Chapter 47

Winnie I stare after Jake as he storms to the cash registers. My heart is telling me I’ve messed up badly, and I don’t know what to do.

Do you ever say stuff you wish you could take back? My biggest flaw is that I talk without a filter. I speak first, think later, and it’s a huge problem that I don’t know how to get rid of.

I sigh and hear a chuckle from behind one of the shelves. A dude is standing there with a stroller. He looks like a beefcake and smirks when he notices me looking at him.

“Are you laughing at me?” I ask in a suspicious tone.

“You bet I am,” there is no shyness in his voice, and I find it rather rude that he seems to find amusement in my defeat. “Mind if I give you a piece of advice, kid?”

“Kid?” I question. This guy can’t be much older than me. He is tall and sporting a scary beard, but he can’t be older than thirty.

“Yeah, it’s what I call youngsters in love,” he chuckles to himself and focuses his intense eyes on mine.

“That guy you just fought with, if you want to remain his friend, I suggest you go and tell him that you’re an asshole. Better get it out there on the field quickly. If he knows you’re aware of your own shitty personality, chances are he might forgive you easier-take it from someone whose wife is way too good for him.

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I stare blankly at him, and the guy winks at me before taking down cookies from the top shelf. He packs like twenty packages under his stroller but holds one package for me.

“These are my go-to when my wife is mad at me. I suggest you bring sugar to your man and maybe some chips and dip. The barbecue flavor is pretty damn good.”

Is this guy for real? I keep staring at him, gaping like a goldfish, while he continues. talking.

“If your man works out like me, he secretly wants this but feels too guilty to buy them. A gift, however, is different. If it’s given by someone, you have permission to eat it because you wouldn’t want to make the person who bought it for you sad. Am I right?

I laugh not because the guy is funny but because of how freaking bizarre it is to get relationship advice from him. Though, if he is married, then he got to have a point.

“I will give him the cookies and admit to him that I’m an asshole-got it. Anything else the wise man would like to share with me?”

He scratches his chin. He has sandy-colored hair and tanned skin, but his beard is a mix of sandy and brown. “That guy, can you honestly not see you guys becoming more than friends?”

“With how angry Jake was when he left me? “I sigh. “I’m lucky if I’m still invited for dinner…”

He snorts. “True… that guy was PISSED,” my Cupid, in bearded man’s clothing, bends down to pick up another cookie package. ” Here, you will need this more than I do.”

I’m now hugging two cookie packages to my chest. “Thank you so much for this. I needed this.”

My mystery man nods with his arms crossed over his broad chest, pleased to be needed. ” You’re welcome… also, you might need to play dirty to win over that guy,” those piercingly blue eyes meet mine.

“You have to seduce him if you want him.”

“Oh, but I don’t know if I do,” I answer him honestly and grimace. “Jake is pretty and all, but…” I remember the kiss and how my heart raced. It was the most alive I’ve felt in years. “But I guess… I’m curious if we could become more… there is chemistry in his kisses.”

“Mhm, but if you want him, you must seduce him. He is way past playing nice, so getting naked it is.”

“What?!”

“You heard me,” he puffs out his chest and wears this look that says trying to argue with him is pointless.

“If you want to be with… what was his name again?”

“Jake.”

“If you want to be with Jake, you must play dirty. No one gets over someone within a day, but since he is pissed and might do something stupid, like sleeping with another, you must seduce him tonight. Strip down, say you’re sorry and suck his cock.”

My eyes are bulging out of their sockets. ” What? Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?!”

“I’m a guy-trust me on this.”

“Okay… I guess I will,” I turn toward the cash registers and notice that Jake is standing there. He was already paid for his stuff but came back for me, and now, he is glaring at Cupid.

“Oh, your man is back, so I should get moving.”

“Thank you again… err… what is your name?

He turns around, smirking. “Maddox Daniels,” he winks at me again, grinning. “If you need more relationship advice, just look up my number. I’m down for helping other idiots in love. My wife is used to it.” 2 “Oh…” that is definitely… weird, but I don’t question what he told me. The man feels legit. “Well, my name is Winnie, and I might look up your number! Thank you again!”

“Anytime!”

I turn around right in time to witness Jake come over to me. He looks beyond pissed off this time, and even after stopping in front of me, he glares in the direction Maddox left.

“You flirting with old quarterbacks now?” He asks, and there is definitely jealousy in his tone. “Wait, let me guess! Football is way sexier than hockey. NFL before NHL, right?”

“Ouch…” I grimace and mumble, “I definitely deserved that…” Jake seems surprised by my words, and I use this opportunity to hold up a package of cookies to his face. “I’m buying these for you.”

eyes Now here is the most shocking part, his actually soften. It makes me feel terrible. Like, what the heck?!

I’m only showing Jake the cookies-I haven’t even bought them, yet Jake is starry-eyed and looks at me like I’ve given him gold.

How can he be so happy about cookies?!

“Those are my favorite,” Jake mutters and turns around. “I’m surprised you actually remembered.”

Those words cut into my heart. I look down at the cookies, and sure enough, it’s the kind Tobias used to serve us when we were little. Back in the day, I used to lift Jake up onto my shoulders so he could steal more of them from the cupboard. We had plenty of cookie heists…

Tears prickle behind my eyelids. I can’t believe I forgot about that. Jake used to be my partner in crime, and we always got in trouble together. He might not have said many words, but he never said no when I told him about my crazy plans.

He was a willing participant through fire and rain… always by my side.

A scene of me winning a chicken fight tournament with Jake during one of the college frat parties suddenly plays in my head, and I feel even more terrible. I kind of ordered him to be on my team, and he didn’t hesitate for one second. He helped, and I didn’t… did I even properly thank him?

Shit, when did I start taking him for granted? Fuck-fuck-fuck! I can’t believe that’s what I’m doing! Holy flipping heck. I’m a terrible person!

What do you do when you realize you’re an asshole?