Page 20 of Good Girl's Guide to Love
“Her fucking boyfriend, you dipshit. Now get your hands off my girl.”
7
linc
“You? You’re her boyfriend?”
“I am. And you are?”
Obviously I’m not. I don’t even know my supposed girlfriend’s name. But from the second I saw the cute nurse from the children’s hospital while I was standing on stage with my teammates, I couldn’t stop looking at her.
I don’t know how I saw her. It’s not like the karaoke stage has the bright lights of the Grand Ole Opry, but there is a spotlight, meaning that when me and my boys were making asses of ourselves, I could only see a little bit of the audience.
But I could see her clear as day.
When I saw that smarmy jackass approach her, and her reaction to him, my feet were already marching toward their table. Where I came up with the idea of saying I’m her boyfriend? That I’m not sure.
Dipshit puffs out his chest, which doesn’t do much considering I’m close to a foot taller than him. “Dr. Jonathan Ainsworth. Her boyfriend.”
“Ex,” my new girlfriend says quickly. “He’s myex-boyfriend.”
Oh, this is going to be good...
“Huh. You never mentioned him, babe. Must not’ve been that important.” I lay it on thick as I step in front of her, blocking out Dr. Dipshit. I lean down, making it look like I’m kissing her cheek. “Are you okay?”
I’m so close I can feel her skin against mine as she squints and tips her head side to side. I push down the warmness I feel, simply because we have a bigger task at hand.
“Do you trust me?”
The question is a lot to ask of a stranger. She doesn’t know me from Adam. I’m sure by now she knows my name, and depending on if she’s a football fan, she probably knows my reputation. Which means she might just say no.
That’s why I feel a new rush of heat surge through me when I simply hear one word.
“Yes.”
I smile and give her a small kiss on her cheek, one that lingers a little longer than it probably should, but hey, I’m her boyfriend, aren’t I? “Then follow my lead.”
I turn back around and pull—fuck, I forgot to ask her name, again—girlfriend into me, throwing my arm over her shoulder for a little extra emphasis. “Sorry, Jimmy. I hadn’t seen my girl here all day. I’m sure you remember what that’s like.”
“It’s Jonathan.”
“What’s Jonathan?”
“My name.”
I almost have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. It’s so easy to get under this guy’s skin. “Apologies. But anyway, I hadn’t seen her all day. That’s what happens when it’s almost football season. You a Fury fan? I’m Linc Kincaid by the way, starting tight end. Anyway… Babe? You want to come over to our section? The guys can’t wait to see you.”
I start to pull her away when dipshit steps in front of us.
“Why are you calling her that?”
I’m confused for only a second before recalling the few names I’ve used for her. “Well, I call her my girl, you know, because she is. And babe? I don’t know. It’s just always felt right. Wait. What did you call her? Did I repeat? God, James, I’m sorry. I hate being unoriginal.”
Girlfriend’s face lights up and dipshit’s becomes as red the lights coming from the stage.
“I didn’t. She hates nicknames.”
“Huh. Weird,” I say, pulling her in closer so I can kiss her temple. You know, for emphasis. “She’s never had a problem with me using it. Must’ve been a you problem.”
