Right Man, Right Time (The Vancouver Agitators, #3)

by Meghan Quinn

“Of course it was fucking good,” I say. “I’m obsessed with the girl and everything about her.”

now that I’m driving home, all I can think about is how I want to see Ollie. How I want to talk to her about . . . everything.

The plan I laid out for myself two years ago didn’t have me sitting in a college dorm parking lot, pining after a girl I know I shouldn’t while dodging my ex. My plan was to marry Sarah. To have kids. To buy a house and win some more goddamn championships. But for the past two years, it’s felt as though nothing fits.

“Anyway, as you probably can see what’s coming, I developed feelings for Ollie, and she developed feelings for me.” “Well, that’s a good thing,” Winnie says with a bright smile. “It is when you have your head on straight. Unfortunately, that’s not me, and I’ve been pushing her away. I’m just so fucked up from Sarah that I haven’t been able to get over the feeling of distrust. All Ollie wants is for me to give her a piece of me, and I haven’t been able to. And now . . . well, I think she’s pulling away. She took off for the weekend, and I won’t see her until we get back from our away trip. I feel like that’s too goddamn long, and I don’t know what to fucking do.”

Pacey nods. “You like her, yeah?” “Yeah,” I answer. “And I fucking shouldn’t. I mean, Jesus Christ, she’s still in college. We’re clearly in completely different phases of our life, but I can’t stop thinking about her. I want so much more when I’m around her, but my brain won’t let me. It’s like there’s a mental block up there.”

chest.” “Have you told Ollie everything that happened?” Winnie asks. I shake my head. “I haven’t told anyone.” “Maybe you should tell her,” Winnie suggests. “That would mean that I’m committing myself to her.” “Isn’t that what you want?” Pacey asks. “I mean, I want her, but I . . .” I swallow hard. “I just don’t think I’m good enough. I don’t think I’ll be what she needs. And then what? I end up in the same position I’m in now? And she’s going places. She has a future in front of her.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to find out. I just want to lie here, drink champagne, and believe I’m not about to get my heart ripped out of my chest.” “You like him that much?” Ross asks. I flop on my back and nod. “Yes, I like him that much.”

“I don’t want you to get over it,” he says softly. “I don’t want you to get over me.” “What?” I ask, surprised. “Ollie.” He cups my face and runs his thumb over my tear-soaked cheeks. “I wanted to talk because . . . because I don’t want this to be an agreement anymore. I want us to be real.”

“I’m losing my mind over you. There’s no way I could just end it.”

“But I don’t see a situation where I don’t try to make this work for us. I just . . . I just need to talk to you.” I glance up at him

“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your texts. I was so sick to my stomach.” “I’m not going anywhere, baby. Okay?” I nod and then

promise I won’t push, and I’m sorry I pushed before.” “I’m glad you did,” he says. “Or else I never would have let you in. You pushing has helped me move past this fear I’ve been holding on to.” “What fear is that?” I ask. “That maybe I don’t deserve anyone. That something is wrong with me. That I’m not loveable, and that’s why Sarah cheated on me.”

“Please don’t believe that, not even for a second. Because the man I’ve grown to know is worthy of everyone around him. He’s loyal and protective and so fucking loveable. The people who hurt us are the people who are hurting inside. They hurt others because they don’t know how to deal with their hurt. Sarah is the one in the wrong. She’s the one who isn’t worthy or loveable, not you.”

“You can’t be perfect all the time, Silas. No human is. The best thing about us as humans is just how imperfect we are. It shows how we’ve survived, how we’ve journeyed through life. It gives us wisdom and practice for how to protect our future. There is no need to always be strong, especially with me.”

Because for the first eighteen years of my life, my grandma made sure to tell me that. That every setback brings about growth. Endurance.

“Thank you.” He pauses and then asks, “Does all of this make you look at me differently?” “Yes,” I answer. “But probably not in the way that you’re thinking. It makes me fall for you even more. Because now you’ve let me see a piece of your heart. I see your warmth. Your fear. It makes you more human, and I love that. If anything, you’re even more sexy than before.”

“Good. I, uh, I told her everything that happened with Sarah.” “How did she handle it?” “Really well. It felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders.” “So you feel better? You’re going for it?” My phone buzzes in my hand with a text message from her. “Yeah. She makes me feel good. She oddly makes me feel whole.”

When her head whips around to look at me, the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen greets me. This. This is what I’ve missed. Coming home to someone. Someone eager to see me.

She leaps into my arms, wraps her legs around my waist, and plasters her lips to mine. Probably the best welcome home I’ve ever received. “Oh my God, you smell good,” she says as her lips move across mine. “I missed you.” I spin us around and pin her against the door. “I missed you too,” I say, running my hand through her hair as my lips move over hers. “Fuck, I missed you.”

“Have you ever been fucked here?” She shakes her head. “N-No.” “You will be,” I say, slapping her ass again. “Now that you’re mine . . . your entire body is mine to fuck with. Got it?”

“Thank you.” “But that’s not what I was talking about.” I rub her thigh gently. “Thank you for being patient with me. I still have a lot to work out in my head, but I appreciate you not getting frustrated with me.” “Like I said”—she drags her thumb over my lip—“you’re worth it, Silas.”

“Or you can think about it like we’ve earned this in life,” I say, trying to find the positive in all of this. “Just because things are going right, doesn’t mean they’re going to go wrong.”

“But I think Silas and I were supposed to meet each other. Was it a risk just randomly kissing him so I could prove Candace wrong and shove it in her face? Of course. But it feels like we were meant to meet that night. He helped me feel confident and beautiful again, while I helped him find value in himself after being cheat—uh . . .” I glance away. Fuck. “I mean, after he and his ex broke up.”

“Give me a second, and I’ll be between your legs again, giving you what you deserve.” I press a kiss to his chest. It’s not just the sex. I mean, the man can fuck like there’s no tomorrow. But not only that, he makes me feel cherished. As if there is nothing better to him than the enjoyment I experience. That makes me feel . . . treasured. I love it. “You’re what I deserve.”

She makes me feel desired, and Sarah never made me feel that way.

“Are you growing attached to me, Silas?”

“I am,” I say, completely serious, which changes her expression. I set down my yogurt and grip her waist. “I really like you, Ollie.”

“I really like you to...

“I want you to have the world in front of you, all of the opportunities, but I also want to know that I have a ...

“You’re in my future, Silas. I don’t know what that future will be, but you’re in it. I honestly can say this is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

“It’s really fucking strong, Ollie. You brought me back to life. I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says, then leans in to kiss me. “I’m yours, Silas. Only yours.”

“I am happy,” I say. “Had a great morning with Ollie.” “You feeling her?” Holmes asks. “Yeah, man. A lot. She makes me really fucking happy.” Leaning in close, I say, “I think she’s the fucking one.”

This is a new level of connection—of . . . possession—I have inside me. I haven’t told her, but hell, dude, I love her. The feeling is so strong in my veins that I need to be around her all the goddamn time.”

“You’re desired. You’re wanted. You’re needed. You’re cherished.” Her hand slides up my shaft and pulls me out of my briefs. “I’m yours, no one else’s.”

I can see my life clearly. Sarah’s definitely my past and Ollie is unquestionably my future.