Page 29 of In It to Win It

Her forehead creases and her mouth kicks up at one corner.

“Anyway, I figured, why shouldn’t I have a fling with a hot guy?”

“Mm-hmm. Butat my wedding?”

“We snuck up to his room.” I nearly fan myself, remembering how hot it was. Damn.

“Your face is red. It was good, wasn’t it?”

“It was amazing.”

“Did Manny find out? Is that what happened?”

“He figured it out, yeah.” I bite my lip and sit back as our waitress brings our beers. My stomach tightens, and then I confess, “I sort of wanted him to know.”

Lacey slumps in her chair and closes her eyes. “Oh my God.”

“I know, I know. It was stupid. I feel terrible about what happened.”

“You slept with JP to get back at Manny?”

“No!” Now my eyes pop wide. “Manny wasn’t even around at the rehearsal! That was all . . . JP.” I lift my chin. “I’m not going to apologize or be ashamed of wanting to have sex with a good-looking guy who was into me.”

“Ugh. You should know I’m not judging you for that. You have every right to sleep with whoever you want.”

“Thank you.”

“But it did, uh, cause a little problem.”

“I know, and I’m so, so sorry.” I lean forward, holding her gaze. “I feel responsible.”

“I don’t blame you. Is that why you took off?”

“Yes, but I was pissed, too. I mean, what right did Manny have to do that? He left without even ending things with me. I hadn’t seen or talked to him in months. What a douche!”

“Did you talk to him?”

“At the wedding?”

“Yeah. Or, after.”

“He came to see me the next day.” I grimace. “He apologized. He said he didn’t realize how much he missed me until he saw me leaving with JP.”

“Idiot.”

“I know, right?” I roll my eyes. “I told him to go back to Nashville and forget it. And forget me.”

Lacey tilts her head and gives me a sad smile. “I know you really liked Manny.”

“I really did.” I pout.

“If only he’d figured shit out before he left, maybe things would have worked out.”

“Who knows?” I hitch one shoulder.

Our food arrives, so we pause the conversation to arrange the baskets of shrimp and fries, then dig in.

“So that’s why he was bugging JP in the game,” Lacey says.

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