Page 55 of The Wingman

She gives me a funny smile, eyes lingering on me, and I shift under her gaze.

“What?”

She grins wider. “Why are you acting so weird?”

I take my hand off her lower back. “I’m not.”

“You are.”

I turn away, keeping an eye on the top of the stairs so Grant doesn’t come waltzing up here after her.

“Oh my god.” She smiles wider. “Are you jealous?”

I scoff. “No.”

Her eyes light up. She’s too smart for my bullshit. “Uh,yes, you are. You’re jealous.”

I suck in a deep breath, running my hand through my hair. “I need another drink.”

“Hayden.”

“Okay.” I look down at her. “Yes. I’m jealous. He looked at you like?—”

I cut myself off. Like he wanted to fuck her. Like he wanted to do all the things I’ve been dreaming and fantasizing about for years.

“Like what?”

“He looked at you like he already had it in the bag, Darce.” There. That’s the truth, just not the whole truth. “And I don’t like the idea of some guy taking you for granted.” Or taking her home. Or touching her. Or looking at her.

“Hey.” Her hand lands on my arm, and she smiles up at me with a patient, amused smile. “You’re still my number one.”

My body relaxes, and I let out a heavy breath. “I know.”

Grant appears at the top of the stairs, but he sees my hard expression and heads over to a group of castmates.

“I’m not interested in him. And if I was? Even I know not to do anything while I’m on a date with someone else.” She gives me a playful nudge, and the knots loosen in my chest so I can breathe again. “I’d have to take you out again onanotherpractice date. We’d be stuck doing practice dates for eternity.”

Her grin is teasing, but going out on practice dates for eternity with Darcy sounds pretty damn good to me.

But that’s not my job, to keep her all to myself. I’m supposed to be showing her the ropes.

“Are you ready to move on to dates with real guys?” I study her face, looking for any sign that she’s done with this. “I mean, uh, real prospects?”

She wrinkles her nose and she shakes her head. “Not yet. Is that okay?”

“Good. Yes,” I rush out. “Of course. You know I’m here for whatever you need.”

Asshole, a voice whispers in my head.

“I know.” She smiles. “So, if this were a real date,” she says, bringing her drink to her lips. Without my permission, my eyes linger on her mouth pursed around her straw. “Would you say it’s going well?”

“Yes.” Every so often, Grant glances over here at Darcy, and my blood pressure spikes.

“Any notes?”

“Nope.”

There. He looked at her again. I fold my arms over my chest, and we make eye contact. I hold his gaze, arching a brow as if to sayI fucking dare you.

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