Page 32 of Wanting the Winger

I laugh because what an understatement.“Definitely.”

“Oh, hayyylll naw.”Mara is about a drink and a half past tipsy.“Fuck that fucker.He spends seven grand on a gaming computer and you getthisengagement ring?”She bends to inspect my ring closer.“Baby, I’ve got blackheads bigger than that diamond.”

I’ve been telling the other Smartinis about Shane, starting with big-picture things like him never saying I look good or I’m beautiful.But as the night has gone on and the drinks have gone down, I’ve opened up and now I’m spilling my guts.

We’re at The Factory, an old warehouse that was converted into a bar and restaurant.After taking first place in the weekly trivia on the bar side, we decided to stay and talk some more.

I look down at the ring that turned my finger green before I had it plated with rhodium by a jeweler to protect my skin.

“I said it didn’t matter how much he spent, but...”

“We all say that,” Suki says.“But for fuck’s sake, none of us mean it.A ring you’re going to wear for your entire life doesn’t need to cost a fortune, but you want it to be pretty.”

I blanch.“Are you saying my ring isn’t pretty?”

Her eyes widen with alarm.“No, I...I didn’t mean it like that.”

I burst out laughing.“I’m fucking with you.This ring is ugly as shit.”

The entire table erupts with laughter.I feel lighter and happier than I’ve felt in a long time.I didn’t realize how much I needed real-life close friends to confide in.

“I’m getting the next round,” Dex says, getting up from the table.

“He said the G-spot is a myth,” I say.“But science has proven it’s real.”

Mara rolls her eyes and cackles.“My response to that horseshit is threefold: unicorns are a myth, the G-spot is super fucking real, and Shane sucks in bed.”

Harry raises his glass.“Shane sucks in bed!”

Suki frowns.“Should we be toasting that, though?Lainey’s engaged to him.”

Harry frowns, burps, and then lowers his glass.“Right.”

“I think it was a good call taking an Uber tonight,” Suki says with a laugh.

“I’m going to need to talk to Shane about that,” I say softly.“I think we should probably postpone the wedding.”

Suki’s expression turns serious.“Is that really what you want?We’ve been having fun talking shit, but I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret because of tonight.”

I shake my head.“No, I’ve been thinking about this on my own for the past week.Bash told me Shane should be all in, crazy in love with me, or I’ll be settling.”

She softens.“Bash said that?”

“Yeah.He said Shane should be here every Friday night through Monday morning.That he would be—Bash, I mean.”

Suki’s brows fly up.“Wait a minute, Bash said what?”

There’s a flutter in my stomach as I replay it in my head.“He said it I was his girl, and he lived in Columbus; he’d be here by seven thirty every Friday night.And he’d get up early every Monday to drive back so he could have an extra night.”

Suki and Mara exchange a look.Harry covers my hand with his.

“After you have a talk with Shane, have a talk with Bash,” he says.

Dex returns with a tray of drinks, passing them around.Mine is water because two drinks is my max on a weeknight.

“So, if you guys are up for the most embarrassing story ever?—”

“Always!”Suki gives me a warm smile.

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