Like how she treated my mom after her shift and didn’t look at me with pity, or the kind tone she used with her, or how her face seemed to light up with energy when she talked about nursing. She hid her feelings like they were underneath armor, but pieces of her had slipped out that day at the hospital, and I wanted more.
I had two nights with her—the rehearsal dinner and the wedding—and my plan backfired in a split second when she opened the door to her place to let me in. “Hey, Brooks.”
“Michelle…” I said, trying my best to befriendlywith her. I always knew she was gorgeous, but seeing her dressed up like this killed me. She ushered me in and reapplied red lipstick, smacking her lips in the mirror in her hallway before grabbing a small bag. “Okay, Bummy. You’re either my DD tonight, or we take a car home.”
Her use ofwehad my mind instantly picturing her naked in my bed with that dark brown hair spread out, but I nodded instead of sharing that information with her. “Agreed.”
She eyed my dark gray button-up shirt and charcoal suit jacket and jeans with an appreciative nod. “You look handsome, B.”
Her old nickname for me.“Thank you.” My voice came out hoarse, and I cleared my throat before replying, “You look great.”
She raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Just great?”
“Fishing for a compliment,friend?” I let the word slide off my tongue with a little bitterness because Michelle was a walking wet dream with her dark green dress that hugged her hips, showcased her legs, and teased me with her ample cleavage. She had her curly hair in her signature half-up, half down look that suited her so well. She looked incredible, but she knew that. “Great is a compliment.”
“Mm hmm.” She pursed those red lips, and I wanted to kiss the subtle arrogance off her. My chest heaved when she ran a finger down my tie and stopped right above my belt. There was a brief moment where I thought she might continue going south. Her mouth was slightly parted, and a delicate blush started high on her cheeks. Her slender neck smelled like flowers, and I clenched my fists at my sides.Friends. Just friends.She looked up at me through her crazy long eyelashes and forgot to put up her walls she was so good at constructing.
I saw need and lust.
“Michelle,” I warned her, moving my hand to cup her chin. “Friends don’t look at each other like this.”
“True.” She hummed and winked. “Forgive me. This is new for me, trying to be friends with someone I’ve slept with. I don’t know the rules yet.”
“Fuck, I don’t either.” I squeezed her chin and ran my thumb over her bottom lip, hating how much I wanted to suck it, but then I stopped. “Let’s head out before we do something you’ll regret.”
“Something thatI’llregret? Not you?”
“I meant what I said. Now get your fine ass outside, Mitch. If I have to look at you all night without touching, I need a drink. A stiff one.”
“Nowthatis a compliment.” She laughed and locked her shitty apartment door before weaving her arm through mine. The place had the same wear and tear from two years earlier, and the fake paneling was peeling from the walls around her unit. I didn’t like the fact that there weren’t lights or cameras anywhere in sight, and I noted the smell of weed. I wanted to say something about it but knew she'd get defensive. When we first started hooking up, we always came here because I didn’t want her to know I played baseball, and find out she was a gold digger.
But it was immediately clear she was as independent as hell, almost too stubborn about it, and then we switched to hooking up at my place.
I hated that she lived in this place but I’d never speak a word of it.
She’d just push me further away. She was stubborn to a fault, and while I admired the quality, it was also a point of contention. Michelle did what she wanted.
I held her hand that rested on my forearm and squeezed it. She giggled and leaned into me before saying, “I don’t tend to toy with men, but with you…it’s thrilling.”
“Such an honor to amuse you,” I deadpanned and led us to my car before opening the passenger door of the Lexus. “I never took you for cruel. Sexy, yes, cruel, no.”
She made a sound in the back of her throat and swatted at me. “Need I remind you, B, you coerced your way into being my dateandinfiltrated my friend group. I was perfectly content going solo where we could’ve avoided all this…tension.”
“This is your payback? Torturing me?”
Her responding grin was answer enough, and I hopped in and started the drive toward the venue. It was weird having her in my car, before we’d met only at our apartments. We’d never gone on dates. Anytime I tried, she’d decline and distract me with her body. I knew every inch of her physically, but emotionally? I knew next to zilch about her and I wanted to know more. Like how she’d learned to be so kind to patients,why her brother needed money, and why the hell did she slam the door on me. I shook my head and focused on something she would actually answer.“So why nursing?”
She whipped her attention to me and pursed her full red lips. “Just always wanted to be one.”
“You were incredible last week when we ran into you, and…it’s not an easy profession. I’d love to hear why you got interested in it.”
She rubbed her lips together as one of her hands formed a fist on her lap.She’s worried.“Every time I talked to one as a kid, I admired them. They worked long shifts and always had an encouraging thing to say. One nurse, Candace, didn’t have to be so nice to me when my family…went through some things. But she was, and she changed my life.”
Don’t ask about her family. Don’t. She’ll pull away.“It’s wild how one event can stand out in your life and totally change your path.”
“Did that happen to you? With baseball?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “My grandfather would watch my brother and me, and the day he bought me a glove…well, that was it. I carried that thing around me everywhere and demanded whoever was with me play catch. I still have it, and it faintly smells of cigars and leather. It might be cheesy, but I bring it with me all season so I can have a little piece of home on the road, you know?”
