smooths over them, and the look in her eyes is so caring and curious that my heart aches.

It’s time to tell her the truth.

CHAPTER 68

DARCY

“Jess was my high school girlfriend.”

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