*JOSH’S POV*I watched her walk up to the front door, her hair bouncing with each step, and for some reason, I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. Mary always had that effect on me. She could drive me absolutely insane, but I liked it. No, I loved it. The banter, the teasing—it was all part of the weird connection we had.The car was silent, the soft glow of the streetlight barely reaching through the window as she disappeared inside. My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the quiet.What is it about her?We’d known each other for a while now. From that first full moon ceremony where she’d stumbled into me, lost and flustered, to now, with her sitting in my passenger seat pretending she wasn’t just as rattled by our almost-kiss as I was. She tried to play it cool, but I could feel her tension. Hell, I could feel mine.That almost-kiss… I hadn’t planned on it. Well, maybe a part of me had. When I grabbed her waist back at the offi
*JOSH’S POV*I couldn’t help but think about the way she looked at me at the café, how her teasing about Brianne and Jordyn had that undercurrent of truth. Like she was genuinely happy for them, but maybe there was something else there, something unsaid. And when Jordyn had turned the tables and teased her about me? Her cheeks flushed, and she got all flustered, trying to laugh it off.That was the moment it hit me. Maybe she felt the same. Maybe she’d been hiding behind the teasing, just like I was. I mean, why else would she react the way she did?I stood up, pacing the length of the kitchen. My mind raced, running through a million different scenarios. Should I just tell her? Make a move, stop dancing around whatever this was? But what if I was wrong? What if all this was just in my head, and she was just being Mary—playful, goofy, and completely oblivious to the fact that I’d fallen for her?I ran my fingers through my hair again, groaning in frustration. I’d never been this wrapp
*JOSH’S POV*I stared at him, taking in his words. Deep down, I knew he was right. I’d been dancing around this with Mary for months, teasing and flirting but never taking that next step. And the more time passed, the more I felt like I was in too deep to pull back.“And what if I mess it up?” I asked quietly.Jordyn leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “You won’t mess it up. Not if you’re honest with her. Trust me, Josh. She’s waiting for you to make a move. Don’t leave her hanging.”I looked down at the floor, my mind racing. Jordyn was right. I’d been holding back for too long, too scared of what might happen. But what was worse—risking it, or letting her slip away because I was too afraid to take the chance?“I’m telling you, man,” Jordyn said with a smirk. “If you don’t do it soon, someone else might.”That made my heart lurch, and I shot him a glare. “Not funny.”He shrugged. “I’m just saying. Don’t let your fear get in the way of something real.”I sat there for a mome
*MARY’S POV*My heart raced as I grabbed my bag, checking myself one last time in the mirror. ‘You’ve got this, Mary,’ I whispered to myself. ‘It’s just Josh. No big deal.’But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t true. It was a big deal. And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.With a deep breath, I headed downstairs and opened the front door. And there he was, leaning casually against his car, hands in his pockets, looking way too good for someone who was supposedly just picking me up for a casual hangout. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.“Hey,” he said, flashing me that lopsided grin that always made my heart skip.“Hey,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “So, what’s this all about?”He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “You’ll see. Come on.”With a playful roll of my eyes, I followed him to the car, feeling that familiar buzz of excitement—like something big was about to happen.And maybe it was.*** I sat on the couch, my eyes f
*MARY’S POV*“Wait, how old are you, actually?” I asked, curiosity finally getting the better of me as we settled back into a more relaxed conversation.Josh glanced at me with a slight smirk. “I’m 25. Why?”I blinked, genuinely surprised. “You’re 25?!”He raised an eyebrow, amused by my reaction. “Yeah. You sound shocked. How old did you think I was?”I shifted a bit, feeling a little awkward. “I don’t know, I guess I thought you were closer to Jordyn’s age.”Josh chuckled. “How old do you think he is?”I tilted my head, considering it. “I don’t know. Late twenties, maybe?”Josh let out a small laugh. “Jordyn’s 31.”I gasped and then burst into laughter. “No way! So, Jordyn’s basically your grandpa!”Josh grinned, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t go that far, but yeah, he’s got a few years on me.”Still laughing, I pointed at Josh with a teasing glint in my eyes. “And here I was thinking you were all mature and stuff. But nope, just a baby.”He shot me a playful glare. “A baby, huh? And
*MARY’S POV*We sat there for a moment longer, still pressed close together, the warmth of his arm around me making it hard to focus on anything else. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the subtle way his thumb traced small circles on my side. It was soothing and exciting all at once.After a while, I cleared my throat, trying to bring myself back to reality. “Okay, seriously though… you’re 25, and Jordyn’s 31? That’s like, a huge gap. You should start calling him ‘Grandpa.’”Josh let out a bark of laughter. “I’m not calling him Grandpa! Do you want him to kick my ass?”I grinned, the thought of Jordyn’s reaction making me laugh. “Oh, come on. It’d be hilarious. He’d lose his mind.”“Yeah, and then I’d be wolf meat.”I laughed harder, my hand reaching up to wipe away the tear forming in my eye. “Fine, fine. But it’d be worth it just to see the look on his face.”Josh shook his head, still smiling. “You’re gonna get me into trouble one of these days.”I rested my head
*MARY’S POV*Brianne smiled knowingly. “Oh, I know. Trust me. But it sounds like he respects you, and that’s the important part.”“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “He does. He made sure I didn’t feel rushed or anything.”We chatted a bit more about last night, and I couldn’t help but feel even more sure about where things were going with Josh.Just as I was about to ask Brianne more about her own life, my phone buzzed. I glanced down and saw Josh’s name light up the screen.Josh: Morning! Hope you’re free tonight—fancy another ‘non-babysitting’ hangout?I smiled, trying to suppress the butterflies that immediately fluttered in my stomach.Me: Another hangout? What are you planning this time, mister?His response was almost immediate.Josh: It’s a surprise. But no babysitting involved, I promise.Brianne noticed my grin and nudged me. “Who’s that?”I tilted my phone toward her so she could see the messages. She raised her eyebrows, her expression one of playful judgment.“Oh, he’s got you hook
*MARY’S POV*We sat down, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. The wine had left me feeling a little light-headed, and as Josh’s arm draped over the back of the bench, his closeness was intoxicating.“Mary,” he said softly, his voice a little huskier than usual, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”Before I could ask what he meant, his lips were on mine. The kiss was slow and gentle at first, but it quickly deepened as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Every inch of me felt alive, and I lost myself in the moment, forgetting everything else but the feel of him, the taste of him.The kiss grew more heated, his hands moving to my waist, pulling me against him. I could feel the fire building between us, and for a moment, I didn’t care where this was heading. I wanted him, and it was clear he wanted me, too.When we finally pulled away, breathless, his forehead rested against mine. “Come back to my place,” he whispered, his voice low and rough.I nodd
*MARY'S POV*It had been one of those days—the kind where you’re running around so much, you forget to breathe. Between errands, Brianne’s endless chatter about wedding plans, and my job commitments, I was exhausted.By the time I got home, I flopped onto my bed, glaring at my phone as it buzzed.Josh: “What’s the probability of you burning dinner again tonight? Asking for science.”I snorted, my fatigue momentarily forgotten.Me: “Zero. I ordered takeout. Bet you didn’t see that coming, Mr. Assistant.”Josh: “Well, well, look at you. A true culinary mastermind. What’d you get?”Me: “Sushi. But not sharing, so don’t even ask.”Josh: “You’re cruel.”Me: “But I’m cute, so it balances out.”Josh: “Debatable.”I rolled my eyes, tossing my phone onto the pillow beside me. Even when we weren’t together, he had this way of sneaking into my day and making it better.***Later that evening, as I lounged on the couch with my sushi, my phone buzzed again.Josh: “Let me guess. You’re in your PJs,
*MARY'S POV*Josh was fine. Of course, he was fine. I should’ve known better than to take his text seriously.“You’re really milking this, aren’t you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.“Maybe,” he said, that signature smirk tugging at his lips.I huffed and crossed my arms. “I should’ve just ignored you.”“But you didn’t.”That smug grin of his—it was equal parts infuriating and charming.Later that day,Josh insisted on taking me out. "It’s not a big deal,” he said, his smile disarming. “Just trust me.”When I showed up that evening, I half-expected another casual hangout. But he surprised me. Instead of his usual playful demeanor, there was something different about him—something deliberate.“Ready?” he asked, offering his arm.“For what exactly?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.“You’ll see,” he said, leading me outside.The walk to the secluded spot took a while, but when we arrived, I was speechless.Josh had set up a cozy little space right on the beach, with lanterns lighting the
*JOSH'S POV*The next morning, I woke up early, my mind already buzzing with ideas. I couldn’t let this be a one-off thing. If Mary thought last night was romantic, I’d have to step up my game. She deserved more than just dinner under lanterns.But first, there was pack business to deal with.I sighed, pulling myself out of bed and heading for the shower. By the time I was dressed and on my way to the pack house, the warm glow of last night had been replaced with the usual weight of responsibility.When I arrived at Jordyn’s office, I found him already buried in paperwork. He barely looked up as I walked in.“Morning,” I said, dropping into the chair across from him.“Morning,” he replied, not missing a beat as he flipped through a file.For a while, we worked in comfortable silence, the only sounds the scratching of pens and the rustle of papers.But, of course, Jordyn being Jordyn, he couldn’t let me off that easily.“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair and giving me a pointed l
*JOSH'S POV*She was frozen, her eyes wide and glistening under the lantern light.“I’m not asking for forever—at least not yet,” I said, a grin tugging at my lips. “But I am asking you to be mine. Will you be my girlfriend?”Mary blinked, her expression shifting from surprise to something softer, more tender. And then she laughed, shaking her head.“You really went all out for this, didn’t you?” she said, her voice thick with emotion.“Is that a yes?” I asked, still kneeling.She stepped closer, pulling me to my feet and into her arms. “Yes, you idiot. Of course, it’s a yes.”Relief and joy washed over me as I held her, the weight of anticipation lifting from my shoulders.“But,” she added, pulling back slightly, her lips curving into a smirk, “you didn’t have to go this big just to ask me to be your girlfriend.”I grinned. “I wanted to make sure you couldn’t say no.”“Like I ever could,” she whispered, leaning up to press her lips to mine.The kiss was soft, lingering, and full of p
I could still hear Mary’s voice in my head, teasing me about how I owed her a proper date. It played on repeat as I sat on the couch, flipping through ideas for something special. I wasn’t the type to go all out—fancy dates and grand gestures weren’t really my thing—but for Mary, I wanted this to feel different. She deserved different.The past few days in the clinic had been torture, not because of the pain, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The memory of her hand in mine, the way her cheeks flushed when I’d asked her to be my girlfriend, was burned into my mind. She’d told me to wait, to get better first, but that didn’t stop me from imagining her answer.With a plan finally forming in my head, I grabbed my phone and sent her a quick text.Me: Don’t forget, Friday night. Dress fancy.Her reply came almost instantly:Mary: It better be worth it.I laughed under my breath, shaking my head. She always knew how to keep me on my toes.*** Friday rolled around faster than I
*MARY'S POV*I stood outside Josh’s room in the clinic, the door slightly ajar. It had been two days since the accident, and though his wounds were healing, I still couldn’t shake the image of him lying unconscious and bloodied. I’d barely slept since Brianne called me with the news. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him in that state.The sound of his voice pulled me from my thoughts.“Mary, you planning to just stand there, or are you coming in?”I pushed the door open, trying to mask the relief that flooded through me at seeing him awake and smirking. Typical Josh—always ready with a grin, even when he was banged up.“How long were you watching me?” I asked, stepping in and closing the door behind me.“Long enough to see you pacing like a worried mom,” he teased, his voice hoarse but warm.I rolled my eyes, pulling the chair closer to his bed. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”“And yet, here you are.”I couldn’t argue with that.*** *JOSH'S POV*Mary looked tired, like she ha
*MARY'S POV*Walking into the room, I felt my chest tighten at the sight of him. Josh was lying on the bed, his face pale, his breathing steady but shallow. Bandages covered his arms and chest, and there was a faint bruise along his jawline.I pulled up a chair beside his bed, my eyes welling up with tears. “You idiot,” I muttered, my voice shaking. “Why did you have to be so reckless?”He didn’t respond, of course. He was unconscious, his body working overtime to heal itself. I reached out, hesitating for a moment before taking his hand in mine.“You’re going to be fine,” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “You have to be. I’m not done yelling at you yet.”*** Hours passed, though it felt like days. Brianne came in to check on me a few times, offering food or water, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Josh’s side.As the first rays of dawn filtered through the window, I felt a slight movement in his hand. My heart leaped, and I leaned forward.“Josh?” I whispered, my voice ba
*MARY'S POV*I groaned again, burying my face in the pillow. “Why am I like this? Why can’t I just enjoy it and move on?”It wasn’t like I hadn’t been with other guys before. But with Josh, it felt different. There was a connection, something deeper that I couldn’t quite put into words. And that scared me.“Do you think I’m falling for him, Mr. Fluffy?” I whispered. The teddy bear, of course, didn’t respond, but I could almost imagine him giving me a knowing look.I laughed softly, shaking my head. “No, no, no. This is just… it’s a phase. A momentary lapse in judgment. I’ll get over it. I mean, it’s Josh. He’s annoying and cocky and—”My phone buzzed on the nightstand, cutting off my train of thought. I reached over to grab it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw his name on the screen.Josh: Hope you’re not overthinking last night. I know I’m irresistible, but try to focus on other things.I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips.Me: You wish. I’m pe
*JOSH'S POV*Mary stirred slightly, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks before her eyes opened. The sunlight caught her hair, making it shine in soft waves, and for a moment, I just stared. She blinked a few times, her gaze landing on me, and a sleepy smile curved her lips.“Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.“Morning,” I replied, leaning against the headboard, my arms crossed casually. “You’re not a morning person, are you?”She stretched, groaning softly as she did. “Not in the slightest. You’re lucky you’re cute, or I’d complain about how bright it is in here.”I smirked. “Noted. Next time, I’ll keep the blinds closed.”Her head tilted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Next time, huh?”“Well, that depends,” I said, my tone teasing. “Do I get a ‘next time,’ or was this a one-time deal?”Mary propped herself up on one elbow, her expression playfully stern. “Don’t fish for compliments this early, Josh. It’s too much effort.”I laughed, the sound filling the room