Wait With Me (Wait With Me, #1)(37)

Sam clutches his chest at my burn. “So why don’t you want more than friendship with someone that cool?”

“You know why,” I nearly growl and then hear my phone chirp from the workshop bench. My nerves spike as I swipe my screen to unlock it, replying to Sam quickly, “I can’t get wrapped up in drama again.”

“Not all drama is bad,” Sam mumbles as I stare down at my screen.



Mercedes: Want to help me with some book research? ;)

Me: Yes.

Mercedes: Jeez. What if I said it involves sex with an animal or inanimate object or something?

Me: Does it?

Mercedes: No

Me: Then yes.

Mercedes: Okay, can you come over tonight?

Me: Yep.

Mercedes: Cool, bring beer and pizza.

Me: Done.

Mercedes: And bring those book boyfriend arms. ;)



I’m smiling like a fucking goofball when I remember Sam’s still sitting right in front of me. I look up and roll my eyes at his grim expression. “Let me hear it.”

He cups his hands to his mouth and booms. “You are screwed!”




Pulling up to Mercedes’s house, I feel nerves like I’ve never felt before. When I came to her place for her party last week, I had no expectations of the night. What happened between us wasn’t planned. I had a feeling something might happen, but that’s a hell of a lot different than sitting outside a girl’s house and knowing when you walk inside, you’re going to get laid. This feeling is equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking.

Stop being a pansy, Miles.

I grab the pizza and beer off the seat of my truck and make my way to her front door. When she opens it, I remember exactly why I was so nervous tonight.

This girl is way too fucking hot for me.

She’s dressed in a flirty little dark blue sundress with big pink flowers all over it. Her red hair is straight again, like that night at the bar when we first kissed. She’s kept her makeup light, but her lashes are long and framing her blue eyes beautifully. Her lips are shiny with a pink gloss that makes me want to lean in and—

“Hey, bro!” she barks, punching me in the shoulder.

I frown and pull back. “Hey?” I say it in question because I’m not sure why she addressed me like that.

She reaches out and grabs the beer. “Thanks for bringing the brewskies.” She turns on her heel and gestures for me to come in as she sets the beer down on her coffee table. She strides over and grabs the pizza box from me next. “I’m so hungry I could eat the ass end out of a dead rhino.”

“Are you having a stroke?” I deadpan because seriously, what the fuck is going on here?

“What do you mean?” she chirps, her eyes wide as she clutches the pizza box.

“Why are you talking like this?”

“This is my casual voice.”

My face screws up in disbelief. “I’ve heard your casual voice, and it usually consists of waxing poetic about complimentary coffee and cookies. Tell me what you’re doing.”

“I have no idea!” she exclaims and turns to set the pizza down by the beer. Looking back at me, she adds, “I was trying to be a friend. A bro. One of the guys. Au casuale.”

I have to bite back a laugh. “Well, stop it. I’m not going to fuck one of the guys, and with how hot you look in that dress, I’d very much like to fuck you tonight.”

“Hannah is an idiot,” she growls under her breath.

“Who?”

“No one,” she beams and slides her hands down her hips. “So you like my dress?”

I nod, my brows raised at the rosy hue creeping around her cheeks. “I’d like it better on the floor.”

I move in and pull her body against mine, but she pulls back. “Well, it will have to wait because I really am famished.”

I exhale through my nose, a low rumble vibrating in my chest. “Very well.”

We get comfortable on the couch, and Mercedes places a couple of slices on a plate for me. I crack open both of our beers, and we proceed to wine and dine ourselves, Boulder style.

“So how have you been?” I ask as she takes a bite.

“Good! You?”

“Good,” I reply, glancing down at her smooth, bare legs. “What did you do all week?”

Her brows lift curiously. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I didn’t see you come into Tire Depot, so I was wondering…where did you write at?” Jesus, Miles, get a grip! Are you seriously jealous of where she’s writing now?

She licks some sauce off her finger before replying. “Well, I’ve been redecorating that upstairs bedroom.”

Suddenly, I notice everything from that bedroom that we had stacked in a pile downstairs is gone. “When did the pod show up? I told you to call me, and I’d help you load it.”

She bites her lip. “It came Wednesday, but it’s fine. I managed.”

“You managed?” I argue, my brows furrowing in disbelief. “Some of that shit was really heavy. How did you manage?”

She looks nervous for a second and straightens her posture to reply, “Lynsey helped. And Dean.”

I sit back a bit, annoyance prickling my scalp. “I told you I’d help you.”