Page 146 of The Wingman

I blink, thoughts reeling. Girlfriend. Girlfriend? He’s never spoken about her. Kit never mentioned her. “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend in high school.”

“Uh-huh.” He chews his bottom lip. “Or, I thought I did. After we lost our virginity, she wasn’t interested in more. Apparently, I was fun enough for her to tell her friends about, though.” His expression turns wry. “I wanted to be good in bed, but I turned out to be…” He swallows. “Too good, I guess. I’m the hookup guy, not the boyfriend guy.”

I stand on the sidewalk in silence, processing this and watching his face.

“That was a long time ago. You were just a teenager.”

He shakes his head. “No, Darce, don’t you see? I thought I could leave it behind in high school, but the reputation followed me to university.”

It almost sounds like he’s upset about it. Like he never wanted this reputation. “You said you cut it off before it gets serious. You always tell women upfront that you’re not interested in a relationship.”

“I’d rather be clear from the beginning than get my hopes up.”

Oh god. The rules are for him, not for the women he dates. My heart sinks.

Fierce protectiveness floods me at the idea of those girls hurting Hayden, making him feel like he wasn’t worth more than a hookup.

Hayden’s spectacular. He’s the whole package—kindness and humor and looks. How could they have not seen that?

“And you see me like everyone else,” he says quietly.

Pain wraps around my chest, tightening, and I shake my head. “No, Hayden, I don’t.”

“You do,” he says with more force, eyes sharp and vulnerable. “You saw it as soon as you met me. Remember that party, first week of school?”

The hockey party.

“Kit said I was the biggest player he knew and you agreed with him. You said ‘I can totally see that.’” He crosses his arms and glances away.

“I remember it.” My voice is soft, barely above a whisper, as the memory replays in my head. “I remember him talking about how easy you have it with women.”

He was so handsome and funny and friendly, and all week, I’d been hoping he’d ask me out. I was disappointed when he didn’t. When Kit said that Hayden was a player, I clung to it as a reason. It wasn’t a reflection ofme; it was just the way he was.

A few months ago, I called him “king of the players.”You’re like their leader, I said. When he tested the waters and said having a girlfriend didn’t look so bad, I basically told him he wasn’t cut out for it.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I just thought—” I shake my head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His voice istight.

It’s not fine. How could I have not known? I’ve known Hayden for years.

I saw what I wanted to see, because it was easier that way. My mind flicks to the game against Calgary and how furious Kit was.

“What did you tell Kit?” Last time I asked this, he said he told him the truth, but we were too distracted with having sex against the wall for me to push him to elaborate.

Hayden’s eyes meet mine and he sucks in a tight breath. “That I was serious about you. That I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

My skin is tingling. How could I have been so, so fucking wrong about Hayden? All these years, I saw what everyone else did.

I’ll be turning over this information in my head all night, all week. For years, probably. I was so wrong. But right now, I need to make this situation right.

I step in front of him and set my hands flat on his chest, looking up into his ocean-blue eyes. He gives me a confused look.

“Hi.” I give him a small, friendly smile. “You’re Hayden, right?”

His mouth slants and his expression is confused, but he nods.

“I’m Darcy.” I step closer until I’m almost pressed against his body. “I’ve had a crush on you from the second I saw you in class.”

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