Page 51 of Good Girl’s Guide to Love (Guide to Love #4)

ainsley

“Oh my gosh! You’re Ainsley! Linc’s Ainsley!”

I don’t know how I hear my name over the noise filling the air as Quinn and I walk toward the Fury stadium, but I do. And I’m glad I did. Because as soon as I turn around, two women around my age are sprinting toward me.

“Um...hi?”

“I can’t believe we’re seeing you!” one says as she digs her phone out of her clear bag. “Can we take a selfie?”

I hear Quinn snickering behind me as I try to wrap my brain around what’s going on. “Um…sure?”

Each of them stand on either side of me as I smile toward the phone. I do my best to have a genuine smile, but it’s hard because I don’t know how this is real life.

“I can’t believe we saw you!” the one who took the selfie says. “We met the Ainsley.”

“I’m just Ainsley,” I say, trying to temper down this fangirling. For one, it’s a little embarrassing. Two, my sister is never going to let me live this down. “But it’s really nice to meet you two. Big Fury fans?”

“Of course,” they say in unison before the selfie taker continues. “And we used to have the biggest crushes on Linc. But not anymore, because he’s with you, and you two are basically perfect together.”

“For real you two are couple goals,” the other says. “I swear to God, I died dead when I saw the photos of him walking you to your car this week.”

Not going to lie, I melted a little too when I saw those.

Neither of us had any idea that anyone was around.

I mean, it was eight in the morning on a Wednesday.

Must’ve been a slow news day. And I wish I could thank whoever took them, because the moment he kissed me goodbye before I drove off…

Yeah, I’m glad I get to relive that moment forever.

“Thanks. I’m a pretty lucky girl.”

We chit-chat for a few more minutes, and then they ask for another picture before they head off with the rest of the crowd to head inside the stadium.

But me? I stand outside the suite entrances a bit stunned, because how is this my life?

“Oh, just wait until the group chat hears about this.”

I groan as we walk toward entrance. “Please don’t.”

“Oh, dear sister, if you don’t think I’m going to report on every minute of this, you don’t know me at all.”

“You know, I didn’t have to bring you here today,” I say, really hating that Mia had to work. “I could’ve asked Simon. Or I’m sure Stella would’ve loved to come.”

“But you asked me, so now you must suffer the consequences.” We each show the security guard our suite badges before we go through a metal detector and head to the elevator. “Now come on. You need to become a WAG, and I’ve got nachos to eat.”

When Linc asked me if I wanted to come today, I obviously wanted to support him.

It was even better when he said I could bring a friend.

I assumed we’d be sitting in regular seats in the stadium, which is when I asked Quinn to come along.

Then I found out that we’d be in a suite with other wives and girlfriends.

I really should’ve brought Maeve.

I love my sister, but she’s the most unhinged person in my life that I’d want with me at a football game.

Especially a game where I’m trying to make a good impression on the other wives and girlfriends.

I know Linc and I aren’t really for real, but I still want them to like me.

Especially if I’m going to be here for multiple games this season.

So maybe it wasn’t my best idea to bring Quinn, who would have no qualms about starting fights with referees, or other fans, if something happened she didn’t agree with.

Just the headline Linc and I need:

Linc Kincaid’s girlfriend banned from games after sister fights with fan

“I need you to promise me you’ll be on your best behavior.”

She puts her hand over her heart as the elevator takes us to the suite floor. “I solemnly swear. Though I’m a little insulted that you felt the need to say that.”

“Really? Are you not the person who organized egging a referee’s house back in high school because he made a bad call?”

“It was a clear fumble and it cost us the game,” she defends. “And it wasn’t eggs. It was toilet paper.”

“Apologies,” I say, shaking my head at my sister. I love her, but sometimes I wonder how we share DNA.

When the elevator stops at our floor and we step out, we’re quickly guided down a long hallway.

Fans are gathered in and out of the suites, all wearing some sort of Fury merchandise.

I feel a few eyes on me, but not like earlier.

Though I’m guessing that's because I just passed country star Dustin Wild. Compared to him, I’m small potatoes.

“Right in here,” the attendant tells us. “Enjoy the game. Oh, and nice jersey.”

The older woman gives me a wink as I walk into the suite. I didn’t know if I should wear this today—it felt a little cliché to wear your fake boyfriend’s jersey to your first game. But after the note he left with it when he had it delivered to my apartment yesterday, how could I not?

I thought you could use something to wear to the game today. I’d be honored if you wore it.

3 Linc

That man. He might say over and over that he’s not the kind of guy who can give you forever, but every day he does something to contradict that statement.

And I’m now on to my fifth rubber band in three weeks.

“Oh! Hi! You must be Ainsley!”

I smile as two women come toward me, one holding a toddler and the other with a very tiny baby strapped to her chest.

“Hi! Yes, I’m Ainsley. And this is my sister, Quinn.”

“So nice to meet you,” the brunette holding the toddler says. “I’m Lucy Donald, Bryce’s wife. This here is my best friend and sister-in-law, Brenna Campbell.”

“Nice to meet you,” Brenna says. “And welcome to the WAG Hut.”

I look around, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s not this.

For some reason, when I thought of suites, I thought of booze all around and platters of food that couldn’t possibly be all eaten by the time the game ends.

And yes, there is food. I do see a small refrigerator with an assortment of beers and small bottles of wine.

But what sticks out more are the piles of children’s toys scattered about.

A play mat and a pack-and-play. And instead of the game being on the television, it’s a children’s show with the blue dog that I’ve seen more than a few times playing in the hospital.

“I hope you don’t mind, but this is the boring suite,” Brenna says. “Once upon a time we were the young, hot WAGs. Drinking vodka sodas, wearing cute clothes to games.”

“And then we had kids,” Lucy says as her son runs off to something that caught his eye. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh not at all,” I say as her son comes back over, handing me a toy car. “I might not be a mom, but this is definitely more my speed. I’m not much of a drinker. And thank you for the car, buddy. I love it.”

He gives me a big, toothy grin as he runs back to his pile, bringing me another.

“I’m sorry, but you’re his new best friend now,” Lucy jokes. “Come on, let’s get you settled.”

Lucy shows us the food and beverages, as well as that there are a few rows of seats outside the glass windows that give you a perfect view of the field.

“Help yourself to any of the food,” Lucy says.

“Thank you kindly,” Quinn says, circling back to the buffet like she’s never eaten before.

“Pardon my sister,” I say. “I broke her out of the institution this morning. She’s forgotten what real food is like.”

She throws me a middle finger as Lucy and Brenna laugh at our antics. “Oh, I like you two. Just what we needed in the Hut.”

“And we’re not the only ones who sit in here.

I don’t want you to think that we’re the outcasts,” Lucy says.

“Other partners come in and out. It’s open to anyone that’s dating or married to one of the players.

It’s fun to sit in the stadium. But sometimes you just need to get out of the crowds, especially if there are kids involved. ”

“Totally understand,” I say. “I work at Nashville Children’s, so I understand wanting to have a separate place for you and the kids. Especially for newborns.”

“Yes! That’s where I know you!” Brenna yells. “You weren’t my nurse, but I saw you on the floor.”

I think back, and yes, I do remember a Campbell baby a few months ago. “Oh my gosh. Yes. How are you? How are you feeling?”

Brenna and I start a conversation about her birth, and how her daughter, Everly, is doing. Before I know it, a few more of the WAGs have come in, each introducing themselves to me, and I fall into a natural conversation with them all.

I was nervous coming here today. On my scale of “doing scary things” initiative that I’ve been on, this isn’t at the top, but it definitely cracks the top ten.

It normally takes time for me to open up and meet new people.

But as I’m talking to these women, I feel at home. Like I’m strangely supposed to be here.

“Ainsley! There you are!”

Any thoughts I had about this starting to feel a little too real are quickly brought back down to Earth as Katie walks into the suite. “I hope you don’t mind me coming in, but I heard you were here today and I wanted to stop in and say hi.”

“Oh, yeah, hi,” I say. I haven’t seen her at all since this whole thing started, but I know Linc talks to her most days and meets with her a few times a week. “How’d you know I was here?”

“Linc silly,” she says, the fake smile she gave me the first day we met in full form right now. “How nice of the veteran WAGs to let you watch the game with them.”

“Hey! That makes us sound old,” Brenna complains. “We’re not vets. We’re seasoned . Also, who the hell are you?”

I swear I see Quinn’s face light up with Brenna’s words. My sister might’ve just found her new best friend.

“She’s Linc’s publicist,” I say. “How about we go to the outside seats and watch the start of game?”