Page 114 of The Wingman

I meet Hayden’s curious gaze and shake my head with a small smile.

“He’s going to know who it’s coming from,” he says.

“Tell him you were contacted by a fortune teller.”

He still grins, shaking his head. “Fine, I’ll say something, but I’m sure it’ll be as subtle as a bag of rocks.” His gaze rests onme for a long moment. “What if you took the job, Darce?” His eyes spark. “It would be kind of fun, wouldn’t it, working together? Ward always brings an analyst or two on the road. We could have sleepovers.”

Against my will, I grin, picturing it. Watching movies on the plane together. Sneaking into each other’s rooms late at night, tangling the sheets up and falling asleep together, exhausted.

It would be nice to love my job again, and to use my skills for something cool instead of wasting them on something I don’t care about.

“Alexei’s going to retire within a few years, whether he wants to or not. What if I’m the reason he never gets to the last round of playoffs?”

I’m scared, I don’t say.

He studies me with a serious expression. “But what if youarethe reason the team gets to the playoffs? What if you can help us? The risk is shared, Darce. No one’s going to point fingers at you for a play we executed. There are lots of reasons plays don’t work. The team’s future doesn’t ride on your shoulders.” His mouth tips. “Besides, you know what you’re doing. That mistake you made? That was years ago.”

I hum, nodding and glancing away. It feels like it happened yesterday.

“I wish that shit never happened to you,” he mutters, sighing. “You’re brilliant, Andersen. Everyone can see it but you. And you deserve to have the life you want.”

He shifts onto his side, leaning his head on his elbow and propping the phone against the pillow. As he does, I catch sight of something on the night table behind him.

“Wait.” I lean in, squinting at it, and sparklers go off in my chest. “What’s on the nightstand behind you?” I ask, even though I can see it perfectly well.

His expression stills, and he doesn’t even glance over his shoulder. “The photo you gave me,” he says with a guilty grimace, like he’s done something wrong.

My heart beats harder. “You took it with you?”

He rubs his jaw, looking away. “I always take it on the road with me.”

Oh god. He’s so sweet. There’s no relationship in my life like the one I have with Hayden. My eyes prick with emotion. If we screw up thishaving funthing, I’d never forgive myself for losing him as a friend.

“I slept in your bed last night,” I admit. And the night before. And I’ll probably sleep in his bed tonight.

I’m staying detached—Iam—but I sleep better in his bed with his scent in my nose. I’m not expecting it to last forever.

A pleased smile curls onto his mouth. “Really?”

“Mhm.” My face goes warm. “Is that okay?”

“Yes.” His grin broadens. “It’s more than okay. I love the thought of you in my bed at home, waiting for me.” His eyes fall closed as he sighs. “Fuck, I’m so horny.”

A surprised laugh slips out of me. “Hayden.”

“Sorry.” He grins, but there’s a shard of agony in his expression that makes my stomach tumble with anticipation. “I just miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

There’s a beat of silence where we just look at each other. God, I wish we were together right now. I wish I could sink my fingers into his hair and help him relax.

“We should go furniture shopping this weekend,” he says.

I make a funny face at him. He has a whole apartment full of furniture. “We don’t need anything.”

“Yeah, but…” He shrugs, smiling. “It’s all the furniture I had when you moved in. It should look like our place, right? I want it to look like you live there, too.”

But what about after Jamie and Pippa’s wedding?I want to ask. If we go back to being just friends, I can’t go back to sleeping in my own bed and keeping my hands to myself like nothing happened.

---