Page 65 of Wingwoman
Just don’t shoot the messengers.
A photo loaded in the text body from Carrow. Page six ofThe Post. A close up picture of Brent, center stage of his latest Broadway show… and he was down on one knee.
Around them, his cast mates… people that I had once called my friends too… smiled and clapped as he offered a ring to Summer who was standing center stage as well, two manicured hands covering her mouth.
But not just any ring. I pinched my fingers and zoomed in.
That mother fucker proposed to her using my engagement ring! The one I’d thrown back in his face!
But… he had alsojusttexted me tonight. A single word… hey.
My stomach turned as I realized he wasn’t texting me out of jealousy from seeing the picture of Josh and me. He was texting acourtesy. I bet he was trying to give me a heads up before the news of his new engagement broke.
I am such an idiot.
Heat crashed into my cheeks and I hated the fact that my eyes burned around the rims in a way I couldn’t stop or control.
“Shawn, wait—” I lifted up out of the stool and stopped the bartender before he could walk away. “I’ll also take a martini.”
That’s what cabs were for, right?
“All right! That’s what I’m talking about!” Drake laughed, with a clap of his hands. “And two lemon drop shots!”
“Oh, no. Trust me, that’s a bad idea.” Me and shots didnotmix. And I’d already had three since dinner. A fourth would no doubt tip me over the edge.
“Are you sure about that?” Drake asked, then pointed across the room toward Josh and Julianne, as though he knew exactly what was running through my mind. “Because that guy you keep staring at looks like he’s moved on.”
Jaw clenched, I forced myself to swallow.He was not mine to want or be jealous of.Neither was Brent. Not anymore.Even though logically I knew that, someone needed to fill the rest of my body in on that little detail.
I swiveled back around to face Drake, keeping my expression even and unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t,” he said, bringing the bottle of water the bartender had dropped in front of him to his lips.
Shawn deposited my martini in front of me as well as the two lemon drop shots.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Julianne’s hand on Josh’s forearm, leaning in so close to him, she might as well be licking his ear.
With a deep breath, I tried to slow down my racing heart and the spike of jealousy that coursed through my body at the sight.
If I could set up Julianne and Josh, it would solve all my problems, I tried to reason with myself.
They might actually be perfect for each other. And if connecting them released me of this weird muse bet he held over my head, wasn’t that worth it?
Except a piece of you was looking forward to losing the bet, the little voice in my head spoke before I had the sense to silence it.
The idea of making Brent jealous was appealing… especially now that he was engaged, mere months after our engagement ended. It was maybe the most appealing piece of his offer… especially now. I stared down at the image Maxie and Carrow had sent.
Maybe it was time for action. Not because I necessarily wanted Brent back. But because I wanted him to regret what he’d done. I wanted him to grovel and beg for me to take him back, only for me to look him in his stupid eyes and say no.
My phone buzzed, several gifs coming through from my two best friends.
Max:
Are you okay? Please, truthfully tell me you’re okay. If not, we’ll be on the first flight down there.
I typed a response quickly, because I knew without a shadow of a doubt they were not exaggerating.
Hope:
