Page 68 of Good Girl’s Guide to Love (Guide to Love #4)

ainsley

Along my journey to learn football, I asked Linc how the league determined the bye weeks. To my Type-A leaning brain, they felt very random and chaotic. He admitted he didn’t know how or why, but that he always believed they had a way of coming at the right time for every team.

I now believe that statement. Because I don’t know if the rest of the Fury needed the off week, but Linc surely did.

Linc had to go talk to his agent about the proper steps to fire Katie so she had no legal recourse.

And while that went well, and his agent apologized profusely for being the one to suggest they work together, the Katie drama wasn’t quite over.

Yet another blatant lie of an article came out last night—which we both believe, but can’t prove, was Katie’s last eff-you to us.

This one said that not only were we fake, but insinuated that I was actually being held captive.

We actually laughed when we read it, as his head was on my lap, while wearing my eye masks because he wanted to see what they felt like, and I was playing with his hair in a face mask of my own.

Yeah. I’m totally being held against my will.

Needless to say, mentally, the bye week came at a good time. But we were both feeling a little cooped-up in Nashville. So, I suggested what I know to be the best medicine one could ask for—a night out in Rolling Hills.

“Let’s raise our glasses, especially Ainsley, who for the first time around us is having an actual cocktail,” Simon says as the large table in the middle of the bar is filled with each of my siblings and their significant others.

“I’d like to propose a toast to each of my sisters, who, I must say, has impeccable taste in men. ”

Even though the compliment is to us, Linc, Emmett, Logan, and Porter, all share fist bumps and high-fives in congratulations to themselves.

“But, I want to say thank you specifically to Linc.” As Simon pauses, Linc puts his arm around me and pulls me close.

“Thank you for protecting our sister. Thank you for being there for her. Thank you for bringing out a side of her that we always hoped was there. And thank you for making her smile. Welcome to the family. We’re chaos, but we’re a damn good time. ”

Simon and Linc share a head nod as we all clink our glasses together. I use the time to wipe away the runaway tear that trickled out. If Simon’s going to be like this tonight, what’s he going to be like when we get engaged?

Oh my gosh, are we going to get engaged? Is this it? I mean, I want to. Someday. Not tonight. But yeah, I want to marry Linc Kincaid.

And for the first time in my adult life, I’m truly believe I’m with a man who wants to marry me too.

“This is so exciting!” Stella claps. “Ainsley’s having a drink. She and Linc are for real. We’re all in love. I love this so much!”

I almost spit out the vodka and cranberry I agreed to have while Linc chokes on his beer. “What did you say?”

Stella’s eyes go wide as she realizes what slipped out of her mouth. “Oh. Yeah. Um…”

She looks to Quinn for help, who I’m guessing has been waiting for this moment for weeks. “Settle the bet. How long have you two been fake before you became real? There may or may not be a hundred-and-sixty bucks riding on this.”

I look around to the table of my siblings and all of their partners. “Y’all bet on this?”

“Hell, yeah,” Porter says. “This was the first Banks family bet I could be a part of. I wasn’t turning down that action. It’ll even be better if you tell me that the winning date was three days ago.”

Linc starts laughing, and all I can do is shake my head. “Did any of you believe this for any amount of time?”

“We knew from the second we crashed your breakfast date,” Maeve says. “But, it seemed like it was really important to you both to go with this, so we let it go. We knew you’d tell us when you were ready. Or someone wouldn’t be able to keep their mouth shut. And here we are.”

Everyone shoots a look to Stella, who holds her hands up in innocence. “It slipped! I swear. But you two just looked so happy, and I’m tired of texting behind your back.”

“What!” I gasp. “There’s a side text? That I’m not a part of? I'm always included!”

“Now you know what it feels like,” Quinn says.

“But none of that matters now. You’re here together.

And for real, because you two can’t keep your hands off each other.

The Fury is undefeated so far this season.

And you’re about to tell me that you dropped the fake act a week after we saw y’all at breakfast so I can win. All is right in the world!”

I feel Linc laugh next to me as I just shake my head. “Sorry, sister. Linc? Would you like to tell them who the big winner is?”

“I’d be honored,” he says as he sits up a little straighter. “A drumroll please, Ainsley Mae?”

He gives me a wink as I pat my hands on the table. “Whoever had the Thursday before the Vegas Aces game, you’re the winner.”

My sisters all open their phones, doing mental math of the schedule in comparison to the date Linc just told them.

But as I watch them scramble, and Simon silently throw a tantrum because he knows he lost, I watch as my brother-in-law Logan smiles from ear-to-ear, putting his hands behind his head as he leans back in his chair.

“Really?” Porter yells, getting everyone’s attention. “The billionaire won?”

“What can I say, I looked at the data. Figured out the odds. Ran a few tests.”

Maeve clearly doesn’t buy that. “Just say you guessed. No one likes a know-it-all.”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t,” he says as he kisses her cheek. “But what I will say is, ‘pay up, wife.’”

Everyone except Logan, Linc, and I groan as they fish twenty-dollar bills from their pockets or purses. Simon and Charlie say their goodbyes since my niece is sick tonight, but they didn’t want to miss out. But during that, I notice Logan leans over to Porter and passes him the pile of cash.

Apparently, Linc notices too.

“Do I need to pick up the family tab at some point? Is this a thing the men do? I mean, I can. I will. But I don’t want your family to think I’m a scrub.”

I shake my head. “No. Logan’s a billionaire video game developer. Created SpaceCraft. He doesn’t always pay, but does this a lot. You’re safe.”

Linc’s eyebrows shoot up. “You’re…he’s—” Before I know it, I realize I’ve lost my boyfriend to the lore of my brother-in-law. “I fucking love the new game you just came out with! The guys and I play all the time!”

Logan laughs and stands up from the table. “Thanks, mate. How about we talk about it over a game of pool? Guys? Doubles?”

“Ah man!” Simon pouts as his wife starts dragging him out of the bar.

We all laugh as each of the guys start standing up.

“You good if I go play?” Linc asks.

“Of course,” I say, kissing his cheek. “Go have fun.”

A genuine smile crosses his lips before he kisses me goodbye. He’s not even two steps away before Emmett comes over, slapping him on the back, which I have a feeling means he’s going to be talking all things football, Fury, and video games for the foreseeable future.

“You’re happy.”

It takes me a second to realize that Maeve’s talking to me. “I am.”

“That’s what happens when you’re getting good dick.”

Stella smacks Quinn since she’s the closest to her. “Jesus Christ, Quinn.”

“Ouch,” she rubs her shoulder, but then sets her eyes on me. “And speaking of JC, blink twice if you’ve seen him or cried out his name.”

I smile, blink twice, and add in a wink for good measure.

“Fuck yeah!” Quinn yells. “Honestly, that makes me happier than anything.”

“Can I admit something?”

“Absolutely,” Maeve says. “And don’t think because Quinn is staring at you that you have to tell more than you want.”

I glance over to Quinn, who’s giving me some wagging eyebrows. I love her, but she’s ridiculous.

“For years, I’ve always wanted to talk sex with all of you. I was always so jealous you had these times to reminisce about. And I had nothing I’d experienced that was even came close to what you guys were describing, and I always felt so left out.”

“We’re sorry, Ainsley,” Stella says, wrapping me in a hug. “We just figured that you had them, but didn’t want to share.”

“Or that you were a virgin. We never figured out how to actually ask that one.”

“That’s fair,” I say to Quinn. “But for all those years, I thought y’all had to be exaggerating. That sex really wasn’t like that.”

“But now?”

You’d think that question would come from Quinn. But no. It’s Maeve, giving me a look like only a knowing older sister can give.

“It’s so much more,” I gush. “It’s…I see…he did…”

“She’s speechless, ladies,” Stella said. “That’s the first sign of good sex.”

“Second,” Quinn chimes in. “Sore legs are first.”

“You’re right!” I say and clap my hands. “And I know that now!”

We all start laughing, tipping our glasses to each other. As Stella and Maeve take a sip of their drinks, I take the opportunity to lean into Quinn.

“Also, I thought you’d like to know, I didn’t bite it.”

Quinn laughs and hugs me tight. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”

I’m proud of me too. Not for not biting Linc’s penis.

That is a low bar. But what I am proud of myself for is that I’m not ashamed or scared for sharing myself with my sisters.

Not self-conscious in what I’m going to say or share.

And that I did the scary thing and allowed myself to have the experience that led me here—to being with a man who loves me, who I love right back.

“While we’re very glad for you,” Maeve interrupts. “We do need to know that you’re okay. The latest headline was a doozy.”

I turn to my oldest sister, who’s giving me the most comforting “Mama Maeve” look she can. Every time a headline pops up about us, they all make sure to check on me. I always say I’m fine. But I know this has to be worrying them.

“I’m not lying when I say I’m fine,” I say. “Some get to me a little more than others.”

“Who’s doing this?” Stella asks. “Because at this point, someone is clearly after Linc, and by proxy, you.”

“I have a feeling I know who, and hopefully now she won’t be a problem anymore.”

Quinn’s ears perk up. “Please tell me you’re talking about that bitch from the game. What was her name? Cunty?”

I laugh, because it should be her name. “Katie. His publicist. Or I should say, former publicist.”

“Oh, thank God,” Quinn says. “She was something. And when I say something, I mean a cunt.”

I start filling my sisters in on details I hadn’t bothered them with, but to my surprise, they know a lot of it.

Thanks, Quinn.

What they don’t know is what happened two days ago. The blow-up. The scene we caused in the Fury facility parking lot. The way she just went ballistic seemingly out of nowhere.

“Oh shit,” Quinn says. “She’s full-on boiled bunny.”

“Exactly,” I say. “She had the crazy eyes.”

“Thank God she’s gone,” Maeve adds.

“I’m not sure,” I add. “Linc fired her, and his agent terminated all of their contracts. But something still feels off. It’s like…I don’t know…I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop or something.”

“Do you want me to do some digging?” Stella asks. “I rhinestoned an FBI hat, and I only got to wear it once.”

“Can you?” I ask. Who needs private investigators when you have Stella Banks at the ready? “I hope I’m just being paranoid and overthinking this. But the look she gave me when she walked away? She’s not going away quietly.”

“You aren’t,” Maeve says, bringing me in for a side hug. “Trust your gut, Ainsley. If something feels wrong, don’t ignore it. And, lean on us when you need to.”

I nod in thanks. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys about the arrangement. We thought it would be better if no one knew the truth.”

“We understand,” Quinn says. “It was funny, though, thinking you pulled one over on us.”

“I thought we did so good,” I say. “Linc was especially proud of himself.”

“Oh, that man was worse than you were,” Stella says. “That whole breakfast…the way he looked at you? Let you lead the conversation? Didn’t flinch at Maeve’s intimidation, or Simon’s attempt at it? That man was a smitten kitten from the jump.”

I look over to Linc, who I happen to catch looking back at me. I’m greeted with a wink before Porter has to slap him on the back to signal that it’s his turn.

“I really love him,” I say. “I know I’ve been acting a little strange since we met, but I promise you, I’ve never felt more me in my life.”

“We can tell,” Stella says as she holds my hand. “Through all of this, the one thing you always looked was happy. And I think everyone will agree with me that’s all we want for each other, is to find love that makes us happy.”

I look back at Linc, who’s now laughing with my sister’s partners.

This is what I wanted. This is what was missing from my life. A man who loves me, whom I love in return. Who gets along with my family. Who wants to be part of this with me.

I finally found it. And like hell I’m going to let Katie, or anyone else, tear this away from me.