Page 125 of The Wingman

“Definitely.”

Silence stretches between us, and my thoughts yank to my boring job. The thought of staying there another twenty, thirty years gathers cold dread in the pit of my stomach.

Would I hate myself if I looked back on my life and wished I had done it differently? Would I regret not taking a job that sends an excited thrill through me?

“We’re a team,” Ward says quietly. “I’m never going to hang you out to dry alone. Win together, lose together.”

I’m so afraid of failing again, but what about all the things I could lose out on? What if it’s the best job of my life and it’s exactly where I need to be? I could help people in this role.

Something occurs to me and my gaze snaps to Ward’s. Something that could torch this whole thing.

“I have a conflict of interest.”

His eyes narrow. “Go on.”

I search for the words to explain what’s happening with Hayden and me and come up empty. “Hayden Owens.”

He makes a noise of acknowledgment and nods, surveying the scenery outside the office windows that overlook the city. Finally, he turns back to me and shrugs. “I’m not concerned. We have three other analysts to watch for conflicts, and I’llbring it up with the owner and legal team, but unless you’re heavily into sports betting?—”

“I’m not,” I rush out.

Ward chuckles. “I figured.” His dark brows bob, and the final question lingers in his quiet office. “Take a risk, Darcy.”

In the lobby, Hayden stands when I come sprinting around the corner. “How’d it go?”

“I took the job.”

He lets out a surprised laugh and catches me as I leap into his arms. “I took the analytics job with the team.”

Hayden’s proud smile is devastatingly handsome. “You did?”

“Uh-huh.” I feel like I’m flying, like my heart is about to explode into a cloud of sparkles.

“That’s my girl.” He wraps his arms around me and I yelp in surprise as he spins me around before pinning me to the wall. His mouth crashes to mine. We’re a tangle of lips and moans and teeth, my hands in his hair, my legs around his waist.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” he says between devouring kisses.

It feels so fucking good to be free, like I’m finally soaring after years in a cage.

Someone clears their throat, and we freeze. Ward stands ten feet away, eyebrows sky high, holding my laptop.

“You forgot this.”

My face goes molten hot. “Thanks,” I squeak.

Ward just laughs and shakes his head. The second he turns the corner, Hayden and I look at each other and burst out laughing.

CHAPTER 58

DARCY

“I’m going to head upstairs,”Erik, one of the other analysts, tells me in the lower concourse at the arena. He’s referring to the private box for just the owner and the analysts, a quiet space where we can watch the game tonight, run real-time data, and coordinate with the coaches on the bench.

I give him a quick smile and gesture at the hallway to the dressing room. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

I haven’t seen Hayden since this morning when I left for work. I’m wearing his jersey, and I want him to know that going into the game. That he always has someone cheering for him.

Erik gives me a wave before he disappears.

---