The Nice Guy Next Door

by Haley Zaragoza

  “And you want to tell him?”

  “I do. Ideally, I would have said all of this to him first, but…”

  “But I haven’t given either of you a moment alone. I get it,” she interrupts with a laugh. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there.” She wraps me in a hug and then pushes me out the door, and my heart instantly takes off into a gallop. Am I having a heart attack? This cannot be healthy.

  This cannot be the way I go: Millie Parker, 26, dies from fear of professing love. That would be mortifying to have in your obituary. I take a deep breath and then force my feet to carry me down the hall and to the living room.

  I pause before turning the corner to bolster up a little more bravery. You can do this. You’ve done much scarier things—like face a murderous psychopath with nothing but a baseball bat, for example. What’s the worst that can happen? He could laugh in your face, tell you he doesn’t feel the same, and then you’d be forced to see him on a daily basis because he’s your next-door neighbor.

  Okay, that was a horrible question to ask myself. But I already know he has feelings for me. He has shown me in the hundreds of little things he has done for me over the past few months. He’s not going to laugh in my face.

  I straighten my back and hold my head high as I turn the corner. My eyes land on Jameson on the couch. His head is lolled back, and his mouth is hanging open. The man is out cold.

  I grab the remote and turn off the TV before situating myself beside him. I lay my head on his lap and get comfortable. I’m not leaving before I get my chance to talk to him.

  A rough hand is caressing my cheek and brushing hair off my face. It’s a nice, comforting feeling. It stops for a moment, and I burrow into the toned abs in front of me. The sound of a soft chuckle finally draws me out of my slumber, and I crack my eyes open an inch. The afternoon sun is bright as I squint up at Jameson’s smiling face.

  “Hello, beautiful,” he says in a gruff voice.

  I go to lift my head off his lap and sit up, but he stops me and says, “I have to tell you something.” My breath catches in my throat. He’s about to tell me that he’s no longer interested in me. I hesitated too long, and I lost my chance. I brace myself for my impending doom, but it never comes.

  He runs his hands through my hair and says, “I love you, Millie. I don’t even know your actual name—that bothers me, by the way—but I love you. I wasn’t going to tell you until you were ready to hear it. I didn’t want to scare you away, but I can’t keep it in any longer. When I got shot, I realized how suddenly this life could be over, and I don’t want to leave this earth without telling you that you’re wonderful and perfect and I love you.”

  Tears are pooling in my eyes, threatening to drip down my cheeks. I wipe them away, smearing mascara all over my hands and under my eyes. It doesn’t matter, though, because he loves me, and I love him. I have to tell him! I sit up so I can look him straight in the eyes.

  “It’s not too soon, and you’re not scaring me away…because I realized the same thing when you were shot. I love you too, Jameson.”

  He wraps his good arm around my waist and asks, “Do you really?”

  “I do,” I answer with a laugh. “I realized that I didn’t want you taken from me without knowing what it would be like to love you and take care of you, without knowing what it’s like to be loved by you. I could have lost you, and I never would have gotten the chance to have been yours or for you to be mine.”

  “Millie, I am most definitely yours. I have been for months.”

  He brings his face close to mine, and I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to land on mine. I can feel him a fraction of an inch away. His nose brushes mine, and his breath tickles my cheeks when he asks, “What is Millie short for?”

  “I thought you were going to kiss me!”

  “I am…just as soon as you tell me your name, woman.”

  “Jameson.”

  “Millie.”

  I stare at him for a moment. If I really want to, all I have to do is lean forward an inch, and I’d get my kiss. I doubt he’d fight me. He wants to kiss me as much as I want to be kissed. But I’m feeling stubborn.

  “I’m sure you’ve done some Googling. If I’m remembering correctly, there should be only one name left on the list. I think you know what my name is…”

  “No, I don’t. I want you to trust me enough to tell me,” he says. His voice is deep and coaxing. I never do this. I’m fully aware that it’s silly, but when you spend all of your formative years being made fun of, it can be difficult to move past.

  I take a deep breath and shout, “It’s Mildred. My name is Mildred!” I cover my eyes with my hand because I can’t bear to see his mocking face. He pulls my hand down, and I’m met with a smile.

  “Mildred,” he says.

  “Yes, and don’t make a habit of saying it around people,” I warn him.

  “And why not?” he asks with a tickle to my ribs. I squirm to get away from him, but he pulls me even closer and splays his hand on my back.

  “It’s an awful name!”

  “It is not. I love it, and I love you,” he says, and he finally kisses me.

  Epilogue

  Millie

  It has taken me months and months, but I’m finally finishing my novel. Through a lot of self-reflection and hard work, my heroine has overcome her insecurities and finally admitted she’s in love with my hero. I’m so proud of her and myself as I type the words The End at the bottom of the page.

  I sigh as I stare at the words. I’ve accomplished something huge that I set out to do and discovered things about myself along the way. This book has been a way for me to process thoughts and emotions, and without it, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

  I’m still staring at the words on the screen when Jameson comes barreling into the room and says, “Mils.” That’s his newest nickname for me. He wanted his own personal name to call me. Okay, he wanted to call me Mildred, but I put a stop to that real quick. Mils is a compromise. “What are you doing? We’re supposed to be leaving…you know, for our honeymoon. You’re still in your wedding dress!”

  I give him my most innocent smile and point at the screen of my computer. He walks over and squats down beside me in his khaki shorts and short-sleeved button-down shirt. He looks soooo good, and I want to kiss his face, but I control myself and show him what’s on my computer.

  “You finished it?” he asks in a voice three octaves higher than usual. He grabs me around the middle and squeezes until I’m gasping for air. “Sorry! Mils, I’m so excited! When can I read it?” he asks.

  “Never! No one is ever reading this,” I say as I slam the laptop closed.

  “Uh-uh. This baby’s getting published,” he says. I love that he has so much confidence in me. He believes in me, even when I don’t.

  “I know. Self-doubt is just part of the process. All of the best authors agonize over their work…or so I hear,” I say with a shrug. He helps me to stand and motions for me to turn around. I do a quick twirl since it’s my last chance in my poofy wedding dress. Such a shame I only got to wear it for a few hours. It really is so pretty.

  He unzips the back and helps me out of the gown, leaving it in a pile on the floor for his mom or Lo to find later. I rush to put on my floral-print dress I bought to leave in.

  “You know, if you hadn’t been writing at our wedding, you wouldn’t have to rush right now,” Jameson says with a laugh.

  “I can’t help it that the inspiration strikes at the worst possible times!”

  “I understand. Marrying a dashing man like me must be pretty inspiring.”

  I roll my eyes as I frantically try to buckle my sandals on my feet, but I’m a mess, and my hands have stopped functioning. He kneels down in front of me and fastens my sandals before his hand glides up my leg and lands on my thigh.

  “Are you nervous?” he asks.

  I nod my head.

  “You never have to be nervous about my love. I will always
love you,” he says.

  “I know.”

  “You better.” Jameson scoops me up out of the chair and brings his lips to mine. It’s gonna be a little while before we make it out to the waiting crowd around our getaway car. Let them wait a little longer.

  Acknowledgments

  Millie and Jameson were such a fun couple to write, but I couldn’t have done it without the inside info on all things Highway Patrol. I know you don’t want to be mentioned, so I’ll let you remain “anonymous.” Just know you’re the absolute best!

  To my friends and family: Thank you for once again cheering me on and encouraging me to keep writing. This whole writing thing is intimidating, but your kind words make it ever-so-slightly easier. Y’all are the best, and I wish I could give you all warm hugs right now.

  To my readers: I know I’ve already said my friends and family are the best, but it’s really you guys. Shhh, don’t tattle on me for saying that. I wouldn’t be doing this without you. Thank you for supporting an indie author who is still fumbling her way through the publishing process.

  And finally, It would be remiss of me if I did not thank God for putting another story on my heart and allowing me to put it in writing to share with the world. I pray I never take holding one of my paperbacks in my hand for granted.

  About Haley

  Haley Zaragoza is married to her best friend, and together they're raising a house full of feral boys. It's wild and fun and always an adventure.

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  When Haley isn't breaking up wrestling matches or homeschooling, she enjoys drinking too much coffee, watching Parks and Rec re-runs, hiking with her family, and of course, writing love stories.

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  Writing has been a dream for Haley for years; it just took a little while to work up the courage to go for it. Writing has been so much fun, and Haley hopes that her books will bring a ray of sunshine to each of her readers' day!

  Also by Haley Zaragoza

  Never Graham Spencer

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  Tragedy broke them apart. Can they find their way back to each other?

  Ten years ago Graham Spencer made the worst mistake of his life, which pushed away everyone he thought he could rely on, including the girl he loved. Now she’s back in his life, but she wants nothing to do with him… or so she says. Can he convince her that he’s not the same boy he was in high school?

  Abby Covington’s life is in upheaval- a break up, a move across the country, and she’s living in her childhood home again. The last thing she needs is to have feelings for the man who destroyed her family a decade ago. Can she guard her heart against his charms? Or will she break the one rule she set for herself in regards to men: Never Graham Spencer.