Stuck With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel

by Melissa Brown

  “And you play a lot of card games.”

  “Mmm!” His eyes grew wide as he took in a huge sip of soda. “That reminds me. I need a rematch.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yep, I think it was all beginner’s luck. And I think you took advantage of my injury.

  “I’m sorry,” I tilted my head toward him, “took advantage?”

  “Yeah, I was on some major painkillers. My brain wasn’t at its normal capacity.”

  “I’m pretty sure you were on Advil,” I said, tossing a fry playfully at his face. He swatted it down to the table with a shit-eating grin on his gorgeous face, and I felt a warm glow flowing through me as he smiled.

  Oh how I’m falling for that face.

  ”I’m serious. You took advantage of me in my compromised state. Now we need to see if you really have what it takes.”

  “What it takes to what?”

  “Go up against me,” he said with a flirtatious wink. “For real.”

  “I thought I proved myself already. I mean, we didn’t just play one game…” I tilted my head to the side. “And maybe I don’t want to play again. Maybe I want to retain my title.”

  “You don’t have a title.”

  “Yeah, I do. I’m officially the one to beat you at your unicorn game.”

  “We’ll see, Khaleesi.” He chuckled, taking another big bite. “We’ll see.”

  A glob of ketchup dripped from his burger onto his lap. “Oh shit,” he said, grabbing a handful of napkins. “Probably should’ve changed my clothes after all.”

  “Sorry,” I said through clenched teeth. “This place is delicious but awfully messy.”

  “It’s all good. Cleaners’ll get it out. No big deal.”

  Looking at his suit, I realized I had no idea what Dev did for a living. I knew he made good money and that he loved his job, but that was it.

  “So I know I should probably know the answer to this already, but considering you thought I worked with kindergarteners, I’m thinking it’s safe to admit…”

  “You don’t know what I do,” he said with a smirk. “Maren can never remember either.”

  “Sorry. I know you work in an office,” I said, clenching my teeth.

  “Computer and information systems management.”

  “That’s a mouthful.”

  “That’s what she said,” he said with a wink before taking a sip of his drink.

  “Nice.” I tried not to laugh, but he was growing on me, and the jokes that would have annoyed me months ago were making me smile, laugh, and appreciate the humor behind them. “But what does that mean?”

  He shrugged. “Every time I explain my job in detail, I get this blank stare in return. So let’s just say I work in computers and leave it that.”

  “You won’t get a blank stare from me.”

  He raised one eyebrow. “Doubtful.”

  “Try me,” I said, wiping my hands with my napkins and placing my hands in my lap, giving him my full attention.

  “Wow, you stopped eating and everything. This is serious.”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, here goes.” He took one more sip, then cleared his throat and began. “I work for a company named Wiz Tech, which is a multibillion-dollar tech conglomerate. I analyze the company’s computer needs at all levels and give recommendations on software and hardware improvements. I also plan and direct the installation and maintenance of said hardware and software. ”

  I nodded as I attempted to process everything he said without appearing to have a blank stare.

  “You failed,” he said, throwing a fry at my face. I caught it and popped it into my mouth.

  “I did my best. But I will say it sounds like you’re a really important guy. I have heard of Wiz Tech, by the way. Don’t they have offices everywhere?”

  “Fifty-six countries so far. Working on expanding to a few more by next fiscal year. When that happens, I’ll need to travel over there for a week and get them started.”

  “Anywhere cool?”

  “Germany and the Philippines, to name a couple.”

  “Nice!”

  “I love it. I really do.”

  “Is that what you always wanted to do?”

  “I knew I wanted to work with computers and be on the technical side of things. When Wiz Tech hired me out of college, they set me on a pretty great trajectory, and last year my boss retired and I was asked to replace him. It was a shit year for me in other areas of my life, as you know, but work-wise it was the best of my life.”

  “We should have celebrated that promotion.”

  Dev paused. “We did. Pete and Maren had a little thing for me at the bar. You didn’t come.”

  “Oh,” I said, biting my lip and scrunching my nose. “I forgot about that. I’m sorry.”

  “Naw, it’s cool. We hadn’t known each other all that long, and we kinda hated each other, remember?”

  “Right.”

  “Look, I can tell you feel bad, but you shouldn’t. I’m pretty sure I probably called you Mistress of Evil that night,” he said, reaching across the table to nudge my elbow with his fingertips. I swallowed hard, fighting the guilt that I felt.

  “Well, if you get promoted again, I’ll be there. I promise.”

  “Good. As crazy as it sounds for me to say this, it really wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  I could feel my cheeks redden. “Why is that crazy?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, breaking eye contact and looking down at his burger. “Up until a few weeks ago, we couldn’t even stand to be in the same room together. And even then—”

  “Good point.”

  “Life is unpredictable, isn’t it?”

  “Understatement of the year,” he said, taking one last sip of his drink with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher. Appreciation? Contemplation? I just wasn’t sure. We’d always spent so much time pushing one another’s buttons that I really only knew when Dev was pissed or deliberately being difficult. I didn’t know his other looks. But I realized how badly I wanted to.

  “Ready to get outta here?” he asked, gesturing toward me, still munching on fries. “You weren’t kidding about how much you love those. I think I had, like, five.”

  “Five handfuls,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’ve never seen anyone inhale food like you do.”

  “Healthiest way to eat,” he said with a snicker.

  “Right.” There was still a tempting pile of fries in the bottom of the bag.

  “Oh for God’s sake, would you just finish them so we can shop?”

  “In a rush?”

  “No, not at all,” he said, looking surprised. “Just want to get my shopping on.”

  “Hmph,” I said while chewing my fries.

  “Dev?” The voice came from near the register. We both turned to see a tall blond waving as she stood with two of her friends. “Is that you?”

  “Oh shit,” he muttered. “Listen, I, uh…”

  “It’s me, Abby,” the blond said as she approached the table. “Remember?”

  “Abby, hey,” Dev said, rising to his feet. “How are ya?”

  “Fine, fine,” she said. “It’s been a while.”

  “Yeah, it has. How’ve you been?” he asked, and I grew irritated that he hadn’t yet introduced me. I cleared my throat, prepared to do it myself. “Oh, this is Lyra. Lyra, Abby.”

  “Is this her?” Abby asked.

  “Her?” I asked, looking at Dev for an answer.

  “Your ex.”

  “Oh no. That, uh, that didn’t work out.”

  “Really?” Abby asked, raising an eyebrow while biting her lip. “Interesting. You still have my number?”

  “I think so, yeah.”

  “Text me. We’ll hang out.”

  Dev pressed his lips into a thin line and reached for his coat. “We were just heading out. It was good to see you, though.”

  Abby looked disappointed and opened her arms for a hug. With a forced smile on his face
, Dev hugged her before extending his arm to me. “Ready, Lyra?”

  “Yep,” I said, taking it all in.

  “Sorry about that,” he said as we walked out of the restaurant. “She’s just this girl.”

  “Tinder?”

  “Yep,” he said, pressing his lips together in a thin line again. I could tell he was embarrassed, but I didn’t want him to be.

  “Look, you went through a rough breakup; you blew off some steam. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “I’m not embarrassed.”

  “Oh, okay, I misread you, I guess,” I said, still processing Abby and everything she said. “What I don’t get is why she assumed I wasn’t your girlfriend.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She told you to text her right in front of me.”

  “Oh,” Dev said, tilting his head up with wide eyes. “Someone’s jealous!”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Not at all. I just think it was weird that she assumed we were just friends.”

  “Well, she probably saw you going to town on those fries and just assumed.”

  “Oh my God, shut your mouth.” I swatted him playfully on his arm.

  “I’m just playing!”

  We walked in silence until we reached the crosswalk. “So are you going to text her then?”

  Looking confused, he tilted his head to the side. “No. Why would I?”

  “Just curious,” I said, smiling to myself when he looked straight ahead.

  “Abby and I had fun; we did. But she’s a little…vapid. I’m not looking for that. I was…back then. I was just looking for easy. No attachments, no commitments. Easy. But I’m not looking for that anymore.”

  “What are you looking for then?”

  “Who’s asking?” he asked playfully, and I could feel my pulse quicken as he played with my sensibilities. I put my arms up in surrender and shook my head back and forth.

  “Just making conversation.”

  “Well, then,” he said, “for conversational purposes, I’m looking for a woman of substance. A woman full of opinions who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Sexy as hell but with a brain to match. A woman who takes what she wants.”

  “Is that all?” I teased.

  “Know anyone like that?”

  “No one comes to mind.”

  He stopped walking in the middle of the street, reached out, and threaded his hands through my hair. My breath caught as I stared up at him.

  “Think harder,” he said softly, his eyes blazing with determination.

  And right there, in the middle of the street, Dev leaned down. This was it. We were going to have our first kiss. I stepped closer to him, pressing up just a bit on my tiptoes to reach him.

  And then….

  Beeeeeeeep!

  “Get out of the fuckin’ street!” The cab was just inches from us as it attempted to turn onto the side street we were crossing.

  “Seriously, dude?” Dev yelled, throwing his arms up in the air. He shook his head and grabbed my hand. “C’mon, let’s go!”

  Laughing, we walked arm in arm to the party store. As disappointed as I was that we didn’t get our romantic middle-of-the-street kiss, it felt like there was an understanding between us as we wandered the aisles of the store that we were into each other. The feeling was mutual, and it was just a matter of time before we would have that kiss, whether it was hours or days later.

  God, I hoped it’d be hours.

  When we finally reached the register with two carts full of glass candy jars, scoops, candy, bunting, and table coverings, Dev got a funny look on his face as he reached into his back pocket.

  “Don’t you dare,” I said. “Don’t even take it out.”

  “That’s what she said,” he said again. We both cracked up and the cashier rolled her eyes.

  “I mean it, I’m paying.”

  “But this is going to be so much, Lyra.”

  “So? I’ve got it.”

  “You’re paying for the amazing band though,” he said facetiously.

  “Don’t push it,” I warned him playfully. “And I want to do this.”

  “Fine, then you’re buying me a pack of Altoids.” He gave me a wink and grabbed a pack of cinnamon Altoids and placed them on the belt.

  “Cinnamon?” I asked.

  “Naturally.”

  “They’re my favorite too,” I said with a smile. “And if it makes you feel better, you can get the balloons the day of the party.”

  “Balloons are cheap,” he scoffed.

  “No, they’re not,” said the cashier.

  “See,” I said, gesturing to her. “No, they’re not. And if you keep pushing this, I’m going to get insulted. I make fine money, Dev.”

  “Fine, fine. I won’t say anything else. And you know it’s not about that.”

  I took in a deep breath as we loaded the rest of the cart onto the belt. “I do.”

  “Good.” He sighed, watching the bags accumulate. “I think we’re gonna need to call an Uber.”

  “Oh yeah,” I said. “We definitely will.”

  Twenty minutes later, we’d hauled all twelve bags worth of party decorations up to my third-floor apartment. Dev was huffing and puffing when we finally dropped the last of them on my kitchen counter.

  “Five miles a day, huh?”

  He patted his belly. “I don’t usually run after I gorge myself on Five Guys.”

  “Good point,” I said with a laugh. “Thanks for coming with me. I wouldn’t have been able to get all of this home on my own.”

  “You might not have bought all of this if I hadn’t been there.”

  “Another good point. You did put an awful lot of things in the cart…”

  “Oh no! My master plan’s exposed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “How else would I invite myself upstairs?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  Taken a little aback, I thought back to Abby and to Dev’s Tinder days and all the girls he must have texted, dated, and slept with. I didn’t want to punish him for those days, but it still gave me pause. The last thing I wanted with Dev was a one-night stand. And even though he said that wasn’t what he wanted anymore, part of me wondered if old habits died hard.

  And he was on the rebound…

  “Lyra,” he said, touching my elbow, his brows drawn together. “I’m kidding.”

  “Oh, I know,” I said, waving him away, but the consternation on my face gave me away, and it was clear that our moment in the street had passed. Things were no longer easy and fun and romantic. His past had come to haunt him, even if just for a moment. My desire for him wasn’t going anywhere. I just didn’t want to be an Abby.

  Dev glanced down at his watch. And for some reason, it bothered me a little. I didn’t want him to go. And I didn’t want him to want to go either. I wanted us to push through the awkward, get back to the easy banter we’d had all night.

  But apparently we didn’t want the same things.

  “I didn’t realize how late it was,” I said. “You haven’t even been home yet.”

  “Nah, it’s good.” He waved me off. “Probably should head home, though.”

  “Yeah, well, thanks again for your help. And for dinner.”

  “No problem,” he said, his eyes distant. “See ya, Lyra.”

  “See ya.”

  Dev left my apartment, and after I locked the door behind him, I slid down to the floor in total defeat, wondering when Dev and I would have more than fleeting moments.

  A moment at the coffee table.

  A moment in the street.

  I wanted more than just a moment with him.

  I wanted it all, and I was tired of waiting for another moment that could take days, weeks, even years to arrive.

  With a lurch of excitement, I climbed to my feet, undid the lock and threw open the door, racing down the steps and out the door of my building. I looked left and right before spotting him about thirty feet from my front steps.

  “D
ev!” I yelled, and he stopped, turning around.

  “Yeah?” he asked, a confused but amused look on his face as he watched me run to him.

  Without a word, I put my hands around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. His lips were soft as they pressed to mine; his kiss was surprisingly gentle yet sensual and consuming. I stood on my tiptoes as he wrapped his strong arms around me and pulled me closer. With a satisfied smile, he opened his mouth and deepened the kiss, his tongue caressing mine as he moaned softly into my mouth. I kissed him back with a hunger I didn’t know existed. He smelled like pine and snow, and he tasted like cinnamon, and I couldn’t get enough of him. He ran his fingers through my hair as we stood below the streetlight, sharing the best first kiss of my life.

  When we finally pulled away, he brushed a gentle kiss across my forehead. He then smiled, running his fingers down the side of my face. “Well, that was a surprise.”

  “I was tired of waiting.”

  “I would have done it eventually, you know,” he said, full of pride. “Upstairs just now…it just felt…”

  “I know.”

  “But this is better, anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you did it.”

  I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

  “Are you really gonna make me say it, Castillo?”

  “I guess so, because I’m so confused right now.”

  “The day we met…what happened?”

  “You hit on me. And I was a bitch.”

  “Well, I’m not saying the bitch part,” he said with a laugh. “But yeah, I hit on you and you wanted nothing to do with me. I was Rogelio. And you made sure I knew it.”

  “Are we back to that Rogelio thing? He’s a very lovable character!”

  “But he’s not the one you dream about, is he?”

  It felt like the air left my lungs. “No.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Listen, you may have been Rogelio then, but not anymore.” I took both of his hands in mine. “You are anything but Rogelio right now.”

  “Finally,” he said, placing his finger beneath my chin and pulling me in for another kiss.

  Once again, I was overcome with how attracted I was to Dev, especially this Dev. Confident, Sexy, and Straightforward Dev. My heart pounded as I looked into his deep brown eyes as they glowed beneath the streetlight.

  “So, you want me to dream about you, huh?” I teased.