Need You Tonight by Marquita Valentine Page A

feel like shit.
    Before she came into my life, I didn’t know what I was missing. I didn’t fucking care because I was so focused on leaving this hellhole.
    “Did she tell you that?” he asks.
    I give him a look. “What do you think?”
    “Honestly, I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what’s going on, because you won’t say, and I wish like hell you would. You’ve been like this for months.”
    “Maybe if you weren’t so far up your girlfriend’s ass, then you’d know what was wrong with me.”
    West’s dark eyes flash. “Better watch yourself,” he says softly. “McKenzie has nothing to do with your attitude.”
    “You’re right. She doesn’t.” I run a hand through my hair. “Sorry, man.”
    He slaps my back. “We all say stupid shit. Hell, remember when you called my ass out over McKenzie?”
    “I remember.”
    “Then allow me to return the favor.”
    I cross my arms. “Go on.”
    “Ask her what she wants. Use your words. Use that legendary charm of yours to put her at ease.”
    “I already did that,” I mutter.
    “Then try again.”
    “She doesn’t want to talk to me,” I finally admit.
    “And? Give her some time to cool off, and then try again.”
    “You’re all about the try, aren’t you?”
    He grins. “I’m all about putting a man out of his misery.”
    I nod at the dance floor. “You think Brooklyn will put me out of mine?”
    His grin falls away, a thoughtful look taking over his face. “Why don’t you tell me about her?”
    My mind whirls. How to describe Brooklyn… “She’s fragile and sweet… and kind. A really good listener. Fun to be around.” I don’t have to say that she’s fucking gorgeous and sexy, because he has eyes. And I sure as hell won’t tell him how my very own angel kisses like the devil. Or how perfect she feels in my arms each time I hold her. I glance at West. “So, what’s the verdict?”
    “Honestly, I think she could be the best thing that ever happened to you.”
    Rolling my eyes, I say, “You just want me to have a reason to stay in Forrestville.”
    “Dude, if I could get you to stay in North Carolina , I would consider it a win.”
    “I’ll think about it,” I say.
    “About Brooklyn or staying?”
    “Both.”

Chapter Thirteen
    Brooklyn
    “P ARKER M ORGAN,” R OWAN says as she comes walking into my office Wednesday morning. “He’s the one who made you cry.”
    I blink, my gaze going from the computer screen to the pissed-off look on her face. “I…uh, that is.”
    “B, if we’re going to be friends, then you have to be honest with me. I was honest with you about Seth, and I wasn’t even drunk,” she points out.
    She’s right. I can’t expect make to friends, much less keep them, if I don’t try to be a little vulnerable. “It’s not what you think,” I begin, and she sits down the chair across from my desk. “Parker and I had a misunderstanding, is all.”
    “About a clogged toilet?”
    “ Ew . No.”
    “You said he was your handyman, so I can only assume that the misunderstanding you had was over fixing something,” she points out.
    “It was over fixing me,” I mumble, looking away.
    “There’s nothing wrong with you,” she says. “You just need to get out more.”
    “No. I don’t.” I can feel the familiar defensive anger building inside of me, so I take a deep breath and look at her, softening my face. “What I mean is that I’m not ready to date. When I went out with you and Piper last Saturday, that’s the first date—girls’ night out or real date, whatever you want to call it—I’ve been on in years.”
    Her blue eyes round. “Seriously?”
    I nod and then make a face. “I sound pathetic, huh?”
    “Not to me. When Seth broke up with me, I didn’t date anyone for long time, just in case he changed his mind.” She laughs, but it’s bitter. “Pathetic, huh?”
    “Not as pathetic as throwing yourself at a guy and he shoots you down, after the two of you kissed,” I