Page 23 of Wish You Would

Her cheeks pinken. Briar wears every emotion on her face. It’s something I like about her. A lot.

“I’m not trying to push. But you said yourself that you’re over her. Why not go to the wedding and prove it? We can pretend that we’re a happy couple, really play it up. It could be fun.”

“Are you saying you want to be my fake date?”

Briar grins. “What would you say if I was?”

“No.”

Her shoulders drop. I expect her to leave it, but I should know better than that by now. Instead, Briar turns her bodyto face me, studying me with a determined, playful look in her eyes. It’s unnerving—and wildly sexy. Briar is so full of life. She’s always up for anything.

She locks eyes with me. “The offer stands, Holden. At least think about it.”

Be smart, Holden. You need to be smart. Saying yes to Briar’s proposition wouldnotbe smart. Still, some part of me wants to say yes to her. Maybe Briar has a point. If I avoid going, Amy might think I’m not over her.

“Briar?”

She’s chewing her bottom lip. “Yeah?”

“You’d wanna go to a wedding where you wouldn’t know anybody?”

“I’d know you,” she says. “Besides, it’s not about that. It’s about doing something nice for you. And I think we would have fun! A fancy dinner. Free drinks. As long as I stay away from the tequila, we’ll be fine.”

She rests her chin in her hand and smirks at me, her blonde hair falling in soft waves around her face. I can’t help the smile that tips at the corners of my mouth.

“And you’d have no problem pretending we’re a couple?”

“You act like it would be a chore, Holden. I mean, look at you… you’re not exactly a 2.”

I nearly choke on a potato. “Not a 2, hey?”

“Nope.”

“Then....?”

She taps her index finger to her chin two or three times as if she’s thinking on it. “A solid 6.”

I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Bee, you’re a ball buster. Give me time, I’ll grow on you.”

She tips her head back in a laugh, and I feel it in my chest. The sound is pure Briar: bright, impulsive, infectious.

Realization hits me. I have a crush on her.

I should hide in my room for the next couple of months until she moves out. Except I think it might be too late. I can’t get her out of my head.

“I’ll think about it, Bee,” I say, then add, “Oh, and I went shopping after work. I ordered you a bed. It will be here by the end of the week.”

“Thanks, Holden. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“It’s no problem.”

Getting up from my chair, I take our plates to the sink and do the dishes while she works on her laptop at the breakfast bar. When the kitchen is clean, I tell Briar I’m going over to Jake’s.

Everly is putting baby West to bed when I get to their house so Jake and I tackle the move as quickly and quietly as we can. That works for me—less chance for him to take any more shots about my new living arrangements with Briar. We move the bedroom furniture without too much trouble, but it’s still warm out and Jake and Everly don’t have air conditioning in their place so there’s a sheen of sweat on my skin by the time we’re done.

It’s quiet downstairs when I get back to my house; no sign of Briar in the kitchen or living room. Needing a shower, I head to my bedroom. My eyes land on my bed, and I can’t help but wonder where I’ll be sleeping tonight. Will I be back on the couch or next to Briar? I know where I want to be sleeping.

Smart, Holden. Remember, be smart.

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