Kiss and Don't Tell(115)

“Beautiful point,” Hornsby says, turning toward me now, his hand draping over the back of the couch. “Do you want Winnie back?”

“He’d be an idiot not to want her back,” Taters says, surprising us all. When he feels all eyes on him, he casually shrugs. “I might have been a dick at first, but she grew on me. And I’m not an idiot, I could see how happy she made Lawes.”

“You make my nipples hard,” Hornsby says.

“I think that’s just because you haven’t gotten any for over a month,” Taters says. “Longest drought since I’ve known you.”

“Over a month? Really?” Posey asks. “Are you ill?”

“Can we bring it back to me, please?” I ask.

“That’s right. Hornsby might be . . . well, horny, but that’s nothing compared to the DEFCON 1 situation we have going on with Lawes,” Taters says. “So, like Posey was asking, are we dealing with a situation where you want the girl back?”

There’s no need to think about it. The past twenty-four hours have been absolute hell. Winnie is the kindest person I know. Her bravery, even after losing her mom, astounds me. I’ve relived so many of our moments over the last day—playing Jenga, our day in Banff, eating together in the loft, our hilarious drive from Banff to Vancouver—and even though we’ve only known each other such a short time, my heart knows her. My soul knows her. She’s quirky but sweet. She stole her mom’s trophy back. Her sharp wit makes me laugh, and her body . . . I miss curling into her body at night and then exploring it with my tongue. Her trust in me sexually blew my mind. But I miss her trust in me. I miss hearing her say my name and watching her eyes grow soft whenever she sees me. How I fucked all of that up just makes me angry.

I just miss her. So fucking much.

“Yeah, I want the girl back,” I say. “I want her back desperately.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” Posey fist-pumps the air. “Now, Hornsby, we can form a plan.”

“This is where I excel.” Hornsby rubs his hands together.

“How do you excel at this?” Taters asks. “You’ve never been in a relationship.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t know how to get a girl back. I’ve seen enough shows and movies.” Hornsby turns toward me. “First things first—deal with whatever Doc has to say. There’s no way you can make up with Winnie if your mind is completely fucked from whatever news he has for you.”

“True.” Posey pumps his fist from the ground.

“Secondly, you need to talk to Josh and clear the air with him. It’s evident you hate the guy, but you need a clean slate.” The thought of talking to Josh physically makes me feel ill. “Once we deal with that, then we go in softly.”

“Why does that bring up an image of a flaccid penis?” Taters asks.

“I thought of the same thing,” Posey says. “Too ashamed to say it, though.”

“I don’t mean go in with your penis.” Hornsby rolls his eyes. “I mean, you have to slowly woo this girl. Let’s be honest, she’s been freaked out with how fast her feelings for you grew, so why not take the time—and yes, it might be painful—but take the time to woo her? To get to know her better, on a deeper level. To just . . . talk. Become her friend. And from there, then you swoop in.”

Taters nods his head. “This is a good plan.”

“How is that a good plan?” I ask. “I want her back right fucking now.”

Hornsby grips my shoulder. “The best things are worth waiting for. Didn’t you tell her she’s worth the wait?” Why do these assholes remember everything I tell them? And why the hell do I tell them everything?

“Yes,” I grit out.

“Then, prove it. If she’s worth the wait, then she’s worth the time. If she’s worth the time, then you need to take it. Make the most of it. Don’t come barging in like a goddamn alpha asshole demanding she goes out with you again. Befriend her, woo her, sweep her off her feet, and then when the time comes, you win her back.”

“My nipples are hard thinking about the end result.” Posey rubs his nipples.

“Oddly, mine are too.” Taters brings his fingers to his chest. “I’m concerned.”

I turn to Holmes, who has been silent this whole time, looking for his opinion. “My nipples aren’t hard,” he says, then adds, “but it’s a good plan.”

Damn it.

I was hoping for something much faster, something that gets my girl back in my arms by tomorrow, but as much as I hate to admit it, I think they’re right. Winnie was always freaked out about how fast things happened, so why not slow it down? Why not give her a chance to take a breath and realize that it wasn’t just a whirlwind, that this—what we have—is real, and I’m hoping it’s forever.

Buzz. Buzz.

My eyes go to my phone on the coffee table. Doc’s name comes across the screen.

Fuck.

I reach down and pick it up. “Hey, Doc,” I answer. All the boys sit up and stare at me.

“Hey, Pacey. Do you think you can come into my office tonight?”

Fuck . . .

I swallow hard. “Yeah. I can come in.”





“I wasn’t aware I would be graced by all of you,” Doc says as he takes a seat at his desk.