Page 63 of When We Meet Again

I reach for a pair of my shorts. She’s going to float in them, but having her in my clothes gives me a divine sense of contentment. Besides, if Patrick’s coming here, I’d rather she was in some sort of dry clothes, even if they are mine… But I don’t think heshouldbe here. Not right now. Not while she’s in this state.

“Patrick.” I stop in place, holding the clothes in my hand, gripping them a little too tightly. “I’d love nothing more than to bring you into my home, but it seems like you have a lot to discuss with her. And quite frankly, I think it’s best if I’m not a part of it.”

“You never had a problem being a part ofusbefore you stopped coming around, did you? In fact, I’m pretty sure I overheard your dumbass friend say that you ghosted us because you were in love with my woman.”

There’s a side of Patrick that I’ve never seen before. He’s usually an upstanding citizen. Respectful with his words and actions…for the most part. But this comment is liable to end up in an uppercut to his jaw. I know Hendrix has a big fucking mouth, but I never admitted to feeling anything for Waverly. Not then. And unless he was talking to me, I know my business is safe in his hands. My name doesn’t come out of his mouth. He isthe most loyal friend I have. Far from the brother who’s taunting me right now.

“Patrick…” my voice is low but rumbles with warning. Everything is too up in the air to discuss. The shock of him being alive has to die down a bit. I make my way to the living room, a lot warmer than when I left. I’m not sure if Waverly turned the heat on, or my brother’s caused my blood pressure to skyrocket.

I offer Waverly my clothes with a smile. She eyes the shirt on top and her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. I want to know what she thought of that night.

“Not tonight. You can wait. She needs time.” I hang up the phone and turn it off.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“You know what. For doingthat.” Her face falls, “I’m so sorry for putting you in the middle.” She takes the clothes and holds them to her chest.

“Kensi…” I rest my hands on her upper arms, rubbing up and down. “As much as it pains me to admit this, I’ve always been in the middle. And I’m not going anywhere.” The tension leaves her muscles, and she rewards me with a small grin before disappearing into my bedroom to change. I’m fully prepared for what she’ll look like when she walks out of that room wearing nothing but my clothes, and I stare intently at the thick black door like I’m trying to summon some magical X-ray vision. Ever since that night on the boat, I’ve tried to relieve the extreme case of blue balls I’ve had since Waverly Kensington got propelled into my life again, but to no avail, it’s impossible to relieve the pressure myself.

A click sounds and the door slowly opens. My chest is tight waiting for her to reappear, and the tension is fucking killing me.

“Oh my God,” I say under my breath. Her hair is in a messy bun on top of her head with heaps of natural curls popping outfrom the sides. The t-shirt is tied at her waist, and my shorts are rolled at her hips.

She notices me drooling, and for a long moment she looks back at me. My gaze lowers, as does my voice, “I can’t sleep with you.”

Her eyes blink rapidly, looking around the room, most likely as taken aback by my words as I am. Although there is an obvious invitation smoldering in my eyes that says the exact opposite of my outburst, she agrees. “Good to know.” She prances toward me with a little extra sway in her hips. Or maybe her hips aren’t swaying. Maybe it’s just me falling into a seduction that’s been whirring around us for a half decade, neither of us bold enough to say what we feel.

Now’s the time, you moron.

“I don’t want to sleep with you, anyway.” Her words tug at my heart. Is it because, despite his ignorance when it comes to the women he dates, she may still be in love with him? Her brow raises and she sucks in her cheeks, either fighting a smile or a sob.

So, I decide to let her off the hook. This whole situation is fucked. And we’ve had enough tears for one night.

“I need to take some time and figure all ofthisout.” Another knife to my heart.

“I’d be worried if you didn’t, Kensi.” She casts her eyes downward. “But we don’t have to talk about it now…” I opt for a subject change. “How’s your finger feeling?”

She holds it up like a child showing someone her boo-boo. “It’s better. Not really throbbing anymore. Just an annoying dull pain.” She pulls her cheek into her mouth and starts to bite. That can’t feel good.

“Movie? I’ll let you pick.” That earns me a smile.

“Twister.”

My smile drops. “Seriously?Twister?”

“Yes, it has thatright person wrong timething happening.”Gotcha.Minus the tornadoes, it’s essentially a similar situation between us, I guess.

CHAPTER 33

WAVERLY

Fortunate:There is something to be said about waking up in my best friend’s arms. The exact arms I can’t imagine never embracing me again.

Unfortunate:These arms around me will have to let me go. For a short time, anyhow.

I’m stuckunder the weight of an elephant. Well, not really. But Roman is sleeping like the dead with his leg and arm thrown over me as if he’s afraid I’ll be gone when he wakes up.

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