Page 1 of Wish You Would

ONE

I MAY BE CELIBATE, BUT I’M NOT BLIND.

Holden

The high-pitched sound of a woman’s pleading echoes off the walls when I slide open the patio door and step into my best friend Tucker’s house.

“What do you mean? You can’t be serious! Where am I supposed to stay?”

Tucker and I just finished a 5-mile run, and I had agreed to a quick beer at his place before heading home. From the sound of it, we’ve interrupted something.

Tuck’s wife Daisy is sitting at the kitchen counter, her chin cupped in her hands as she watches a very upset woman pace a hole in the tile floor. She holds her cell phone out in front of her, her platinum hair swinging as she shakes her head vigorously at the guy on the other end of the call.

“It’s out of my control,” says the man, who is on speaker. “It is what it is. It’s an inconvenience for me too.”

“It is what it is?I don’t think you understand. I have nowhere else to live.” She emphasizes each syllable.

Daisy waves us in, a grimace on her face as she returnsher attention to the phone call. Tucker heels off his running shoes and then crosses the kitchen to where Daisy sits, placing a kiss on her temple.

The corners of my lips quirk in a smile. Tucker is such a giant mush around his wife. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that my best friend is a married man.

Daisy has been the best thing to ever happen to Tuck. They’ve actually known each other since birth— they even share the same birthdate—it just took 25 years or so for them to actually get together. There was always an undeniable tension in the air whenever they were in the same room, but I always assumed it was because they hated each other. It turns out the exact opposite was true, and they finally realized that. I’m happy for them, and Daisy has become one of my closest friends. But things are just different now.

Tucker and I were roommates for four years, but he moved in with Daisy when things between the two of them got serious. I’d never admit it to him, but I miss having him around the house. We used to do everything together, now I’m lucky if I see him once a week.

One by one, every one of my buddies have gotten hitched. Tuck married Daisy, Jake married Everly, Grayson married Jake’s sister, Sierra. I’m the last one standing.

Watching these guys settle down has forced me to take a long, hard look at myself. There was a time not too long ago when all I was interested in was hooking up and no-strings sex. That all ended when I met Aubrey, and well, that ended in a huge fucking disaster.

So, here I am on a self-imposed detox. I’m focused on work and on myself. No one-night stands. No women, period. I’m celibate and committed to keeping it that way for the foreseeable future.

“How could this happen?” the woman wails into the phone, pulling my attention back to her.

“Is everything okay?” Tucker whispers into Daisy’s hair. She shakes her head in response.

“You told me the place was newly renovated. You said it was in mint condition. Those were your exact words.Mint condition.”

I feel like I’m intruding. I should probably just turn around, jump in my truck and head home. I catch Tucker’s eye and nod toward the door, but he waves me off. He grabs a couple of glasses from the cupboard, fills them from the tap and then hands one to me. I chug it back, realizing how thirsty I am after our run.

“I’m sorry again, ma’am,” the voice says on the other side of the call. “I promise you’ll be the first to know when everything is fixed. You have first dibs.”

“Wow, thanks,” she says, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I signed a freaking lease. I gave you a deposit.” The blonde stops pacing and stands with her back to me. My gaze wanders to her heart-shaped ass. I may be celibate, but I’m not blind. “Isn’t there another unit I can stay in while you work on mine?”

“I’m sorry, I’m full.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“I will keep you up to date on the repairs. I need to go. I’m sorry again.”

The line goes dead as the blonde huffs out a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” Daisy’s face is sympathetic.

“No, I’m not okay.” She stuffs her iPhone into her back pocket and then turns around. She looks up to me, and my heart seems to stop beating in my chest.

Emerald-green eyes. Platinum-blonde hair that falls inwaves past her shoulders, the strands so shiny they shimmer under the kitchen lights. A perfect nose, and lips that are glossed in pink and look as soft as pillows.

Goddamn… she’s beautiful.

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