Page 56 of I Wish He Would

I turn and step inside, immediately sighing when the air conditioning hits my skin. I pull the door shut behind me, and then I spot her. A vision in white that has me weak in the knees, thinking about her walking toward me in white for an entirely different reason.

She’s wearing a white linen tank top that has a split from her belly button down, showing a little bit of her tanned skin. She’s paired it with matching pants and has her hair still curled and down. But this time, she has the front pieces of her hair braided back and a white-and-blue floral silk scarf woven throughout the braid. I run a hand over my mouth, at a loss for words.

“Does this look okay?” She turns and looks at herself in the full-length mirror. “I never go for an all-white outfit.”

“You look amazing.”

Alyssa smiles at me. “Really?”

I nod. “Every man will be envious that you’re on my arm tonight.”

“We’re already friends, you don’t have to butter me up.”

“Trust me, I’m not.” I wish she could see herself the same way I see her.

“Thanks.” She gestures to my outfit. “You clean up well, too.”

I glance down at my white button-down tucked into my white chinos and paired with white sneakers. “I feel like a marshmallow.”

Alyssa laughs, and the sound is better than the ocean waves crashing against the shore. “A cute marshmallow.” She steps closer and peers up at me through her dark lashes. “May I?”

May she what? What does she want to do? my brain screams as my mouth goes dry.

I nod, unable to form words.

Alyssa reaches up and unbuttons the top buttons of my dress shirt. Her eyes drag down to my chest, and I watch her swallow hard. Is that a sign? I hate to admit it, but I could really use Fletch’s insight right about now. I’ve been out of the dating game for so many years that I’m oblivious to signs of attraction.

“There.” She clears her throat and readjusts my collar. “With a little bit of your chest showing, you look more like a movie star than a marshmallow.” She motions to the mirror. “Do you want to check?”

“I trust you.” My lips tilt into a smile. Besides, if the way she was staring is any indication, having a portion of my pecs on display tonight will work in my favor.

She heads back into the bathroom. “I just need to put on some lip gloss, then we can go.”

I don’t understand why she needs to apply lip gloss when there’s a barbecue immediately following the welcome party, but who am I to judge a woman’s fashion choices? Maybe she enjoys the taste of her lip gloss mixed with jerk chicken.

As we arrive outside and approach the group of people already gathered, Alyssa fidgets with the stacked gold bracelets on her wrist. I reach over and intertwine my fingers with hers. It feels so natural, holding her hand. I could definitely get used to this.

“You’ve got this.”

She glances up at me, appreciation in her eyes. “We’ve got this.”

“Do we need to get our stories straight before we see your family?”

Alyssa turns, pulling us to a stop, her eyes wide.

I run a hand along my scruff. “Just tell me what I need to be. Do you want me to act like your friend or your boyfriend around your parents and sister?”

She’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t want you to act at all.”

If only I could tell her that I don’t have to fake anything.

Not around her.

She bumps my hip with hers, though it’s more like her hip nudges my thigh with our height difference. “Do you think you can manage just being yourself? My family already loves you.”

I dip my head. “Yeah, sure.”

Her shoulders fall in relief. I wish I could carry the weight of everything for her so she didn’t have to. Maybe one day she’ll let me.