Page 63 of The Wingman

Beneath my cheek, his heart picks up pace again. “What?” I ask, not understanding what he’s saying. I lift my head to see him, and that damn dimple is back.

“I think you two should meet. I’ll set it up.” He winks at me. “Then you’ll see this Wingman’s got game.”

13

Jules

“I’m not going,” I say to Lindsay as I press my cell to my ear harder, and pace restlessly around my bedroom. Peaches meows and weaves her way between my legs. Maybe I’ll get lucky, fall down the stairs, and end up in traction. That would certainly provide a solid excuse for avoiding Kane’s surprise party at Rider’s place.

My God, I was ready to lay my feelings on the line after lovemaking—correction, after sex. It’s a good thing I didn’t. I scoff. Yeah, a really good thing I didn’t considering he’s all game to set me up with someone else. But after being with Rider, I realized I was tired of being afraid, tired of going through the motions of living without actually living. He’s opened my eyes to so many things, taught me how to live and love again. Now, well, I don’t want to be afraid of everything anymore. I want to live life…I want to love. Brett would want that for me too.

Peaches cries louder, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was missing Rider as much as me. I steal a quick glance at my neatly made bed. It?

?s been days since he’s been in it, days since I’ve heard from him. No call, no text, no Skype. Not a single…anything. Yes, I get he’s busy with hockey and practice, but still…

“Why don’t you want to go?” she asks, pulling my focus back.

My heart cracks a little more as I grip my ponytail and tug, but that only reminds me of my time in bed with Rider. Oh Rider, why did you have to be so sweet and make me fall for you? I swallow a humorless laugh. This isn’t on him. He told me he didn’t do relationships right from the start, and I went and fell for him anyway. But I can’t tell Lindsay that’s the reason I don’t want to go to the party. She’d warned me early on, and I straight up told her I knew what I was doing. The last thing I need is a lecture from her right now, even though it’d be well-meaning and caring because she only has my best interests at heart.

“I have a migraine coming on.”

“Oh really. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

I feel crappy for lying, and hey, maybe I’ll get lucky and wind up in bed with a killer headache before the end of the night.

“Can you take some meds and rest?” she asks, dishes clanging in the background.

“Yeah, I suppose.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You sound…strange.”

“Headache,” I remind her and curse myself for letting my voice wobble. It’s going to take extra effort to keep the truth from my friend.

“Well, I’m sure it will be gone by tomorrow. I really need you at the party, Jules,” she says, an almost pleading tone in her voice.

“Why?” I pace to my window, stare out at the dark night and then flop onto my bed.

“Because…I…uh…I’m meeting all the hockey players and their wives. I can’t do that without you by my side.”

“Since when?” I blurt out. My God, she’s outgoing, flamboyant and a great conversationalist. Everything I’m not. If anything, it should be me asking her to hold my hand.

“I like this guy. I want to make a good impression.”

I snort. “Then you should leave me home.”

“Come on. I know Rider asked you to go. He told Kane. It must mean he wants to introduce you to his friends.”

Oh, he does. To one friend, anyway. Some goaltender named Alek. Aka the Puck Charmer. Yeah, awesome. Exactly the kind of guy I’d go for. You’d think Rider would know better. But I guess maybe he doesn’t know me as well as I thought he did.

“We’re just friends,” I remind her.

“Please, Jules. Kane and I will pick you up. Oh, that’s it,” she says quickly. “I was trying to figure out how to get him to Rider’s place without being suspicious.” She gives a little squeal. “What I’ll do is tell him we’re going on that double date we talked—”

“Rider and I aren’t dating.”

“Anyway,” she continues, ignoring me. “I’ll tell him we’re driving, and have to pick you up. This is perfect.”

“Except I don’t want to go.”

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