Page 4 of The Wingman

I wink at her. “Right here, babe.”

She snorts. “My god. You’re like their leader. Bring me to them.”

I should be used to it, but the label stings, especially coming from her.

I never meant to get this reputation. I’ve just never met a woman I’m interested in something long term with. If I detect any interest in commitment, I don’t ask her out. I don’t lead anyone on, and I don’t feed them lines, but I always make sure everyone has a good time.

I’m a pretty face, a nice set of abs, and a really, really good fuck, and I don’t pretend to be anything more.

“Wait.” Her eyes narrow. “You date, but you never get attached.”

Over the rim of my glass, I give her a quizzical look. “Okay?”

“Youalwayshave fun. You’re amazing at the whole dating thing and have had years of practice. You’ve probably been on hundreds of dates.”

“Where are you going with this?” Wherever it is, I don’t like it.

Her lips tip up, and her eyes glow with interest. “I want to be like you.”

“Devastatingly handsome?”

She grins wider. “No, a player. Hayden, I want you to teach me to be a player.”

CHAPTER 2

DARCY

Hayden’s grindissolves like it’s the last thing he expected me to say.

“You can be my wingman.”

I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. Hayden Owens—otherworldly handsome, rich hockey star, life of the party, all-around incredibly lovable person, and the biggest player I know. Every week, he’s going out with a new girl.

Haydenhas the life I want—pure fun and no commitment—and he’s always in control. No one steamrolls him. No one makes the decisions for him.

After Kit, I am sosickof being an accessory to some guy’s life.

I smile wider at Hayden, and he looks scared.

“In all the years we were together, Kit and I never went on a real date. We went to a party, and then we were together. The hockey party.” It was the Friday during the first week of university, the first week Hayden and I met in English class.

He blinks, frowns, looks away. “Yeah, um. I remember.”

“Right. You were there.”

After chatting all week before class, I thought Hayden wasgoing to ask me out… Now is not the time to think about that, so I swat the thought away.

He’s miles out of my league. He dates supermodels, actresses, and influencers, and every single one of them is tall, with dark hair and huge boobs. Nothing like me, with my short stature, pale hair and eyes, and complete lack of curves.

Not that I care. We’re friends.

“I’ve never flirted with a guy,” I continue. “I’ve never asked a guy out. I’ve never even gone out for Valentine’s Day or gotten flowers.”

I’m trying to get over it, to move on and not think about Kit, but the farther I get from the breakup, the angrier I become. After trying to break up with him in December, Kit asked that we wait until after the holidays. He had important games to focus on, he said.

On New Year’s Eve, though, in front of all his Calgary teammates and Hayden’s Vancouver teammates, Kit proposed.

Whodoesthat?

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