Page 1 of Waiting to Love You

Chapter 1

Seth

“Why am I doing this again?” I mumble as I make my way down Main Street.

“Because my friends are your friends.” Brady smiles, slapping me hard on the back before turning his attention back out the window.

Brady and I have been practically inseparable since they placed us in the same bunk about five years ago. On the surface, Brady and I have nothing in common. He’s from Tyson’s Creek, has two parents who practically adore him, and the support of an entire town around him. I chuckle to myself as I remember the first time I came home with Brady while on leave after deployment. The entire town was decked out in American flags with signs welcoming their local hero home. We couldn’t go anywhere in town without someone wanting to shake his hand and ask him how he was doing.

At first, it made me uncomfortable, but after coming back to visit a few times, I understood that this was just how the townspeople were. They took care of their own, for better or worse. They were more like one enormous family instead of a town. Everyone looked out for each other and wanted the best for every person who came into town. That’s something I’ve never had before, especially growing up in the foster care system.

“And why is that again?” I snicker, knowing that everyone probably asks him the same thing after meeting me.

Brady is outgoing. The guy loves to be around other people, while I’m the quiet type, who would rather bury my nose in a book than go out and party—his polar opposite. But somehow, he got it into his head that we were going to be the best of friends and wore me down until I agreed. Being friends with Brady has brought me a peace that I haven’t known since my parents died, not that I would tell him that. His acceptance of me and all my issues has made it easier to breathe over the past few years.

“Because you love me. But mostly because my momma makes the best smothered pork chops, which she makes you every time you come to visit.”

“True. I am very food motivated.” I laugh as we make our way toward the center of town.

The streets are lined with people, but no one is rushing around or in a hurry to get anywhere. Tyson’s Creek looks exactly like you’d envision a small southern town being. There are a few mom-and-pop shops lining the street and no major chain stores in sight. As I make my way down the familiar street of my second home, I notice someone changing the marquee on the only movie theater in town, The Flickhouse. There’s a small bookstore tucked right next to it, with Tyson’s Hardware on the other side. Across the street from the theater is Just the Drip, a small bakery and coffee shop combo, which is the place to be in Tyson’s Creek. There are tables scattered in front filled with people, the peach-colored umbrellas open and casting shade over each table to protect the occupants from the sun.

“Pull in right there,” Brady points to what seems to be an empty store a few feet away from Just the Drip. “Walker and Riggs said they’d meet us here.”

“Where is here, exactly? This place looks deserted,” I question as I turn off the car and we both climb out.

“This is where the studio is going to be, but it’s not open yet. Walker said something about Bristol needing to do some practice classes or something to get her certification,” Brady replies as his phone chimes in his pocket, and he pulls it out. “It seems Walker and Riggs are running late, but Bristol should be inside. They said to go on in.”

“If you say so,” I respond skeptically as we approach the storefront.

The entire front is covered in windows, allowing natural light to fill the space. As we get closer, I notice the outline sketch of a logo on the front door with the words Nurture Space Yoga Studio outlined in black in a serif-type font. “Someone needs to get a better sign if they plan on bringing in more business,” I mumble to myself as I pull open the door and motion for Brady to head inside first.

The space is larger than I expected as we enter a small waiting room off to the right. There is a small desk tucked into the corner, with a small computer screen and a few succulent plants sitting on the edge. The walls are painted a calming shade of green, with light-colored wooden boxes strategically placed near the door for easy access. Inside each box appears to be an assortment of yoga mats filling each one. Directly below the boxes on the wall is a two-tiered wooden shelf, about the same size as the desk. Each shelf is filled with neatly rolled white towels, and a fancy water dispenser sits on the top of it, surrounded by more plants.

“Nice place,” I say before taking a seat in a chair positioned under the windows as I continue to examine the rest of the studio.

Directly across from the seating area is what can be best described as a shoe storage cubby bench to keep everyone’s shoes organized before walking through the small glass door to enter the studio. There is a large cutout in the wall above the bench, giving us the perfect view into the studio.

The entire back wall is covered in windows, with natural light reaching almost every corner of the room. There is a breathtaking view of the same hills that are on the outskirts of Tyson’s Creek. There are several houses sprinkled in the distance, and I notice a small wooden bridge that likely leads to another part of town.

A soft breeze brushes against my skin, causing me to turn toward the door. Walker and Riggs come strolling inside.

“Next time, I’ll drive. You drive like a damn grandma.” Riggs snickers as he gives Brady a one-armed hug before reaching down and giving my shoulder a squeeze.

“I drive at a safe speed, not like a man with a death wish like you do.” Walker walks into the reception area behind Riggs. “If you wouldn’t have overslept, none of this would’ve happened.”

I met Walker and Riggs the first time I came home with Brady to visit his family. Riggs seems to be the least serious of the two, choosing to waste his days giving Walker’s sister, Leia, a hard time instead of just telling her how much she means to him.

“Stacy wore me out last night. What can I say?” Riggs chimes in, causing me to shake my head in disapproval.

We all know how Riggs feels about Leia and has for years. Although I’ve only known him for a few years, I can see the way his entire face lights up the moment she walks into a room and how he orbits around her like she is the sun. However, whenever they’re in the same room with each other, he riles her up. Choosing to push her buttons with his sarcastic comments and sexual innuendos instead of sincerely letting her know how he feels.

Walker says this has been going on for years, ever since they all became friends as kids. While Brady and Walker had a perfect childhood, Riggs wasn’t so lucky. I don’t know much about his past, just that he swears he can’t be with Leia because she’s too good for him. I don’t know how he still believes this, especially with Walker doing everything he can to push the two of them together.

“Cut the act, Riggs. We all know you sat at home, searching for a way to get into Leia’s good graces,” Brady reaches for Walker’s hand and gives it a firm shake.

“I did not,” Riggs grumbles, running his hand through his dark-colored hair. “In all honesty, I slept through my alarm.”

“Dreaming about my sister?” Walker questions, his expression calmer than I would expect when talking about his friend’s feelings for his baby sister. I don’t have any siblings, but if I did, I doubt I’d be so calm if someone was dreaming about my little sister.

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