Page 52 of Wingwoman
He had me there. Of course I cared. I could pretend all I wanted that I didn’t, but more than anything, I wanted Brent to think I was moving on in the most glamorous way possible.
But that would be using Josh and that’s not who I am.
With my arms still crossed, I slid a glance back at Josh. How did he know me so well already? Or was he really good at readingallpeople, not just me? Regardless, it was incredibly unnerving.
“I doubt he’s seen this,” I finally said. “He pays attention to New York and LA and that’s about it. Country rock stars aren’t exactly in his wheelhouse.”
Josh leaned forward, pressing his steepled fingers to his lips. “How ‘bout this? If he doesn’t text you or call you by the end of the day tomorrow, I’ll make sure your picture is never seen in the tabloids again.”
“Another bet? I’m still climbing my way out of our last bet, Josh.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “Fine, it’s not a bet. If hedoesreach out, you don’t owe me anything in return.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and glanced back down at the article. “Didyouleak these images to the press?” He didn’t say anything, but he grew awfully interested in the bottom of his coffee cup. “Oh. My. God. Youdid, didn’t you?”
Oh, I could have reached over the table and smacked him right across his perfectly chiseled cheekbone.
Except now with that article out, a simple slap in a cafe would probably garner the attention of more tabloids. The public’s eyes were on us constantly.
Looking around the cafe, there were only two other tables occupied. One young girl who had her nose buried in textbooks. And one woman in the corner working on her laptop.
But just because they weren’t looking at us at the moment, didn’t mean they weren’t paying attention. Eavesdropping. Hell, they could have already snapped a photo of us together for all we knew.
“Fine,” Josh whispered. “I leaked thisonephoto. But it wasn’t me who told the press about the fiancé comment or anything except this one image.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I hissed.
He paused. “I mean… yeah. I thought it would.”
I huffed and rolled my eyes as I reached into my purse. After pulling out the file, I slid it over to him with a little more force than I usually would have. “Your date tonight,” I said as he opened the folder.
His face twisted immediately. “A cheerleader?”
I did my best to smile in return. “Not just any cheerleader. A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.”
He grunted and fell back in his chair, already disinterested.
“You said you’d give this a chance,” I scolded.
“I will. I just don’t feel like you’re hearing me when I tell you what I’m looking for.”
I shot him a look of annoyance as I pulled out her pictures. “She has hair the same color as mine. Similar style and cut. She has a job, yes, but she’s only truly busy during football season. She has a ton of free time for six months out of the year. She can be available for red carpets, but she’s sporty and active. And sheloveshorses, Josh.”
His eyes darted to mine with that. Like none of her other facts and stats mattered except for her love of animals. “She loves horses?”
I held his gaze steady. “Yes. This girl is like me, but better. She’s Hope 2.0.”
His jaw set hard and I could see the muscles working like he was grinding his molars together. With a chuckle that was anything but humorful, he shook his head. “Fine. Where are we meeting her tonight?”
“Dinner at the steakhouse. You have a private room in the back so no one will photograph or see you two together.”
Although at this point, it would behoove me for one of these dates to be photographed and leaked to the press too. It might get the paparazzi off my back at least.
“Dinner? That’s a little more intimate than any of the other first dates.”
“Well, since I can’t come with you tonight, I thought this would be a good chance for you and her to talk one on one.”
“You’re not coming tonight?”
