Page 30 of In It to Win It

“Maybe. Idiot.”

Lacey picks up a fry. “Back to you and JP . . .”

“Right. I don’t want anything to do with him either.”

“What did he do to deservethat?”

“They were fighting! On the dance floor! At your wedding!”

“He didn’t start it.”

“Well, I know, but . . . it was just stupid. Hockey players are stupid.”

She lifts an eyebrow.

“Not Théo.”

She nods.

“Also, he’s an asshole. Look what he did to Théo, his own brother.”

“You mean when he and Emma got together?”

“Right.”

“But you knew that about him when you slept with him.”

She’s got me there. “Whatever. It was just a one-night thing.”

“Okay. It might make things a little awkward if you two are going to snark at each other every time you’re together.”

“We’re not going to be together.”

She pushes her bottom lip out doubtfully.

“Even if we are, I can be friends with him.” I shrug and munch on a shrimp.

“Mmm. Okay. If you say so.”

“Why do you look like that?” I eye her.

“Like what? Like I don’t believe you two can just be friends? Maybe it’s because of the sexual tension that just about set the air on fire the other day when you were at our place. The looks you two kept giving each other. I knew something was going on.”

I purse my lips. I muster up a weak denial. “There’s no fire.”

“I think you’re protesting a little too much.” She leans forward. “But I don’t get why you’re mad at him. Seems to me he did nothing wrong.”

She’s right. Whydidthat fight upset me so much?

I drop my gaze to the table. “I was scared,” I admit. “I was afraid he was going to get hurt.”

“Ah-ha.”

“And I felt guilty. Because it was all my fault. I felt responsible for what happened. I did want Manny to know I was leaving with JP, but I never intended it to turn into a brawl!” I beg for forgiveness with my eyes and Lacey shakes her head, smiling.

“I don’t want anything to do with guys who get into fistfights at weddings. So don’t worry. If I ever see JP again, it’ll be fine. And hey, I’ve been back on the dating app and there are a few guys who seem interesting.”

JP

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