Page 87 of Wish You Would

“When did you all of a sudden like bubble tea?” I chuckle.

“When Birdie told me it was her favorite and that I needed to try it.”

That sweet girl could get him to try chocolate-covered grasshoppers if she asked him to. She has him wrapped around her little finger.

“I would never want to come in between you and a mango bubble tea,” I tell him.

“You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if you did,” he says, joining me in the entryway.

He flips the baseball hat he’s wearing so that it’s backwards, grabs his Nikes and slips them on. I roll my lips together. My heart does this boisterous flip in my chest. Holden in a suit is gorgeous but looking like this—in sweats and a ballcap—he puts all other men to shame.

“Did you see my wallet?” he asks, looking at the console table by the door where he usually leaves it.

“And you call me the disorganized one? Check the dresser. I’ll meet you outside,” I say as I head out the door.

There’s a sharp chill in the air, but it’s a sunny, blue-sky day; it’s the kind of day that reminds you that spring will be here soon. I wrap my oversized cardigan around me as I look across to the beach, putting a hand over my head to shield my eyes from the sun.

I suddenly startle at the sound of my name.

“Briar.” The voice is like sandpaper. A hand snakes around my elbow.

I try to tug my arm free as I look up to find my ex-boyfriend staring down at me.

Justin’s grip on my arm tightens. “Briar, we need to talk. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. I flew all the way here just to see you.”

I’m momentarily speechless, too shocked to form a coherent sentence. What is he doing back here? It’s beenmonths since I’ve talked to him, but it feels like a lifetime seeing how much he has changed since then. He looks different somehow—bigger, like he’s been spending hours at the gym. Or maybe he looks different because my feelings for him have changed. He no longer looks like the man I thought I loved, with the boyish good looks and charming smile. Now, all I see is all the time I wasted on him, and all the ways he let me down.

“Justin… why… what are you doing here?”

“What else was I supposed to do? You aren’t taking my calls. I’m here to talk to you, Briar. I’m going to take you home with me where you belong.”

Is he out of his mind? I look around, worried that someone will see us. I don’t want to have to explain this to our friends. I also don’t want to have to explain this to Holden, if he walks out and sees Justin with his hands on me.

“Justin, let go of me.”

He rolls his eyes. “Do you really think I would hurt you? Jesus, baby, it’s me. I’ve been going crazy trying to find you. Your mom wouldn’t tell me where you’re living, and your friends won’t answer my calls.”

“Then you should have taken that as a hint that I didn’t want to be found.” I tug on my arm, trying to loosen his grip on me. “Please, can you just let go of me?”

“Baby,” he rasps out, sounding desperate. “We just need to talk, and work this out.”

“Work what out? The fact that you have a problem keeping your dick in your pants and you can’t be trusted? We could definitely agree on that.”

“It was one time.” He shakes his head, acting as if it’s not that big of a deal. “Why can’t you just get over it? I love you. I always have.”

This has to stop. He needs to leave. I know Justin would never physically hurt me. For all his faults, he isn’t an aggressive guy, but I’m uncomfortable and I’ve had enough. “Justin, please let me go.”

“You heard her.” I whip my head around to see Holden stalking down the steps. “If you don’t get your fucking hands off my girlfriend right this second, I will break every bone in your goddamn body. Do you understand me?”

Justin’s grip on my arm immediately loosens enough that I can move away from him and over to Holden’s side. I feel his lips press against the top of my head as his arm slips around my waist. “You okay, baby?” He smooths his hand in a line down my arm.

“I’m fine. I just don’t want to talk to him.”

Holden turns to Justin.

“You can leave know. Briar has nothing to say to you. You proved to her what kind of a guy you are and now she’s with me. End of story. You can go book your flight home.”

Justin’s gaze shifts to where Holden’s hand is holding me tightly against him. Then I watch his gaze drift to the curve of my stomach.

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