When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(21)

He snorts. “Well one, I’m just amazed at how you can eat warm pineapple, it makes me feel a little sick thinking about it. And two, damn you can put it away.”

I don’t know whether to feel offended at his statement or impressed with myself at being able to eat as much as he has, so I just shrug.

“I like my food, and I’ve already said, don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”

I shove a piece in his direction and he turns up his nose. “No, thanks. I think I’d rather live in ignorance for that one.”

I stick out my tongue. “Suit yourself, more for me then.”

And I take a big bite.



The movie finishes and we both sit there in uncomfortable silence, until he clears his throat.

“Do you want to watch another?” He asks, clearly not wanting to leave just yet.

“Sure, I’ll let you pick this time. Just no girly shit,” I say back with a wink.

He gets up and peruses the DVD collection, it hasn’t been updated in a little while so we’ve both probably seen every movie there at least ten times over, at least I have.

It takes him a little while but he finally picks one and comes and sits back down next to me.

As the beginning credits are on, he picks at invisible lint on his sweatpants, clearly wanting to say something. “I was thinking…” Oh hell, nothing good seems to come after that line. “…can I cash in that raincheck to take you out on my bike tomorrow?”

Here we go. “I’ve got work tomorrow, I’ve got to juggle around Sam’s clients now too, I don’t know when I’d be done by. Maybe another day?”

He scratches the back of his neck. “You don’t like me, do you?”

Wow, straight to the point there. He’s floored me and I don’t know what to say.

“It’s okay, Keeley, I can take it like a man.”

He winks at me but I can see the disappointment in his eyes, so I take it a different route. “Of course I like you! I wouldn’t have invited you up if I didn’t,” I say, pretending like I’m not trying to throw him off course.

He sighs and leans his elbows on his knees. “Please don’t treat me like I’m stupid. I think you know I like you, Keeley, but this vibe you’ve got going on is throwing off all sorts of signals. If you like me, great, and if you don’t, that’s fine too. I’d rather have you as a friend than nothing at all because underneath all of what you’ve got going on, you’re a great person. But I’d rather just know now so we can get past the awkward ‘oh my god, he likes me’ stage.” He takes a breath and just when I think he’s finished he adds in, “And get to the ‘we’re a guy and a girl and we’re friends and that’s okay’ stage because I think we could both use one right now, a friend that is.”

I can’t work out where this great guy came from. “You’re right.”

He waits on me to expand but I don’t know what to say. “Right about what? We both need a friend? Or... you don’t see me that way?”

His eyes dance between each of mine.

“Both,” I say on bated breath.

I flinch at the hurt look in his eyes, but he smiles. “So now that that’s over with, can we just move on? You can stop pretending like I’m going to set you on fire if you accidentally touch me now.”

His smirk makes me laugh and I’m instantly put at ease. Whoever ends up with this man will be so damn lucky, I just wish I could feel differently about him.



My cell blares out and I jump to get it off my nightstand, only to be thrown off onto the floor in the process.

“Ouch,” I croak and rub my ass.

“Shit sorry, Keeley,” a voice says.

Lewis? It takes me a minute but I realize we must’ve fell asleep on the sofa. He helps me up and I move to answer my phone.

“Hello?” I yawn in my sleepy state and start to get irritated when there’s no answer. “Helllooo?”

Whoever is on the other end hangs up, must’ve been a wrong number. Lewis is stretching when I turn back to him and say it out loud. “Wrong number.”

“Yeah, must’ve been. Listen, I’ve got to get back, sorry for throwing you onto the floor,” he says sheepishly.

I laugh. “I’ve had worse.”

He eyes me before giving me a tight smile. “Alright then, well I’ll… see you around? If you get bored while Sam’s away, give me a text and I’ll sort for a nurse to be with my mom.”

I nod and follow him down the stairs to lock up after him. By the time I flop into bed, it’s three in the morning and I’m already dreading the day ahead of me.





Morning sunshine, you’re probably super busy so I’ll be quick before you hunt me down for talking too much in the morning. I’m setting off on the last part of my journey now, wish me luck x

She’s right, with the crappy sleep I got last night and today’s early morning, I’m sitting here with a birds nest on my head sipping coffee before calling the first of Sam’s clients. It occurs to me that I should’ve done this yesterday, but nobody’s perfect, right? I send her a quick text back and punch the first number onto the touch screen.

“Hello?” The voice at the other end says.