Page 3 of Wish You Would

“I’ll keep her in my room. I promise. No lecture needed. And Holden—”

Briar pushes up from her chair and walks across the kitchen to where I’m standing, then wraps her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”

The moment our bodies touch, tingles race over my skin. I wonder if she feels it too. She smells like sugar and lemons, and for a second my brain seems to scramble. Her ample chest is pushed against my ribcage, her small hands rub back and forth over my shoulders. Thankfully, she unwinds her arms from my body and takes a few steps backwards, putting some much-needed distance between us.

“Briar is a great cook,” Daisy says, motioning towards her best friend, her eyes sparkling. “And she’s really good company when she’s not reading her smut books.”

“They’re called romance novels,” Briar corrects her as she crouches in front of the cat carrier and pulls out Bear. She squishes her face into the cat’s neck, scratching its ears before holding the thing out to me. The cat hisses.

“Not a cat guy, remember?” I hold my hands up in defense and take two steps backwards.

“I don’t think Bear is a fan of yours either,” Tucker mutters with a smug smile. I flip him off.

“Don’t feel bad. She hates most people.” Briar snuggles the fur ball into her chest as my eyes begin to itch at an alarming speed.

“Way to sell him, Briar,” Daisy deadpans

Briar stuffs the fleabag back into the carrier as I use my T-shirt to wipe at my watery eyes.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? I just hope I canput up with living with the two of them for the next couple of months.

“I am so happy this all worked out! I know you two are going to like living together. You’re the best, Holdey.” Daisy squeezes my bicep. “And I love you, Briar, which means Holden is going to love you too.”

“Here’s hoping,” Tucker mumbles with that same shit-eating grin across his face.

I try to ignore how much my best friend is enjoying watching my misery as I slowly come to terms with the fact that I won’t be living alone anymore. Forget walking around in my underwear or blasting whatever music I want to on Saturday mornings. She’d better not make a mess or move any of my things around. I like things the way I like them. Neat and organized. In their place. As much as I’ve missed having Tuck as a roommate, I’ve gotten used to living on my own. By my rules only.

Fuck.

Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I try to fight off the intense feeling of regret. I came here for a fucking beer, and I’m leaving with a roommate.

“Why do you look so grumpy?” Tucker shoots me a sideways glance after the girls have gone upstairs to look at how the reno is progressing.

“Is that a serious question?”

Tucker laughs. The fucking guy laughs.

“If I knew I was going to be swindled into living with a woman I barely know, I would have stayed home.”

“Oh, come on, Holdey. You’ve been in that house all alone for a year. She’ll only be there for a few weeks. Besides, it will be good for you to have some company before you turn into a grumpy old man.”

A long stretch of silence lingers between us as I stare at Tucker with my eyebrows raised.

“A few weeks? Try months. Thanks a lot for the help, by the way. You’re supposed to be my friend. Where were you when your wife gave me herplease, Holdeneyes?”

“You’ve met my wife. She’s the boss. I am no match for Daisy Collins.”

It’s true—Daisy calls the shots. Normally, I would give Tucker a hard time for handing his balls over to his wife, but I’m too distracted thinking about my new roommate.

Briar is beautiful. Stunning. Different from the rest.

Shit, I’m in trouble.

“Hey. Be nice to her, okay? She has a lot going on.”

“Obviously. I’m always nice.”

“No, but you are particular.”

---