Renegade ♥'s Reviews > You and Me

4 to 4 1/2 stars

I needed a quick read that began with Y for one of my reading challenges that had to be finished before the month ended. I found this novella (that I acquired back in December of 2016) and decided to give it a whirl. It turned out to be an unexpected, funny, and pleasant surprise.

He's a sight for sore eyes. A lean, impressive tower of a man, with a face that could probably bring back my third-grade stutter.



I can't help but stare. And seeing as he's staring right back, I figure he approves. His grin matches my own as he slows to a walk, and I desperately hope he isn't going to stop in front of me. But of course, that's exactly what he does. Staring is one thing, but I'm not mentally prepared to engage another human being in conversation. I need to wind up for stuff like this. I need at least a five minute warning.

I really enjoyed hanging out with Samantha (Freckles), Jackson (Dimples), and the rest of their crew.

(view spoiler)[

Jackson ignores his question. "Samantha, this is Heath. Heath, this is our new neighbor, Samantha."
"Hi," I say, with a small wave.
"Excuse my outfit," Heath says. [...]
He sets down his bowl of cereal and the move reveals the details of his t-shirt. Huge, block letters on it read, I have a PHD. And underneath, in smaller letters, Pretty Huge Dick.
I scratch behind my ear, silently wondering just how much sausage I've signed up for this morning.
"Ignore him," Jackson says.

(hide spoiler)]

Jackson and Samantha hit it off almost immediately, sharing a camaraderie and instant attraction that gets both their hopes up.



Unfortunately, Jackson shoves his foot in his mouth (and all the way down his throat) when he, unwittingly, mocks Samantha's profession (something she's super sensitive about for reasons).

My expression must belie what I'm thinking because Jackson smiles, relaxed, and asks, "You know what I mean, right?" Then pauses before adding, "What's your specialty? I caught sight of pink scrubs when you opened your bag. Are you in obstetrics, pediatrics, or what?"
"I'm a midwife," I say. Jackson's smirk slides from his face. "A holistic midwife, fresh out of the school of witchcraft and wizardry. But, I do prefer the term witch to paraprofessional. The latter is bad for business, you know what I mean?"
Cue awkward silence.



Jackson realizes pretty quickly that he's dropped the ball, but he's determined to go after Samantha because he senses that there's something special between them worth exploring.

(view spoiler)[

I want to know more about her.
Not more. Something. Anything. I know nothing at all, really. All I know is our senses of humor link together like two pieces of the same chain, and I can't help but crave more interaction with her.

(hide spoiler)]

And he's not one to give up without a fight:

Dear Freckles,
These [flowers] made me think of you.
In fact, I don't think I've stopped thinking of you.
I'm sorry I was a jerk. Let me make it up to you.
In desperate need of your one-liners,
Jackson (Dimples from down the hall).



Her response:

You tore beautiful flowers from Mother Earth and left their rotting corpses at my door. You're a monster.
May they rest in peace, along with my impression of you.

I laugh, not even knowing if it's a joke.
It has to be, right?

***

(view spoiler)[

"Do you mind if I move this dead carcass over here?"
Grace passes by me in a flash of blonde hair, carrying a sunflower in a small clear vase. The flower's the only one remaining from the arrangement Jackson left for me a few days ago.
"Shut up," I say, half laughing into the glass of wine cradled between my hands, my prize after a long day of work.
[...] The truth is that I loved the flowers. I'd never seen an arrangment like the one he'd left. He must've put it together himself because it was strange and beautiful.



(hide spoiler)]

Long story short, she doesn't make things easy for him, but Jackson is up to the challenge, and I found myself laughing along the way...

Her bright face is the best thing I've seen all day. Even if her eyes are brimming with humor and only traces of sympathy. It doesn't matter. Suffering is just better when there's a witness.
"Is it the man cold?" She lowers her voice conspicuously. "It's the man cold, isn't it?"



"Everything hurts. I'm pretty sure I'm dying."
"Well, the man cold is notoriously deadly."
"You hexed me," I accuse, pulling the covers tighter around me, cocooning myself.
The corner of her lips pull up. "Do you want me to leave you here to die? Or do you want me to help?"

Despite the inevitable bumps on their journey to love (of course), these two made me grin with their banter and chemistry.

"You're one of those people who's just naturally good at everything, aren't you? I don't even hang out with people like that," I say. "I like my friends at a functional enough level of mediocre to where I don't feel incompetent."
He chuckles, somehow knowing I'm kidding without me having to so much as smile. I like this guy. He gets me.
"It's a good thing I don't want to be your friend, Samantha."
I snap my head up mid-chopping motion to look into his eyes. They're an electric hue of blue, like the hottest part of a flame, threatening to engulf me where I stand.



This story was super quick at only fifty pages, but it worked for me.

The author added an extra bonus scene at the end that felt just slightly different in tone than the rest of the tale for me, but it provided a small window into what the future of their relationship will be like and an extra helping of spice (for those who wanted and/or needed more).

This was my first read by Veronica Larsen, but I'm pretty sure it won't be my last.