Page 79 of I Knead You Tonight

And I let her walk away.

Again.

I wait at least a minute before exiting the laundry room myself, surprised when I run into Foster, who’s standing there waiting.

“What’s up, man?” I ask casually.

“Look, it’s not my business, but I just wanted to say…please don’t hurt her. She’s Wren’s best friend. I don’t want to have to choose sides if this all goes south.”

My stomach feels like it’s been punched.

Foster’s my best friend. He knows me better than anyone.

Does he really think so little of me? Think I’d hurt Drew on purpose?

I grind my teeth, my jaw throbbing from how hard I have my molars pressed together.

“I don’t mean it in a bad way, Win. I just know you. You aren’t exactly known for being a commitment kind of guy. You’re just…well, you, and Drew is in a tough spot right now with Riker and everything else going on in her life. Don’t—”

“What?” I seethe. “Take advantage of her emotional state? Is that what you think of me?”

He shakes his head, holding his hands up, trying to soothe me. “No, no, I don’t. You know I don’t. I’m just saying make sure you’re both on the same page about what you’re doing. I’m just trying to look out for everyone involved.”

“Mostly your own balls,” I say.

He laughs. “Well, kind of. But also everyone.” He hooks his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna go help Wren finish getting everything ready. Might wanna, uh, wash your hands. Dinner’s done.”

Foster gives me one last long look before turning and leaving me in the hallway alone.

He’s wrong.

This isn’t some one-off for me. It’s not a fling, not something I’m just randomly acting on.

I like Drew—a lot more than I’m willing to admit to her or anyone else.

Sure, she drives me insane, but that’s nothing new. Everyone drives me insane.

But she also calls me on my shit. She doesn’t want me to waste away into nothing. She pushes me. Annoys me, yes, but pushes me. To be better. To be something more.

I hate it, and I love it.

I hateher, and I think I could love her.

If she’d let me.

* * *

“Shhh.”I pat the back of a screaming Riker. This seems to be a new thing with us, me getting up in the middle of the night to care for him.

I’m not complaining by any means, because it’s not like I sleep that well anyway.

I wouldn’t admit this to anyone, but I enjoy our time together. Even with all his wailing and waking me up in the middle of the night, Riker is a pretty cool little dude.

“Go back to sleep, buddy. It was just a bad dream is all.”

I walk him around the room for several minutes in an attempt to settle him down. My shoulder is aching with his weight, but I push through it like I always do for him.

“That’s right, close those tired little peepers. Get some shut-eye for all our sakes.”

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