Need Me - M. Malone Page 0,45

even need to implement Operation Wifey since he seems to have already forgotten about me.

Quickest plan ever.

I scoop up Oreo, cuddling my face into her soft fur. “It’s okay, girl. I guess it’s just us.”

I know she’ll be just as disappointed. She’s still a little skittish when Vin pets her but she seems to really like sleeping at his feet. Or next to him on the couch.

Just when I’m about to go to bed, there’s a knock at the door. I run back and fling it open.

Vin pauses when he sees the look on my face. Then he smiles in that way of his, that infuriating way, that says he knows what I’m thinking.

The fact that he’s usually right makes it worse.

“You thought I forgot?”

I shrug like it doesn’t matter but I step back so he can come in.

“Casey texted me and asked me to come by. They’re leaving for their honeymoon tomorrow and she wanted to say goodbye.”

“Casey wanted to say goodbye? Not your brother?”

He picks me up making me squeal. “My brother’s got his dream girl. I don’t think he even noticed I was there.”

When we reach my room, he sets me down on my feet. For a long moment, he just stares at me.

“What is it?”

“Just taking you in. I’ve been waiting for this a long time.”

Knowing how the next day is going to go, I feel guilty. “You’ve been waiting a long time to listen to me snore? For me to kick you all night?”

“To be able to hold you all night.” He kisses my forehead.

He follows me into the bathroom and while I brush my teeth, he sets a few of his things on the bathroom counter. Watching him line up his toothbrush and toothpaste there makes me sad.

Because after a few days of what I have planned, I’ll never see them again.

He brushes his teeth quickly and then follows me back into the bedroom. I jump in on my usual side on the right. He strips down to his boxers before getting in next to me.

“Tired?” he asks.

“Exhausted.”

“Me too. If I ever get married, remind me to do it in front of Elvis and skip all this crap.”

“I promise.” I lean over and turn the light off before he can see how his words affect me. Just because he won’t be around soon doesn’t mean I won’t miss him. And the day he marries someone else is the day my heart breaks for good.

He slides closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I won’t be able to sleep like this for long because his body already feels like a furnace but for now, it feels good.

“Ariana?” he whisper-yells.

“Yes?” I whisper back.

“I got my dream girl, too.”

18

Waking up with the one you love is an experience everyone should be privileged to have. I’ve been looking forward to it. Over the years I’ve dated casually and even spent the night with a few of the women. But when morning came it was always an awkward dance to put my clothes back on and get the hell out of there.

With Ariana, I’ve fantasized about holding her close. About burying my nose in her hair, breathing her scent and listening to her heartbeat.

So imagine my surprise when I open my eyes the next morning to an empty bed.

“Ari? Where are you, woman?”

The door opens and in walks a vision with tousled hair and rosy cheeks. She’s wearing nothing but my dress shirt and a smile. Is there anything sexier than a woman wearing your clothes? All my blood is busy going south so it takes me a minute to process what I’m seeing.

And what I’m smelling.

“I made you breakfast.” She sets the tray she’s holding carefully over my lap. Then with a snap of her wrist, unfolds a paper napkin that she rests against my stomach.

“What’s all this?”

She smiles sweetly. “Just a little something I whipped up.”

Whipped up? Ariana has made no secret of her disdain for household tasks. During all the time we’ve spent together the only cooking I’ve seen her do is putting a bag of popcorn in the microwave. Wary now, I peer down at the tray in concern.

“You made this? I thought you didn’t cook?”

Ariana scowls for a second. Then she pastes on another bright smile. “I said I hated cooking. Not that I couldn’t do it. Eat up!”

I take a tentative bite of the eggs and am surprised at the fluffy, creamy texture. The bacon is crisp and the coffee smells fantastic.