Page 66 of The Wingman

“Well,” I say falling back into our easy way. “I do like the gray, but I might lighten it up a bit, and I have this really great table I plan to paint and that would look so good in your living room.”

He grins. “That was a gift. You can’t give that away.”

“You’re right. I do love it.”

I smile at him, and he dips his head, his smile so sweet and genuine I almost forget that we’re not back at my place, ready to slide between the sheets.

He touches my hair, runs it between his fingers. “I like your hair like this. You’re beautiful.” But then he frowns. “All the single guys—” He closes his mouth when a couple of women wander into the kitchen, but they’re busy chatting and don’t pay us too much attention as they refill their cups.

I wait for him to continue. When he doesn’t, I say, “You look great too, Rider.” I let my gaze slide down him, take in his button-down shirt and khaki pants.

“Listen…I…uh…about…” I hold my breath, and hope he’s changed his mind about setting me up. I hope he’s changed his mind about a lot of things, but then he closes his eyes, and wobbles a little bit.

I grab him. “Are you okay?”

After a moment, he opens his eyes. “Fine. I’ve just been having these dizzy spells.”

“Rider, that’s not good,” I say as I try to examine his pupils.

He shakes his head and throws his hands up in the air. “Nurses!”

“Hockey players!” I exclaim.

“You got something against hockey players?” someone asks from behind.

I turn, and come face to face with some guy I don’t know. “You going to introduce me to your friend or what?” he asks, flashing me a bright smile that undoubtedly turns women to dim witted moths.

“This is Jules,” Rider says, his voice tight. “Jules, this is Alek.”

My head bobs back and forth between Rider and Alek. Is this really happening? The man I love is actually going to go through with setting me up? Ground, please open up and swallow me whole.

“I haven’t seen you at these parties before,” Alek says, his voice a bit slurred as he comes closer.

“No, it’s my first time,” I say. “My friend Lindsay is dating Kane.”

“Oh, I like her. Wait, you’re not dating this douche bag, are you?” he asks, a teasing edge to his voice.

“Yeah, I mean…” I take in Rider’s dark expression, and wait for him to intervene. When he doesn’t, I say, “No.”

“Come on then, let’s go get to know each other better,” he says, and puts his arm around my back. We head toward the doorway and my stomach is so tight and uneasy, I fear I’m going to lose my dinner.

“Alek, don’t.” Before I realize what’s happening, Rider is shoving Alek away, and Alek’s drink sloshes over the side of his glass.

“What the fuck, dude?” Alek says, and sets his drink on the counter. He shakes the beer from his hand.

“Back off,” Rider says his voice holding all kinds of warnings.

“Listen, you’ve been riding my ass all week, and I don’t fucking know why. You’ve got something to say to me, then say it already.”

“Really, are you that fucking dense?” Rider asks, and shoves him again, but Alek isn’t about to let anyone push him around. He shoves Rider back, hard, and he stumbles. Before I can catch him, he goes down, his head hitting the chair on the way. He lands with a thud, and those around us shriek.

Going into professional mode, even though my insides are screaming right along with those other girls, I drop to my knees and check his vitals. I glance up to see Kane and Lindsay standing over me, their eyes wide with worry.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Call 911!”

14

Rider

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