The Perks of Hating You ( Perks Book 2)

by Stephanie Street

  Josh just laughed. “Don’t worry. Lisa’s been planning our wedding for the last six months. Proposing will just be a formality.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. “And the opportunity to give her the ring.”

  Wow.

  “Congratulations, man.”

  I only hoped I’d have the same happiness as my friend.

  Chapter 31

  Eden

  I knew Dylan was coming home. In fact, I had an app on my phone with Josh and my parents on it where I could check where they were with GPS. According to Google Maps, they’d be here in about five hours. I’d already asked Allie if I could spend the night, so I could avoid the whole welcome home thing. I just wasn’t ready for that, even if my racing pulse every time I thought of Dylan being in the same zip code told a different story.

  Allie was asleep already when I checked my phone for the millionth time that day. Josh was home. The little icon with his picture on it had been camped out at our address for the last three hours. He’d sent me a text about two and a half hours ago. One word.

  Chicken.

  And he was right. I was a chicken. As much as I was dying to lay eyes on Dylan, I was also scared to death. You’d think with all the time I’ve had to think about it, I’d have examined my feelings to the point that I knew exactly what they were. But that wasn’t at all the case. In fact, I was more confused than ever.

  I figured it wouldn’t be hard- to fall back into the easy friendship we’d always had. That part would be easy. Natural almost. Like putting on an old pair of sweats. But, oh, it would hurt. I should have known better back then. That night before he left when I all but begged him to kiss me. I should have known it could never just be there. Just then. I should have known that if it happened at all, it was going to be forever.

  And so far, it had been. I hadn’t felt even a single tingle of attraction for anyone since Dylan kissed me. So, how was I supposed to survive him being here? I wasn’t going to survive. That’s how. I just wasn’t.

  Hide.

  That’s what I’d do. Hide. Because friends would have been fine before, back when I was still convincing myself I hated Dylan Coulter. But now? There was no way I could be friends with the man I knew I loved.

  Shifting slowly on Allie’s queen-sized bed, I picked up my phone from her nightstand. I wasn’t sleeping, I might as well finish my Kindle book. I opened the app and settled in for a long night of medieval Scottish lairds and their ladies, when my phone vibrated in my hand. I knew without even looking at the notification who it was.

  Nervous anticipation slithered from my heart to my stomach and I felt a little sick. I navigated from my book to my message page.

  Dylan: You’re avoiding me.

  I could pretend I was asleep. I’d already turned off the read receipts. He had no way of knowing if I’ve seen his message.

  My phone vibrated again.

  Dylan: Come on, Ed. I know you’re awake.

  Me: How do you know?

  Dylan: Because I can’t sleep. And there’s no way you don’t want to see me as much as I want to see you.

  Me: Wanna bet

  Dylan: Haha. Come outside.

  Me: What? Where are you?

  Dylan: I’m outside. Come out.

  Heart pounding, I rolled out of Allie’s bed. There was no way Dylan was here. He must be at my house. My phone buzzed again.

  Dylan: Please.

  Me: I’m not at home.

  Dylan: Ed. I know. Your whole family was there to meet us. Except you.

  Dylan: I’m here.

  Ohmigosh. Ohmigosh. Could it be? Was Dylan really at Allie’s house? I grabbed my sweatshirt even as I glanced out the window. I couldn’t see anything except Connor’s old bedroom.

  Dylan: Trust me.

  Glancing at Allie’s sleeping form, I was tempted to wake her up and get her opinion on what to do. I shouldn’t go down there, should I? I didn’t even want to, did I? Oh, I hated Dylan Coulter! Why was he doing this to me?

  My body worked on autopilot. My feet slipped into my sandals. My arms threaded through my sweatshirt. My fingers combed through my mop of hair. I even reached for my tube of lip gloss, applying it before I could chastise myself for such foolishness.

  Tiptoeing down the hall and down the stairs, I made my way to the front door, not accepting what I was about to do until the door was open and he was there. My breath caught in my throat as my memories of Dylan filtered through my muddled brain, doing little justice to the reality of the man leaning against the porch railing not five feet away.

  My eyes filled with tears at the sight of him and I wanted to scream at my body for betraying me in such a way. Dylan looked like a dream. An amazing and familiar dream that felt new and exciting at the same time. His smile was the same in the moonlight. His eyes glowed with the same laughter. But his body had changed. His muscles were thicker, more mature. The lines of his face were harsher, but no less intriguing. My fingers still longed to sift through his sexy, messy hair.

  His shoulders were wide and inviting. And I wanted nothing more than to lay my head upon them.

  “Ed.” His voice, just barely above a whisper, woke me from my Dylan-induced stupor.

  “What are you doing here,” I whisper shouted. “Are you even supposed to be driving?”

  Dylan grinned. “Of course, I can drive. It’s my left leg that’s hurt and it’s doing better.”

  “Then what’s up with those things?” I gestured toward the forearm crutches wrapped around his arms above his wrist.

  Dylan shrugged. “I’m still in physical therapy. I can’t get off these things quite yet, but I can drive and walk and just about anything except running and putting all my weight on it.” Dylan smiled wryly. “Okay, I can’t do just about anything, but I can walk.”

  He was babbling. As confident as he appeared, casually leaning back, he was nervous. I watched as his gaze roved over me.

  “It’s good to see you, Ed. So good.” His voice cracked on the last word and he had to clear his throat.

  Self-consciously, I crossed my arms over my chest. Dylan’s gaze settled on them and he grinned. Looking down, I belatedly realized I was wearing his sweatshirt. In fact, I was also wearing his shorts and his t-shirt.

  Damn.

  Dylan

  It was all I could do not to rush at her and pull her into my arms. In all my dreams of seeing Eden again, many of them included her standing in front of me, or in my arms, wearing my clothes. Those had been some amazing dreams. But nothing could ever be as good as reality. As good as this moment. Eden should never wear anything else but my t-shirt.

  “You look amazing.” I should feel embarrassed by my worshipful tone. Talk about putting all my cards on the table. But I didn’t. Instead, I wanted to fall to my knees in front of her and tell her- show her- just how much I really wanted to worship her. All of her.

  Eden blushed. That looked good on her, too. “So, do you.”

  I shrugged. I knew I was kind of a mess. I hadn’t shaved in days and even though I’d taken a shower, I hadn’t done much more than run my fingers through my hair.

  “Your hair is long again.” It’s funny because, all this time I’ve been picturing her with the short hair from the picture she’d sent me.

  She reached up to touch a lock hanging over her shoulder. “Yeah. I grew it out this year.”

  It was beginning to really bug me that she was so far away. I slipped my arms from my crutches and leaned them against the porch before turning back to her. “What happened to the nose ring?”

  I held out my hand.

  Please.

  She hesitated, and I didn’t blame her. My heart hammered as I silently begged her to come closer.

  “It was fake. Like a sticker.”

  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she took a step forward. And then another. She didn’t take my hand but the last step she took brought her close enough that my hand settled on her hip. I drew her closer. Her hand rested
on my chest between us. Looking down, all I could see was the top of her head. Her gorgeous, beautiful head.

  “Eden.” With my other hand, I reached for her chin. Cupping her jaw, I brought her face up. Tears sparkled in her eyes, crushing me. “Ed, don’t cry. I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

  A sob escaped her lips as her arms came around my waist. She buried her face in my chest and her shoulders shook.

  As much as I hated that she cried, I relished the feel of her in my arms. I hadn’t come home until this moment. The unsettled feeling, I hadn’t been able to escape since I left for basic disappeared, taking flight on the contented sigh her hug squeezed from me. I don’t know how long I held her as sobs wracked her body but by the time she lifted her head, my shirt was soaked and stuck to my skin from her tears.

  I framed her face with my hands, itching to kiss her full lips. But I knew that wasn’t right. I didn’t want to take advantage of this situation. I didn’t want to assume anything. I didn’t want Eden to commit to anything before she was ready and being ready for that was going to take time. It was going to take work to build up trust between us. Time to convince her that I wasn’t going anywhere if she didn’t want me to.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered again, not knowing what else to say.

  Eden reached up, her soft hands framing my cheeks just like mine were to hers. “Are you really okay, Dill? I was so scared when I found out. I’m almost glad I didn’t know until the worst of it was over for you. I don’t know how I would have been able to stay away.”

  The words rushed from her lips and with each one my hope grew. Eden may not be ready to admit she loved me or that she was in love with me, but she cared and for now it was enough.

  “I’m okay, Ed. A little more broken than I was before but I’m fine.” That was mostly the truth.

  She studied my face in the light of the moon, searching every part of me, lingering on my eyes.

  “I should go back in.”

  “Not yet.” Now that she was here, I hated the thought of letting her go.

  She shifted in my arms. I was going to lose her.

  “Please, Ed. I’ve missed you so much. Just let me hold you.” I didn’t kiss her. As much as I wanted to, I didn’t. So, I held her close brushing her cheek with mine. With our bodies pressed together, I assaulted her face and neck, nuzzling close. Inhaling her scent. Reveling in the feel of her.

  Chapter 32

  Eden

  “It was the single most intimate thing that has ever happened to me and he didn’t even kiss me.” My knees were still weak two days later.

  “Wow.” Allie shook her head, a faraway look in her eyes. Just a second later, her eyes focused on me. “And you haven’t seen him since?”

  I shook my head, falling back against the headboard of Allie’s bed. “Not once. I guess he’s been going to physical therapy and when my mom asked about him, his mom said he’s been sleeping a lot.”

  Allie eyed me speculatively. “You love him, don’t you?”

  I sat up. “No. Of course not. What makes you say that?”

  Allie shrugged a little as she rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, maybe it was the dreamy look in your eyes when you told me about snuggling with him for a few hours on my front porch. I still can’t believe you didn’t wake me up to tell me.”

  Allie had been both excited for me and angry that I waited two days to tell her about sneaking out of her house to meet with Dylan on her front porch. I felt bad for keeping it from her but had needed the time to process my own feelings before talking about them. I wasn’t sure I’d accomplished that, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I had to talk to someone.

  “I don’t love him.” I couldn’t. I was attracted. Honestly, who wouldn’t be. But love? No. Nothing had changed. My heart would never survive the fall out if Dylan changed his mind again. What had happened the other night was a one-time deal, not the start of something. “I can’t love him.”

  Allie didn’t look convinced.

  And maybe I wasn’t, either.

  The next weekend was exhausting. Prom season had started and while ours was still a couple of weeks away, other schools in the area were already having theirs. I spent Friday afternoon and all day Saturday at the salon. I didn’t even take a break either day. My feet were killing me and all I wanted on Saturday night was a bowl of brownie batter and a chick flick.

  I’d just snuggled into my favorite corner of the couch when I heard a thump, thump on the stairs.

  “You down here, Ed,” Dylan’s voice echoed from the stairwell.

  “Are you sure you should come down here,” I called out jumping from the couch to see if he needed any help.

  “I can make it down the stairs. My room is in the basement, remember?”

  As if I could forget.

  He’d made it about halfway down the stairs. I stood helplessly at the bottom as he thumped the rest of the way down.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Once he made it to the bottom, he bypassed me, heading for the couch.

  “I had to get out of there. My mom is driving me crazy. I’ve got to find an apartment,” he sighed as he sunk into the cushions. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Yes.

  “Of course not. I was just going to watch a movie.” Skirting around his outstretched legs, I made my way back to my corner. Plopping down, I picked up my blanket, preparing to get all situated. “Hey!”

  Dylan just smiled as he yanked the blanket from my hand and spread it over the two of us. “It’s called sharing, Ed.”

  “It’s called my blanket, Dill,” I retorted.

  He ignored me and picked up the remote. “What are we watching?”

  “The Other Woman. Have you ever seen it?”

  Dylan made a face. “No.”

  Giggling, I reassured him. “You will love this movie. It is so funny.”

  He grunted his disbelief but pressed the button to start the movie. “What have you got to eat?”

  “I don’t have any snacks,” I lied.

  “Liar.” He paused the movie. “Come on, Ed. I know you have snacks. You always have snacks.”

  “Nope. Not this time,” I told him thinking of the bag of chips and container filled with homemade cookies stowed under the end table in the corner beside the couch (we were out of brownie mix).

  Dylan’s eyes narrowed as he spied my diet soda on the table. “You have a soda,” he stated.

  “Wow, Captain Obvious, great deduction.” I picked up the soda and took a sip as casually as I could muster. “Are you going to start the movie or not?”

  “If there’s a soda there’s something salty to go with it. That’s your M.O.” He glanced around, looking for my snacks.

  “Why don’t you bring your own snacks?” Why did he always have to steal mine?

  “Because you always have some.” As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  “For me!” I slapped my chest for emphasis.

  “Where are they,” he all but shouted.

  Folding my arms across my chest, I was determined to outlast him. Ugh. But that would mean watching a movie without them. Dang Dylan!

  Dylan scooted closer on the couch cushion, a predatory gleam in his eye. With his arms and his one good leg, he moved until I was wedged between his body and the arm of the couch.

  “What are you doing,” I breathed, unsettled by his closeness.

  “Finding some snacks,” he answered, his breath hot on my ear as he leaned across my body, searching the floor by my feet and the cracks between the cushions on either side of me.

  “I told you, I don’t have any.” Holy smokes. It was a repeat of the other night. With just a simple nuzzle of my neck, he’d reduced me to a hot mess.

  Dylan continued his attack, enveloping me with his arms and his chest as he searched for my hidden treats. “I’m hungry. Won’t you share,” he asked, his lips teasing my ear.

  Oh. My. Hell.

  What was he d
oing to me? Couldn’t we just watch the movie? Why was he making this so difficult for me?

  I should just tell him to leave. I should make him go. I shouldn’t let him do this to me.

  Dylan moved from my ear to the soft skin below, his lips blazing a warm trail to the hollow of my throat, all while his hands searched.

  My breathing shallowed, coming in quick gasps.

  With a growl, Dylan scooped me into his arms and moved into the spot where I’d been sitting. He set me in his lap. “I’m going to find them.”

  I didn’t care anymore as long as he didn’t let me go. I wrapped my arms around his waist when he sat forward to investigate the space under the table... for balance.

  “Jackpot!” He sat back, his hands filled with the bag of chips and container of cookies. He’d even found an unopened bottle of water. “Chocolate chip. My favorite.”

  Dylan sat back, still holding me on his lap. He picked up the blanket and spread it over us again. Once settled, he absently kissed my cheek and pressed the button to get the movie going again.

  As for me, I sunk back against his chest and wondered what the heck I was going to do now.

  Chapter 33

  Dylan

  I wondered if my plan was working. Allie had a few ideas and she was right- getting myself back in Eden’s space was key. Being where she was had become my new priority. It started with the movie the other night. She’d convinced herself she didn’t want me, didn’t love me, but I knew better. Whether she wanted to or not, Eden couldn’t hide her reaction to me. And her reaction to my closeness told me I wasn’t the only one affected.

  I’d held her on my lap for two straight hours. My leg had been killing me afterward, but I didn’t care. Nothing could have convinced me to let her go. That movie had been hilarious. We’d laughed until we cried during several scenes. During a few of the more poignant parts, I’d wiped Eden’s tears away with my thumb. It was easy to see my future played out in front of me when I held her in my arms.