Page 43 of Wish You Would

It hadn’t been all that difficult for me to go an entire year without intimacy with another woman, but one night with Briar is all it took to make me want more.

Maybe she’d agree to one more time. Maybe she’d agree to more? If there is anyone who could bring me out of my celibacy for good, it’s her. Fuck me, this girl has gotten to me. I can already tell I’m getting too attached to Briar and that is exactly what I promised myself I wouldn’t do. There’s no point letting this go any further when I know there’s no hope for a future.

Why am I such a disaster when it comes to relationships? I let out a frustrated groan before dragging myself out of bed, brushing my teeth and throwing on a pair of shorts.

Maybe a cup of coffee will help me see things clearer. I tell myself it doesn’t matter if Briar is here or not, but when I step into the kitchen and see her sitting at the bar sipping a cup of tea, I instantly smile.

Her hair is a blonde, wild mess on top of her head and she’s wearing my T-shirt slung over her tiny frame. She startles when she notices me, and Bear, who had beensitting on her lap, leaps out of her arms and onto the floor.

“Oh no! I’m sorry!” She springs from her stool, chasing Bear into the living room.

I lean against the counter and watch as she tries to wrangle the cat into her arms. When she finally gets a hold of her, she strokes the thing behind its ears then presses a kiss to the top of its head. “I’m sorry, Holden,” she says, grimacing. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

I press my lips together, preparing for the sneeze that I already feel coming my way.

“Oh god, you’re mad. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“I’m not mad.” I hold up a hand as the sneeze finally barrels out of me.

“You’re sneezing again. And your eyes are red. Holden, are you okay?”

She crosses the room to where I’m standing, Bear still in her arms. When she’s a few inches away, I sneeze again.

“I’m fine.” Or I will be once I take my allergy meds. And once she gets that damn cat away from me.

Briar looks from the cat to me, her eyes widening. “Holden Banks, are you allergic to Bear?”

I bite my lip. “Maybe.”

Briar’s jaw drops. “What!” She playfully taps my chest. “Why on earth would you allow me to move in with you if you’re allergic to cats?”

I shrug, opening the cupboard and reaching for my Claritin. “You needed a place to stay.”

“Have you been taking medication this entire time?” I shrug again. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“This is why I didn’t tell you,” I say, filling a glass from the tap and swallowing the tiny pill. “I knew you’d make a bigger deal out of it than what it is.”

“A bigger deal? Holden, you have been drugging yourself so I can live with you. It’s a big deal.”

“A little dramatic, don’t you think?” She’s so fucking cute.

“Not even a little.”

I raise my hand, holding my index finger an inch from my thumb. “Just a little.”

Briar hands me a plate heaped with powdered sugar-topped French toast and bacon. “I made you this. I’m going to put Bear back in my bedroom before you drop dead from anaphylactic shock.”

I roll my eyes as I watch her walk away, then turn my attention to the gigantic mess she’s made in my kitchen. As usual, it’s like she took a wrecking ball to the place. But on the other hand, she took the time to make me breakfast. A breakfast she won’t eat. She’s always busy doing nice things for the people in her life, including me. Busy Bee. The nickname suits her. And if you ask me, I think it’s growing on her.

A few minutes later, she returns to the kitchen but stops near the doorway. I feel her eyes on me as I eat breakfast.

I look up from my phone and catch her staring, then raise my eyebrows at her. “Do you want me to put on a shirt, Bee?”

“You know, not everyone likes guys who are all muscle-y.”

“But you do,” I say with a smirk.

“I’m never looking at your muscles again,” she huffs.

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