Page 37 of I Wish He Would

An emotion I can’t name flickers across her features. “No. No, he’s great. But I ran into someone right outside of the box suite.”

I press my lips into a firm line. “Who?” The word comes out in a growl. If reporters somehow got up there and interviewed her, I’m going to have some very strong words for security.

She sighs. “Bianca, Bradley, and his parents.”

I run a hand over my stubble. “What did they say to you?”

“They basically implied how crazy it is that I have a plus-one to the wedding.”

I grit my teeth. I hate that she ever dated that man. I hate that they speak to her that way. I hate that her cousin is so horrible. But, most of all, I hate that I wasn’t right there with her to hold her hand and stand up for her like I did the night I met Bianca and Bradley.

The night I first met the woman who has only made my life better every day since.

“You know they’re just jealous, right?”

Her eyes flash to me. “Jealous?” She laughs. “What do they have to be jealous of? They have enough money to—”

“They might have money, but they’re not rich in the same way you are.”

Alyssa quirks an eyebrow. “And what way is that?”

“You have people who love you.” I shrug. “People might like them for their checkbook or extravagant parties. But you can’t tell me people are actually friends with them because they like them.”

A small smile pulls at her lips. “Okay, that’s fair.” She steps closer and pulls me in for a hug. “I’d rather be love-rich any day.”

“Me too,” I agree.

Alyssa’s shoulders shake against me in silent laughter. “Says the man who has a multimillion-dollar contract.”

“Hey, I said I’d rather be love-rich.”

“And you just happen to be love-rich and rich-rich?”

“Hey, you said it.” I pull back and squeeze her shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to deal with them alone.”

“It’s okay.”

It’s not, but I don’t think I’m supposed to be the one to tell her that. I shove my hands in my pockets and lean back against the car. “You want to get out of here? Grab some food?”

“I could always eat,” she says. “But I drove here tonight.”

“I can drop you off at your car after.”

“Hm.” Alyssa taps a finger to her lips. “Get food with my best friend or go home and eat whatever leftovers I can find in the fridge?” She raises and lowers both hands like she’s weighing the options. “I think I’ll go with A.”

I smile. “A for ‘Awesome Austin.’”

She shakes her head with a laugh. “It better be good food.”

I round the car and open the passenger door for her. “I can guarantee it will be better than whatever’s in your fridge.”

“That, my friend, is a low bar.” She slides into the seat.

I lean my forearm against the frame of the open door. “Then I guess you’re just going to have to trust me.”

With the way she beams up at me, I think it’s safe to say she does.

Something was different about Austin yesterday.