2. Darcy

CHAPTER 2

DARCY

Hayden's grin dissolves 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.

Hayden has 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 so sick of 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 was going 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.

Who does that?

I froze. I didn't want to embarrass him, so I said yes, and the next morning, I broke it off for real.

Concern flickers in Hayden's gaze. "He never took you out on a real date?"

I tap my tongue on my upper lip, holding back the truth. They're best friends, and I don't want to make Hayden feel like he has to choose between us, so I'm glossing over the details of the breakup.

Across the table, he watches me carefully.

"I mean—we were in school, so we were broke and busy with studying and hockey. If we got dressed up, it was for hockey events."

His pretty blue eyes linger on me, and his jaw flexes. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"It doesn't matter now." I wave him off.

I don't want to linger on the past. I'm twenty-six years old—it's time for me to make up for lost time and have all those fun dating experiences I missed out on.

His mouth slides into a lazy, flirty smile. "You want flowers, Darcy? I'll buy you flowers."

I huff a laugh. I can always count on Hayden to lighten the mood. "You know what I mean. I want to get all dressed up, go to a nice restaurant, be told I look pretty, and then go home and have sex against a wall."

He chokes on his beer, coughing.

"Or, like, in the shower." I shrug with a baffled expression. "I don't know. Wherever people have super passionate hookups. And then I never want to see that guy again."

He's still coughing, and his cheekbones are going pink.

"Are you okay?"

"Yep," he croaks, not looking at me.

"You said it yourself. I need to have fun."

"Fun with me . Going out after games and watching The Northern Sword ." Our favorite book series is now a TV show. His smile dims a notch. "Not with some guy who talks over you and looks like he's trying to guess your bra size."

A thrill shoots through me at the edge to his voice. It's so unusual for him. He's just protective because we're friends, though. "He was staring at my hips to see how big of a baby I could push out."

Hayden grits his teeth and takes another long sip of beer.

"You always know what to do or say. You've slept with hundreds of women."

He groans. "Not hundreds."

"A lot. If we gathered them together, they probably couldn't fit in this bar?—"

"Okay." His expression turns flat. "I get it."

"I'm not sex shaming you. I want to be like you. How do you get better at something? Do what the pros are doing. Learn from the best. I don't even know where to start. I don't know how to approach a guy."

He watches me for a long moment, running his hand through his messy golden-blond hair. He looks like he's about to say no, but a guy walks past our table, and Hayden's gaze hardens before his eyes meet mine.

"Alright."

"Really?"

"On one condition." He leans toward me, eyes sparking. "Move in with me permanently. There's no point in you finding your own place when I have the spare room. Besides, I don't like living alone."

This again? Hayden lives in the penthouse, and his apartment is gorgeous. Two-story windows overlooking the city, a massive kitchen and living room, a sprawling patio with a hot tub and garden. Even the guest bedroom is nicer than any hotel room I've ever stayed in.

When I called him last week from Calgary to break the news about Kit and me, he insisted I come out to Vancouver. He didn't even hesitate. He must have heard something in my voice—something frustrated, disappointed, and broken—and he convinced me that a new city was exactly what I needed.

Without him, I'd be back in Calgary, probably wallowing, not having fun at a bar.

"You've already done so much for me." I give him a half smile. "I don't want to take advantage."

After four years away, Hayden's the only friend I have left in Vancouver. Most of my Calgary friends were actually Kit 's friends, and I've lost touch with a lot of people from university.

Hayden's kind of all I have right now. I can't mess that up.

"Vancouver's a nightmare for rentals," he says, and I sense he's trying to keep his tone casual. "You don't want to end up living with some weirdo who sneaks into your room and sniffs your panties."

A horrified laugh bubbles out of me. "Gross."

"And if you find me in your room," he adds with a cheeky smile, "I'm just making sure they fit."

"Ew." I sputter with laughter. "Don't try on my panties. You'll stretch them out."

"Yeah, I will." His eyebrows bob and he sends a pointed look down at his crotch. "In the front."

My face is going warm, but I can feel the remnants of disappointment from my date fading away.

"Your stuff's already at my place." He shrugs his broad, toned shoulders. "And I love your parents, but I know you don't want to live with them." They live in a quiet suburb an hour from Vancouver. "You'll have to drive back and forth every home game, and then it'll be late, and you'll just end up crashing at my place."

He gives me a whatcha gonna do? look, like it's settled.

I hide a smile. "You're so confident I'll be going to all your games."

"You will."

My stomach flips over at the cocky way he says it and at his knowing, confident smile.

Hayden always gets what he wants in life. He's the perfect wingman, the perfect guy to teach me how to date.

"What about when you have dates over?" I toy with the paper coaster on the table. "Having a female roommate is going to cramp your style."

This past week, he hasn't gone out on a date or had anyone over. It's probably a record for him.

He clears his throat, looking away. "Don't worry about that. It's the deal I'm offering, Darce. Take it or leave it."

Not much choice, is there? Besides, living with Hayden over the last week has been easy and fun.

"Deal."

His big hand surrounds mine as we shake, and a zing of electricity runs through my blood at the contact of his warm palm against mine. Our eyes meet, and my breath catches.

Whatever charisma Hayden has, I want some of it.

"This is going to be so much fun," I tell him. "And I'm a fast learner."

He wears a tight smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Can't wait."