Page 97 of Wish You Would

“If I asked him if I could stay?”

“Holden is so far gone for you. Think about it, Briar. There must be a misunderstanding somewhere.”

“Maybe you’re right.” I shrug one shoulder. “Thanks for last night. I love you.”

“Anything for you.” She smiles.

I drag myself to my car. Thinking over Daisy’s advice, I am starting to realize how badly Holden and I messed things up. I let my insecurities get the best of me. I should have swallowed my fears and talked to him. We both failed miserably at communicating.

I flip the visor down to look at myself in the mirror. There is no hiding the dark circles under my eyes. I barely slept, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t wait another second to talk to Holden.

By the time I pull my car into Holden’s driveway, tears are starting to roll down my cheeks. But this time they aren’t tears of a girl who hasn’t been chosen. They’re tears of hope. I’m going to be brave and ask Holden for what I want. If he wants something different, then at least I’ll know.

I’m getting my duffle out of the backseat when I hear the front door slam. I look up and my heart slams against my ribs when I see him striding towards me.

It’s Holden. He jogs down the few stairs and comes to meet me, determination in his eyes. And I know before he says a single word: He wants me. I feel it in my bones that he wants me to stay.

“Briar, baby…”

“Holden.”

Dropping my bag to the ground, I wrap my arms around his neck as he lifts me into his strong arms. I’m home. His face is in my neck. The hold he has on me is so tight I’m breathless.

“I was on my way to see you,” he whispers against my ear.

“I was coming to seeyou.”

“Briar, I don’t want you to leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying.”

He drops me down to my toes, gripping my face in his hands. His mouth seals to mine in a searing kiss, his tongue forcing his way into my mouth. He breaks the kiss before I’m ready, locking his eyes with mine. “You’ll really stay?”

“Yes, baby. I never wanted to leave. I thought you didn’t—”

He cuts me off with another quick kiss. “I know. I should have told you what I wanted. I should have asked you to stay. I never wanted you to leave, but I thought… it doesn’t matter what I thought anymore. What matters is you’re staying, Bee.”

“I’m staying.”

Holden smiles at me with a promise in his green eyes before pulling me back into his chest. “There are things weneed to talk about, but we can do that later. I have half an hour with you before we both need to get to work. I need you, Bee. I need you so bad.” Then he’s dragging me into the house with him, tears still swimming in my eyes.

“I’ve gone too long without you, Briar, and I’m fucking starved.”

“I know, baby.”

“Do you realize how long I’ve had to go without kissing you?”

“I know, baby.”

“Never again, Bee. Never.” He runs the back of his knuckles along my cheek.

“We’re us again.”

I squeal when he picks me up, carrying me to the bedroom, my arms looping around his neck. Once we get there, he unbuttons his shirt. I start working on his pants.

“Take off your clothes unless you want me to tear them off.”

I do as he asks. The two of us undress, and like a man obsessed, he seals his mouth to mine. My tongue tangles with his. My hands weave their way through his thick hair. His hand dips down between my thighs connecting with my already wet center.

---