One Moment Please (Wait With Me #3)(56)

Josh finally relaxes, the corner of his mouth quirking into a small smile as he steps back and presses himself against the opposite wall. Biting his lip as if in pain, he tucks himself back into his jeans and sets about fixing his appearance.

My dress has ridden all the way up, and my panties hang on by a thread, so I gingerly press my thighs together, ignoring my flush as I attempt to pull my skirt down.

Josh presses a hand to his chest. “I’m sorry, Jones. I shouldn’t have—”

“I know,” I finish his thought, flinching slightly at the feeling of rejection coming off him.

He watches me warily for a moment as though he doesn’t know what I’m thinking. I don’t even know what I’m thinking. Physically, I want him. No question about it. I want to finish what we started and maybe never stop. But I can see a wall going up on his face and that vulnerability he showed mere moments ago is completely gone, and I don’t know how that changes my feelings.

Josh exhales and slides his hands into his pockets. “I’m sorry I lost it on you before. Hearing your mom…seeing you get hurt…I was right there and didn’t stop any of it.”

“You couldn’t have stopped it,” I reply soothingly and glance at my bandaged wound. I offer him a reassuring smile. “I’m sorry I thought tonight could be anything but a shitshow.”

He nods thoughtfully for a moment. “At least we got the job done.”

I huff out an incredulous laugh. “Only had to put out one little fire,” I reply—and I’m not referring to the chicken.

Josh’s eyes hold mine for a moment as though he knows exactly what I’m talking about, but then, just as quickly, he replaces the mask and pushes himself off the wall. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

He moves to head out of the bathroom, pausing at the door like he’s going to say more, but then he must think otherwise. Once he’s gone, I slide off the counter and turn to gaze at myself in the mirror.

What the hell is my next move now?





By the time I come out of the bathroom, the kitchen is cleaned and our parents are all putting on their coats to leave. It’s a welcome sight because I can’t even stomach the idea of sitting through an entire dinner after everything that’s happened tonight.

My mother hugs me, trembling in my arms as she holds back her tears. When we pull back, she touches my cheek. “I think this is going to be wonderful for you, Joshy.”

I reply with a silent scowl, refusing to feed into her hopes and dreams for me. If she thinks this baby and Lynsey are going to change everything, she’s going to be disappointed. I shake my dad’s hand, waiting for his comment because he’s always been known for busting my balls, and tonight was no different.

“You’re not an idiot for living in the moment, Josh,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder and pulling me in for a rare hug. “But you’re an idiot if you don’t do right by this girl, you hear me?” He pins me with a serious look that presses a heaviness on my shoulders that I haven’t felt the entire time I’ve known Lynsey.

Just then, she emerges from the bathroom. I clear my throat and walk my folks outside to give her some privacy with her parents. They clearly took the news harder than mine, and I don’t need her feeling pressure from my parents and hers.

By the time I say my goodbyes and walk back up the front steps, Lynsey’s mom steps outside.

She says, “Are you sure you won’t come home with us, Lynsey? I think Father Tom could come by in the morning and have a good talk with you.”

Lynsey stands at the door and offers a wobbly smile to me. “I’m sure, Mom.”

Darren joins Sue on the stoop and offers his hand to me. “Just remember that Jesus is watching.”

“Yes,” Sue exclaims, pinning me with a threatening stare. “Lynsey showed me her separate bedroom, but you should still know that having a baby out of wedlock is a sin.”

“Mom!” Lynsey cries, and Sue instantly shuts her mouth.

They make their way to the car, and I follow Lynsey inside. I close the front door and pause as she scurries around the dining room table, straightening the place mats that really don’t need to be straightened. I tilt my head and take in her appearance. She’s still wearing her black dress, but her heels are gone, and her hair is in disarray. Probably from me earlier in that bathroom.

Jesus Christ, what was that? Flashes of her lips on mine flood my thoughts. I lost my shit in there, mentally and physically. Especially physically.

My dick thickens inside my jeans as I recall just how close we were to connecting again. To feeling each other completely once more. She’s right, though, this situation is complicated. Having her here under my roof and keeping my hands off of her is harder than I expected.

But I don’t want her anywhere else. I want her here.

Suddenly, I remember something she said at the table earlier tonight. I slowly make my way into the dining room and ask, “What’s this about you finding your own place? I thought we had that discussion already.”

Lynsey pauses her pointless fidgeting and looks at me from across the table. “We never said me moving in here was going to be forever.”

“You’ve been here a month, Jones,” I reply stiffly, leaning over to splay my hands on the table. “We have a long way to go with this pregnancy. I thought you’d at least stay until after the baby is born.”