Page 152 of The Wingman

At the door, he pauses, gaze trailing over me again, followed by the slow bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallows.

“What is it?”

He lets out a light laugh, shaking his head. “Just thinking how lucky I am to have you on my arm, Darce.”

“Funny.” I tug his tie to pull his mouth closer. “I feel the same way about you.”

CHAPTER 73

HAYDEN

We watchour friends Jamie Streicher and Pippa Hartley marry, and I glance down at Darcy beside me. She looks so heartbreakingly beautiful.

She gives me a soft smile and turns back to the bride and groom, and her new earrings catch the light. Her awestruck expression, so delighted and surprised, only fed my addiction.

I’m going to marry this girl. The thought struck me eight years ago, during a conversation before class our first week of school. Embarrassed by it, I buried it as fast as it sprung up; I was eighteen, for Christ’s sake.

I knew, though. A few conversations with Darcy Andersen, and I knew she was the one for me.

She glances back at me with a teasing, scolding expression and flicks her gaze to the front.You’re staring at me, she mouths, and I grin, lifting a shoulder.I like you, I mouth back.

I love you, I want to say.

She rolls her eyes and I force my attention back to the reason we’re here.

Pippa wears a long white dress Darcy tells me is “boho style.” Streicher’s in a dark gray suit, and their dog Daisy sits between them, wearing a little white bow tie on her collar. Shegazes up with watchful eyes, waiting for the treats Streicher’s been slipping her throughout the ceremony.

Every member of the Vancouver Storm—with the exception of Volkov—is here, including Ward. Hazel and Miller stand at the front as maid of honor and best man, exchanging private smiles throughout the ceremony, probably thinking about their own upcoming wedding.

Streicher’s mom, Donna, and Pippa’s parents, Ken and Maureen, sit in the front row, beaming at the couple.

When Pippa and Jamie say their vows, my eyes sting and my chest expands with warmth, not just because I’m happy for my friends to take the next step in their life and relationship, but because I want that, too, and finally, for the first time in my life, it’s within reach.

Beside me, Darcy wears the orange dress, looking so beautiful and happy, it makes my heart ache.

I’m falling for you, she said on the park bench beneath the cherry blossoms.

I look around at Jamie and Pippa’s loved ones, and I want this for us. I want my Darcy in the dress that makes her feel beautiful, the people who mean everything to us watching with smiles and tears in their eyes, and a big, raucous party after to celebrate.

I sniffle.

“Are you crying?” Darcy whispers, tucking her hand in mine.

“No,” I whisper back.

Her mouth tips up, eyes sparkling. “It’s okay if you are.”

“I’m not,” I insist, smiling. “And even if I were, everyone else is, too.”

She smiles again, squeezes my hand, and rests her head on my shoulder for the remainder of the ceremony.

“Alexei didn’t show?” Darcy asks in my ear when we make our way to the banquet room overlooking the lake.

I shake my head, glancing around. “I thought he might change his mind at the last minute, but—” I shrug. “Guess not.”

She hums, mouth twisting with concern.

“He was engaged once,” I admit, wincing. “He doesn’t like to talk about it.”

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