Page 98 of Good Girl's Guide to Love
“I don’t want to do that to you,” Linc says, though I can feel my stomach dropping as he looks at me, sadness running through his beautiful green eyes. “I never thought that any headlines would go after you the way they did today. They shouldn’t be prying into your personal life like that.”
“I knew it could happen,” I say, trying to put on a brave face.
“We both knew, but it doesn’t make it right. I’m guessing this is going to get worse before it gets better. So yes, if you need to take legal means to clear your name, I wouldn’t blame you. Hell, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted this to end tonight.”
My stomach drops at his words. Fake or not, I’m not ready for this to be over. “What are you saying, Linc?”
First it was sadness. Now it’s just pain in his emerald gaze. My heart hurts for him right now. Hurts for me. For us. This can’t be how it ends. I won’t let it.
“This isn’t what you signed up for,” he continues. “This was supposed to help clear my name and give me a good story. But instead, someone is now using us to take me down. Using you. I won’t put you through that. If I’m going down, I’m not taking you with me.”
There. He said it. This is over.
Except no. It’s not over. Because I’m not that easily scared. At least, not anymore.
“The hell you’re not.”
I cover my mouth.
I just swore out loud.
Judging by Linc’s wide eyes, he’s just as surprised as I am.
I haven’t sworn out loud since I was seven. It was the f-word. I heard Simon say it, so I thought it was okay. It wasn’t. I was grounded for three days, and that was the last swear word I ever said.
But this warrants it.
And it’s about to warrant it again. Because that one word just opened the Ainsley Banks flood gates.
“Did you just cuss at me?”
I nod, suddenly feeling much bolder than I did a minute ago. “I did. And I’ll do it again if your stubborn ass thinks you’re getting rid of me that easily.”
29
linc
This is it.
I’m either in or out.
I told Ainsley up front that I’m not the forever guy. And I meant it.
Then.
And why would I have been? Everyone in my life has left me. I know it wasn’t by their choosing, but for an angry kid who didn’t understand the world, it made sense to me.
For my entire life I’ve thought that. Sure, I have Wyatt. Maddox. I had coaches in the past who were in my corner. But no one has wanted, or was able, to go directly into the fire with me.
But here’s Ainsley. Not only willing to, but volunteering to get burned right by my side.
Oh, shit. And apparently she’s still talking and I wasn’t listening. I need to work on that if I’m going to do the scariest thing I’ve ever done.
No, not if.Am.
“…the scary thing I did today was I’m choosing to fight this with you. Whoever’s out to take you down—take us down—they’re going to have to go through me first. I told you I wasgoing to help you, and I don’t back down on my promises. I’m in. All in. However much you’ll let me be. Whether it’s continuing to be your friend, your fake girlfriend for the press, I’m in. Or...”
I don’t let her finish. If she would’ve been reading from her notebook, I’d have tossed it to the side like I did before. I just kiss her. I kiss her with everything I have in me. I kiss her with the promise that I’m going to do my damn best to give her what she deserves.
