Jilted

by Vi Keeland

“He’ll have a margarita, too. But frosty ones this time, not on the rocks.” “Frosty.” Will huffed. “Two pains in the asses coming right up.”

“They did look orange when they went outside for the pictures, didn’t they?” “With those purple dresses, it was like ten Violet Beauregardes who ate Oompa Loompas.”

Halfway down the hall, I felt eyes on my back. “Stop checking out my ass!” “Only if you stop walking away from me, Cupcake.”

“Why didn’t you didn’t tell me you knew Wilder Hayes?” My nose wrinkled. “Why would you care that I know him?” “Because he’s a legend.” “Uh … a legend at what?” Dad shook his head. “You really don’t know who this is?” “My boss’s boss’s boss’s son?” “He’s Wilder Hayes, Sloane, one of the best players to have ever played pro rugby.”

“Honey, he’s the David Beckham of rugby. He’s going to do for rugby what Beckham did for soccer in the US. He’s starting his own team, and with his fan base, it’s gonna get a lot of attention.”

“You won’t like the answer.” “It’s okay. I prefer honest answers. I don’t love lies that pacify me.”

“In the last twenty-four hours, I’ve gotten invitations from three women I’ve slept with before.” Andrew stuck his bottom lip out in a pout. “Aww, you poor baby. You’re single and got offered sex from three hot women. Meanwhile, I fucked up the rest of my life. Your life really sucks.” I chuckled. “I’m serious. Have I been that big of a whore?” “You once slept with a woman you met at a bar on a Friday night, and the next day she called and asked if you would sleep with her friend who needed cheering up. And you did.” “What was I supposed to do? Let the woman be miserable?”

“Sloane.” “What’s she like?” “She’s smart. Beautiful, with auburn hair and a great figure. And she calls me out on my crap.” He grinned. “I like her already.”

“He’s a good wingman,” I noted. “Did you train him to be adorable and then let you end your evening with privacy?” “Adorable? He told you I listen to Taylor Swift while working out and have an ass tattoo.”

“I cannot believe you changed your flight to come with me to sell my wedding dress.” He shrugged. “I figured Lucas could use some sleep. He was up chewing my ear off about Olivia for an hour once we got back to the hotel.” I smiled. “Oh God. Olivia did the same. I think we might have a problem.” Wilder turned the key to start the car. “Yeah, if my ball-busting little brother gets a Carrick for a girlfriend before I do, I’m never gonna hear the end of it.”

Sloane: Speaking of dating, are you still on your miss moratorium? Wilder: It’s the longest I’ve been celibate since I was fifteen. I chewed on my lip. Sloane: How long has it been? Wilder: 29 days, 9 hours, and 11 minutes.

“He’s also a closet Swiftie. He’ll deny it, but the dude knows every word to ‘Shake it Off.’”

Sloane rested her hand on my arm, and I felt a jolt. Damn … what would it feel like if she touched me a little lower, maybe on my third arm?

“You know,” she said. “I never would’ve taken you for such a gentleman.” I leaned close. “Fair warning, Cupcake. When I come into your room—not if, but when—the gentleman in me will be staying at the door.”

I was already making plans to watch the rerun, and the show hadn’t even started yet.

“What else haven’t you done?” “I don’t know. Lots of things. My ex wasn’t the adventurous type.” “Thank fuck. I already knew he was a moron.”

Coach noticed me for the first time. His eyes perked up. “Now that’s much better than the shitty pastries you usually bring me.”

“Sometimes we say what we mean, even when we don’t mean to, honey.”

“We all bring baggage to a relationship. The important thing is what you do with it. You can carry it with you forever, or you can unpack it. The choice is yours.”

Wilder was sliding into the seat across from Josh. “Oh shit.” Dad heard me and looked over. He grinned. “Guess I won’t have to take out the trash after all. Wilder will do it for me.”

“I think most of parenting you learn as you go, and most advice people give isn’t worth shit because every situation is different. But there is one important thing I learned that’s worth sharing.” “What’s that?” “You can’t make someone else happy unless you’re happy yourself.

The best gift you can give your kid is showing them not to dwell on the things we can’t change and live life to the fullest, even if it’s not the one you planned.”