WickedLovely121

If someone had told you three hours ago that your date would be the biggest, most egotistical jerk in all of Briar University, you would’ve saved yourself from the trouble and had a cozy night in your dorm instead. Wishful thinking, right?

The guy had spent almost the entire time bragging about his own achievements in life. You’d feebly respond with an Oh really? Or an Ah, I see from time to time to try and show interest, but beyond that, you spoke all of 20 words the whole dinner. To top it off, he asked at the end if you’d pay (“I spent the rest of my savings on beer kegs for the frat party, sorry.”) and once he realized you wouldn’t be putting out on the first date, he suddenly lost all interest and told you it wouldn’t work out.

Hence your current predicament, stuck under the awning in front of the restaurant as rain fell in buckets around you. Your date had driven you, and after the painfully awkward shared meal, he took off before you could even tell him goodbye.

Your finger hovered over the familiar contact for a moment in contemplation before sighing and tapping the name Garrett Graham. After a few rings that seemed to endlessly echo in your ears, the call connected and you were met with the voice you knew and adored.

“Hey, Y/N, everything okay? I thought you had a date with that guy. What was his name again? Chad?”

“It’s Brad,” you huffed. “And I did. It was horrible. He asked me to pay for our tab and talked about himself the whole time. Even told me I dressed like a hooker when I told him I wouldn’t pay for it myself.”

“I’ll fucking kill him.” Garrett’s suddenly angered voice surprised you. “You look drop dead gorgeous. No wonder he misses shots in hockey and bagging the hottest girl on campus.”

“Yeah, well, the ‘hottest girl on campus’ is stuck out here in this damn hurricane level rain. Did I mention he was my ride?”

You heard shuffling on the other end of the phone. “Stay right there. I’m on my way.”

“Wait, Garrett, you really don’t have to-“

The call disconnected before you could finish telling him you would’ve found a ride elsewhere.

You and Garrett had been close for about as long as you could remember in college. He needed someone to vent to about his dad and hockey issues, and you were desperate to make new friends, thus forming an unlikely alliance. You hung out together often and were basically attached at the hip, but nothing romantic ever stemmed from it, much to your secret dislike.

Besides, you wanted something real, and you knew Garrett didn’t do the whole relationship business. You’d be damned if you let yourself become one of his puck bunnies, just another name to add to the roster of girls falling at his feet.

So what if you fell for him?

A wolf whistle pulled you out of your spiraling thoughts. “Daaaamn, little lady, you come here often?”

You hadn’t noticed the familiar black jeep pull up along the curb, nor did you see the familiar face of your best friend hopping out to open the passenger door for you. Garrett’s face was mostly covered by the hood of his jacket to protect him from the rain, but even so, you could see his boyish smile shining right at you.

“Oh, shut it. What took you so long?” You teased as you ran and hopped into the car. “I could’ve drowned out here!”

“I’d be your lifeguard, baby.” He winked as he closed the door and ran around to the other side as your heart raced.

Stop it! You mentally chided yourself. He’s your best friend!

Once inside, he reached back and dug around for something before handing it to you. “Figured you could use this, considering you’re soaking wet and shaking.”

He handed you one of his jackets that smelled so unmistakably of him, even before you put it on. “Thanks, Gar. You always know just how to make me feel better.”

“Of course. I meant it when I said I’d do anything for you.” Garrett paused for a moment, staring into your eyes and giving you one of his soft smiles that turned your insides into mush. Subconsciously, you started to lean closer to each other, to the point where you could just make that one last push and…

Beep!

The sound of the car behind you laying on their horn ripped the two of you apart. They flipped the bird, to which Garrett eagerly returned, before he shifted gears and the two of you were on your way.

“Why do you always go on dates with these shitty guys? You deserve so much better than them.” Garrett’s questioning gaze travelled back and forth between you and the road.

You scoffed, “And who else would I go out with? Half of the guys at this school are already locked down and the other half are looking for a one-night stand or booty call. Do you know how hard it is to be either overlooked or viewed as a piece of meat? What guy would be willing to look at me, in all of my craziness, and still want to choose me every day for anything other than my body?”

“Me.”

“…what?”

“I said me.” Garrett’s response was sure without a hint of hesitation.

“Okay, seriously? Cut the shit, Graham.”

“Fuck it.” Garrett abruptly veered the steering wheel to the right before bringing the Jeep to a lurching stop on the side of the road. His intense stare held yours as he continued, “You really don’t get it, do you?”

You were growing both confused and extremely frustrated with each passing moment. “Get what, Garrett? How you lead me on constantly? How I don’t know what we are because you’re scared of commitment? Because that’s what I’m getting.” Tears of frustration began to well in your eyes. “I’d rather a guy flat out tell me he’s not interested than give me hope for something that’ll never happen.”

“No, no, baby, that’s not what I ever intended to do to you. Please look at me.” He attempted to catch your fleeting gaze, but every time he did, you looked away. “Okay, we’re really doing this.”

He opened his car door, shutting it behind him before walking around and opening yours. He knelt, his hands finding your cheeks.

You couldn’t believe what he was doing. “Garrett! Are you crazy? Get back in the car! We’re on the side of the damn road!”

“I need you to listen to me, because this is really important, okay?” He drew in a deep breath. “You’re it for me. That’s it, it’s you. I’m in love with you, and there isn’t a single universe or timeline where we don’t belong together. I search for you in every room and I feel empty when we’re apart. Nobody gets me in the ways you do. We’re inevitable, baby. Just say you’re as far gone for me as I am for you, and I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world for as long as we both live.”

“Garrett, you can’t just drop all this on me when we’re on the side of the road.” You sniffled. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that? How often I’d hoped you would feel the same? I’m terrified.” Garrett’s eyes displayed an array of emotions; hope, anxiety, nerves all swirled into one, but his face remained guarded as he swiped at your cheeks with his thumbs.

“I love you, Garrett.” You continued. “If you’re far gone for me then I’m just as bad. Everything with you just makes sense.” You paused briefly, trying to articulate how you felt. “But If we do this, I need you to choose me every single time. This could very well break me if you can’t or you’re too scared too. I need you to be all in.”

His response was instant, “I choose you, every single time. I mean it when I say you’re it for me. We’re in this for the long run. It’s you and me, baby. Always gonna be you and me.” He pressed your hand to his chest, right over his rapidly beating heart. “Yours, forever.”

Your lips finally broke into a wide grin, one mirrored completely mirrored by Garrett. His eyes flickered down to your lips and back up before leaning in toward you, hands wrapping around your back. Your hands found his curls as you met in the middle for a sweet, long awaited kiss.

Beep!

Yet another honk from a passing car startled the both of you apart, but this time it was met with soft shared smiles and sweet giggles. Garrett stood up, pressing one last brief kiss to your lips before shutting your door and heading around to his side.

“I’m still gonna kill that fucking Chad, by the way.” “Garrett! Absolutely not!”