Page 96 of Good Girl's Guide to Love
Linc warnedme this could happen. Heck, it did happen at the beginning of all of this, when I was the new shiny toy of Nashville and sports gossip blogs. But then it was just a few pictures, mostly of Linc and I, and a few headlines about “Linc Kincaid’s new woman.” Yes, my name was dropped. Apparentlythat wasn’t hard to find. Neither were my age or occupation. And that didn’t bother me.
But today’s blog offering hit a different nerve.
Who is Ainsley Banks and why she’s the perfect fake girlfriend for Fury star Linc Kincaid
I read it for the twenty-eighth time, though with every pass it doesn’t get better.
When it comes to me, there were the normal things that have been written before. But whatever “source” this gossip blog found really wanted to make sure that they painted me in the worst light possible.
Or if anything, the most embarrassing.
The article called me a stick in the mud. Someone who wasn’t fun, and how could I date a professional football player when I’d never ridden a roller coaster before?
One, I don’t know how they knew that and two, those things are terrifying. The conspiracy theory I’ll die on is that big amusement parks pay off OSHA to say that those speed traps of death are safe.
The article painted me out to be the scaredy-cat, meek girlfriend that I probably am. Oh, and they of course went after my appearance. That I’m average looking. Hips a little too big. Why would Linc be dating a “basic woman” when he’s in a city flooded with country stars and influencers are far as the eye can see?
That’s the one that hurt the worst.
Then, of course, the real point of the article was questioning the validity of our relationship. How we were nothing and then everywhere. And, what guts me the most, how because of Linc’s “dark past” that he’s using a “do-gooder nurse” to fix his image.
They make it sound like he’s the devil. He’s not. He still hasn’t told me everything that’s happened to him. But I know in my bones it’s more than people write about.
The problem is that everything is true. And you can’t sue for libel when it’s true.
My phone buzzes to notify me that Linc’s here, and while part of me is relieved to see him, I’m also not ready to. Anything could happen when he walks in here. He could say that we need to ignore it and keep going about our business. He could also say that if one article saying this has come out, more are likely to come. And with that, our time is over.
And I’m not ready for that. Not in the least.
I take a few deep breaths as I walk to my door. I try to calm my brain that’s already in overdrive thinking of every possibility that could come the second Linc walks in. But as I turn the handle and open the door, my brain is immediately quieted when Linc pulls me in, his hands cupping my face as he kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in days. Like he needed to feel me to make sure I’m still here.
I’m here, Linc…as long as you want me to be.
He pulls away, a little too quick for my liking, but his hands don’t leave my face.
“Are you okay?”
I nod. “I should be asking you that.”
He doesn’t say anything as he steps inside my apartment, kicking the door closed behind him. “Oh, no. This one isn’t about me today. I’m used to this shit. Today went after you, and that’s not fucking okay.”
I hold his hand as I walk him into my living room. I let go so I can sit on one side, giving him room to sit as well. Except that apparently today we’re not going to be sitting apart, as Linc grabs my hand and pulls me to his lap.
“You know this couch is big enough for both of us,” I tease, trying to break the tension.
He shakes his head. “Not today, Ainsley Mae. Not today.”
We don’t say anything for a minute as Linc holds me. My head is resting on his shoulder as my hand lightly rubs small circles over his chest. I’ve now seen the tattoos across his chest. Each time I do, I want to trace them, try to memorize them for when this moment is gone. I try to remember each one, but I can’t. I’m too focused on the speed of his beating heart. Though, the longer we sit like this, I feel it start to slow.
It’s then I realize that sure, he wants to comfort me. He wants to make sure I’m okay, because today is the first day that headlines were aimed directly at me in a negative way. But maybe he needs this too.
No. Don’t think like that, Ainsley. Nothing has changed.
I take in a few deep breaths, because now I need to recalibrate my heart. Because I swear to heaven and Dolly Parton, this man makes it harder and harder every day to not fall in love with.
“I’m okay,” I say. “It wasn’t that bad. Embarrassing? Yes. Made me feel exposed? Also yes. But it’s not like it said I killed puppies. If that happened, I’d be calling my brother to get me a lawyer. Because I’d never kill puppies.”
It wasn’t a real joke, but I don’t even get a hint of laughter from Linc.
