My heart plummets.
“Please understand that I did not come to this decision lightly. I just…I have to be fair. I have to be firm. I’m running a business, and if my employees think the rules I’ve put in place can be broken, what kind of message am I sending them, you know?”
“I understand,” I say, finally finding reasonable words for the first time. “I truly understand where you’re coming from, Jessa. I honestly had no idea Sutton had even approached you about this, but I’m happy you took the time to let me know what you’ve decided.”
“I’m really sorry. I did love working with you, and I do think you’re going to kill it in the marketing game. I’d be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation for your next job if you’d like. I promise to leave out the whole fraternization part.” She laughs awkwardly.
And I’m reminded again of what I’ve lost.
My job, an amazing boss, my apartment…Sutton.
“Thank you, Jessa. I appreciate that.”
“Sure. Just let me know if you need it. I’m only a phone call away.”
“Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome. Take care, Holland.”
The call disconnects, and my head begins to swim.
Sutton went to Jessa to get my job back for me. He didn’t go for himself when he’s equally in need of it.
He went for me.
He went for me and he told Jessa he…fell in love.
“Holland? You okay in there?” River calls through the bathroom door.
…he explained how he fell in love with you before you two ever worked for Spectrum Marketing…
Fell in love before.
Before we made that stupid bet.
“Are you still alive?”
Before we were roommates.
“Oh god. You’re not getting sick are you?”
Before we kissed.
“Okay, that’s it, I’m coming in.”
Before I ever knew I was in love with him.
She pushes the door open.
“Hey, you good? You look a little pale.”
Holy shit.
“Holland?” she asks, inching closer. “Everything okay?”
I nod and meet her concerned gaze.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think…I think Sutton Barnes is in love with me.”
20
Sutton
“I cannot believe you’ve conned me into your little scheme.”
“I think conned is a very interesting choice of words in this scenario seeing as you’re the one who came up with this brilliant idea.”
“And you’re welcome for it!”
Alma pulls me through the bingo hall, huffing like I’m the one being ridiculous right now.
I’m not. Her plan is.
Okay, fine. So maybe it’s not completely ridiculous. It’s actually damn genius.
I just hope it works.
“All right.” Alma shoves me down into a chair. “You stay here and don’t dare move. I’m meeting Holland out front, and I’ll make sure to bring her in the other way just to make sure she doesn’t see you.”
“I know, Alma. We’ve been over this a billion times.”
“Thrice, kid. Thrice. And I just want to make sure we’ve got it right because I’d really like to get my couch back already, thank you very much. It’s starting to smell like man farts.”
Man farts?
“Here,” she says, thrusting a card and bingo dauber at me. “Hang on to these. I have the others taken care of already. They’ll start calling spots at exactly seven PM, so don’t be anywhere but here.”
I want to glare at her and tell her to quit fussing, but I’m too thankful for her to do it.
When I approached her about going to bingo with her tonight so I could see Holland and talk with her, her eyes lit up and she concocted this scheme within minutes.
Now that we’re here, my hands are beginning to feel sticky with sweat, and my breaths are growing more and more stuttered by the second.
I’m not a nervous guy by nature.
I’m cool. Calm. Collected.
It’s why I’m able to work so easily in the business world and make deals and get clients other people can’t. I don’t get nervous. I get steady.
But this? This is different.
I’m trying to convince the woman of my dreams that I’m in love with her.
That does funny shit to a person.
Alma checks the time on her Mickey Mouse wristwatch, then claps her hands excitedly.
“Oh! She’s going to be here any minute! I’d better go outside and wait for her.”
“All right.”
“Now”—she turns to me—“remember—”
“Don’t move. Seven PM. I got it. Now go.”
“Don’t sass me, kid,” she warns, but her eyes are playful.
She wraps her arms around me, her sweet cookie scent hitting my nose, then plants a big kiss on my cheek, no doubt leaving her bright purple lipstick behind.
“I’m proud of you, Sutton.”
“For what?”
“For everything. For sticking up for yourself and telling your family to kiss your ass. For being open to change. For taking charge and going after your woman. For being you, my favorite nephew.” She pinches at my cheeks. “You know something, kid? When you were born, I was just trying to break out on my own, away from the Barnes name. But when I went to the hospital to see you, when I held you for the first time? It was the only moment I’d ever considered sticking around, because I knew there was something special about you and I thought you might need protecting.”
She almost went back? For me?
“Turns out I was right about one thing—you are special, but you never needed protecting. You’re strong on your own, and it’s not because you’re a Barnes. It’s in spite of that.”
That fucking lump makes its return, and I try my damnedest to swallow it down.
She’s right. We don’t choose what family we’re born into, but we do get to choose the family we keep.
I’m definitely keeping her.
“Jesus, Alma.” I stand, giving her a proper hug. “Are you trying to make me cry in public like a fool? I have a fucking reputation to uphold here.”
“No. Maybe.” She squeezes me tighter. “I just had to say it. It’s been on my mind since you showed up on my doorstep looking like death.”
I laugh and release her. “There’s my favorite aunt. Now go before Holland walks in here and sees me and ruins your whole scheme.”
She gives me a grin and scurries off to find Holland.
I take my seat, flashing a smile at the older women sitting at the other end of the table. Their eyes travel over my body in an approving perusal. They blush when I wink at them.
Just three minutes until seven, I see her.
It’s the first time in weeks that I’ve gotten a real glimpse of her—because I’m not counting when I saw her and Dean squirting me with water guns—and my body is having a less-than-appropriate reaction.
I scoot my chair into the table, hoping to hide my growing cock.
She’s fucking gorgeous as ever.
Even in a plain white t-shirt and jeans with her hair tossed up in one of those damn messy buns and the proof of sleepless nights under her eyes, she’s stunning.
The urge to run to her and swoop her into my arms and crush my mouth to hers is strong.
But I resist.
Barely.
Alma rushes her to their table, which is on the other side of the room, and they take a seat just as the caller takes the stage.
“All right, ladies and poor unsuspecting husbands who have to attend! Oh, and Freddie. Hi, Freddie!” the surprisingly young caller says into the microphone. “I see many familiar faces in the crowd and a few new ones too. I hope everyone is excited for an eventful evening.”
They turn to me and wink.
“We’re going to start tonight off a little differently than normal
. The first round will include a special card you’re not quite used to. Basically, if you’ve done what I call out, cover your spot. Got it?”
Many people nod.
“Are we ready, then?”
Several people whoop loudly in the crowd.
“All right.” The caller sticks their hand into a basket full of strips of paper, and I get my dauber ready. “First, we have…oh, gosh. This is a mouthful and oddly specific.” They clear their throat. “Never have I ever competed in a state science fair and lost to a girl who built a freakin’ volcano.”
I mark my card.
Several bingo players look around the room, confused by the game, but the caller goes on, reaching into the basket for another piece of paper.
“Next up we have…Never have I ever kissed a woman in a coat closet.”
I mark my card…and so do many others.
“Ooo! This one is spicy! Hope you ladies—and Freddie—have brought your fans. Never have I ever gotten fired for having S-E-X at work.”
Oh god. I knew I shouldn’t have let Alma make the cards.
I place a dot on the space and try not to smirk when I see a few others do the same.
“Oh, this one I have done. Did not end well,” the caller says, clearing their throat. “Never have I ever had a roommate I was insanely attracted to.”
Another mark.
We go through several more.
Never have I ever intentionally lost a bet because I knew how badly someone else needed the confidence boost.
Never have I ever broken into a pool and gone skinny-dipping after hours.
Never have I ever missed someone so much it felt like my entire body was on fire.
“Awww,” the caller says. “This one is so sweet.” They hold the paper to their chest, smiling brightly. “It says Never have I ever fallen in love.”
“BINGO!” I yell, shooting up from my chair.
Several people are startled by my reaction, and I kind of feel bad because this room is filled with some very old people who likely have fragile hearts, but that’s not my focus right now.
My focus is solely on Holland, who is staring at me with wide eyes.
“That’s not fair! He cheated!” someone shouts.
“Boy doesn’t even have enough hair on his balls to do half these things, especially the sex one!” another old lady shouts.
I ignore them.
Holland stands when I begin to make my way over to her.
Her eyes dart all over the room, taking in the nearly 75 people who are all staring at us.
With trepidation, she meets me halfway.
When we’re standing just a few inches apart, we stop.
And suddenly I don’t know what to say. I have no idea how to start.
I thought for sure I’d just know in the moment, but all words have left my brain.
“I had a feeling Alma was up to something when she wouldn’t take no for an answer tonight.”
I grin sheepishly, reaching up and squeezing the back of my neck. “This was all her idea.”
“What’s she got on you?” She steps closer. “Did she kill someone and you helped bury the body? Blink twice if you’re here against your will.”
I’d laugh, but with her standing so close…with that familiar hint of cherry hitting me…I can’t do anything but stare at her.
Growing uncomfortable under my gaze and the stares of everyone else, she takes another step closer, nearly closing the gap between us completely.
“What is all of this?” she whispers.
“I got bingo.”
“I know, but…what…what does this all mean?”
“I love you.”
I just blurt it out.
Word-vomit it all over her.
No finesse, no buildup. Just lay it all out there.
Those damn olive green eyes spark with surprise. “You…love me?”
I nod. “So fucking much. Achingly so.”
“Sutton…”
I take another step closer. Needing desperately to touch her, I fit my hand around her waist and cup her cheek with the other.
She doesn’t pull away.
No.
She melts into me instead, leaning into my touch.
“I love you, Holland, and I think I have always loved you. Back in high school when we’d compete constantly, I think I did it just so I had an excuse to be near you all the time. And that summer we spent making out? Fuck, it was my favorite summer ever.”
I drag my nose along her cheek, inhaling the sweet smell I’ve missed so much.
“Then later, after college, when we started spending time together at those stuffy events, I was starting to realize just how much you meant to me, just how much I liked being with you. And I got scared. I got scared that I had feelings for you and you didn’t feel the same way back. That you just wanted me for my name like everyone I’d ever loved did. I panicked and I hurt you and I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I—”
“And when I saw you at the diner after my life imploded, suddenly everything felt like it would be okay. Like I would be okay. Even when I wanted to hate you, I still loved you. And I was still fucking scared because I had no idea what to do with it. Then, when we…when I kissed you again, I knew. I knew I had to have you no matter the cost.”
She swallows, and, unable to stop myself, I place a kiss on her cheek. Her eyelids flutter shut and she shivers.
“I was stupid, Holland. I was stupid because I knew you held my heart in your hands and I knew you had this power to own me, but I was done with people having control over me. I didn’t realize I was wrong, though. I didn’t realize giving you that control wasn’t a bad thing. It was freedom. You’re my freedom. You’re what I’ve been searching for.”
She’s trembling beneath my touch, and I can only hope it’s my words shaking her to her core.
“I love you, Holland,” I tell her, looking into her eyes. “I have always loved you, and I think I always will.”
She doesn’t say anything.
She doesn’t say anything, and I die slowly as the seconds tick by because they feel like minutes…hours.
“Just think?” Her lips twitch. “Because I know I love you.”
“Yeah?”
She nods.
“Jesus!” someone yells. “Will you kiss the woman already? I’m getting blue balls just watching this scene!”
Holland laughs, and I catch the sound with my lips.
And everything…everything feels right again.
Feeling myself already reacting to her, I pull away, not wanting to get too carried away and give these people a show that will surely cause at least one heart attack.
She presses her forehead against mine. “You’re not the only one scared, Sutton. I’ve been scared all this time too. Loving you is…it’s terrifying, but I think you’re worth the risk.”
“Just think? Because I know.”
And I kiss her all over again.
Epilogue
Holland
“Sutton Barnes! Knock it off!” I shove at him. “I still have pictures. I can’t get my hair messed up.”
He bites at my neck. “Come on. Just one little kiss.”
“No. Because in the last six months with you, I’ve learned that a kiss always turns into something more.”
“I haven’t heard you complaining.”
He nips at me again, and I almost give in.
“Besides, I haven’t seen you in days. These damn wedding preparations are totally ruining my sex life.”
“Little dramatic, no?” I say, wiggling free from his hold, smoothing down my dress. “It’s for my brother’s wedding. I had things to do.”
“Yes, and now he and River are married, so your duties are over.”
“No, no.” I hold my hand up, stopping him as he reaches for me. “After pictures.”
He tosses his head back with a groan. “Fine. I’ll just ravage you later.”
“I’m going to pretend I
didn’t just hear that.”
I notice my father standing behind Sutton, who is now staring at me wide-eyed, caught red-handed.
Sutton clears his throat and schools his face, then turns around to face him.
“Congratulations, Mr. Evans. I’m sure you’re excited to be the…uh…father of the groom tonight.”
“Thank you, Sutton.” My father somehow manages to keep a straight face. “I still can’t believe someone married Dean, but here we are.”
I snicker because I tell River that all the time.
“Anyway, I’m glad I was able to find you alone for a minute. I’d like to speak with you both if that’s okay?”
Over the last several months, my father and I have been working hard to rebuild that father-daughter relationship we once had. It’s not been easy—especially with my mother always trying to get involved—but we’re slowly building something I think just might be pretty special.
I look to Sutton, and he nods.
“Sure,” I tell my dad. “What’s up?”
He stuffs his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels a bit. “Well, I know you’re currently working at that ad agency and things aren’t going exactly as you’d hoped.”
After the fallout with Spectrum Marketing, it took me weeks to secure an interview anywhere, even with Jessa’s stellar recommendation letter. I was finally able to find a position at an ad agency, but it was clear early on why they have the turnover rate they do.
They suck.
I’ve been working hard over the months to try to help them turn their business around, but with them not cooperating, nothing is working, and I’m at my wit’s end with it all. Even so, since there are these things called rent and bills, I’m stuck there until I can find something better.
“They’re really not,” I confirm.
“Right. So, I’ve recently been reconnecting with some friends from my college days, and they had this idea for a business. It’s just a startup and there’s always a chance it won’t take off, but I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty big.”
He looks between us like he’s waiting for an answer.
“Oh,” he says, shaking his head. “Right. I didn’t ask.”
Tempt Thy Neighbor (Roommate Romps) Page 18
