“How?”
“Let’s just say Karlie wasn’t the dream he thought he’d been gifted. That woman was a mess, and he paid the price for his actions.”
Anna picked up a grape and tried to toss it into her mouth, missing completely and bouncing it off her eye instead. This threw us both into a fit of laughter and soon the conversation of Wyatt quickly faded.
My place was finally coming together.
A cute little haven I could call my own, decorated and organized. I now had dishes in my cabinets, and a sweet welcome rug outside my front door. I’d hit the jackpot at the consignment store outside of Mason Creek and found the softest plush couch and matching ottoman, which fit the living room perfectly. A few colorful throw pillows, some rustic looking end tables and lamps, now all I needed was a television.
There was a knock on the front door and Anna froze in place like she was doing something wrong. Her eyes wide, her hands crossed over her chest. “Drinking makes you paranoid, you dope.”
Moving across the small space, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. All I needed to do was face plant into the hardwood.
Peeking through the small window next to the door I turned around and found Anna still in the same place she was moments ago. “It’s your guy coming to steal you away.” Immediately her face lit up with joy. I’d never met a couple that was still in the honeymoon phase after this long. The two of them were almost too in love. Honestly what couple likes each other as much as these two. It was nauseating at times.
Really, it was sweet.
I opened the door, bracing my body against the solid frame. “She might be a little drunk,” I said, and holding my hand up I place a very small gap between my thumb and forefinger which only made Beau chuckle.
“I think you both are.” Arching his brow, he dared me to argue, which I did not. I was most definitely feeling very good at that moment.
“Has my handsome man come to take me home?” Anna called out as she walked very slowly toward us. It was almost like she was walking on broken glass.
“Did you know that Anna thinks Wyatt is handsome?” The words had left my mouth before my brain could filter them. As if my brain couldn’t keep up.
“Oh really?” Beau smiled at his wife, as she practically fell into his arms. He scooped her up, his body flush with hers and instantly I felt envious of my best friend. It had been so long since a man held me like that. If I was being honest with myself I’d have to admit that I’d never been held the way he held her. So delicately, like she was a china doll, and the way he looked at her, she was so lucky.
“Handsome, but there is no one in this world as perfect you.” Very clumsily Anna stood a little taller and pressed a kiss to Beau’s cheek.
“Did you girls have a good time?”
“Did you boys?” Anna challenged him and the two of them shared a moment I immediately felt like I shouldn’t be a part of.
Looking away, I stepped around them and out onto the front porch. The crisp night air felt good against my flushed skin. I’d been cooped up in the house for hours and a little fresh air felt good.
“It’s not too bad out.” I jumped in surprise at the sound of someone’s voice so close. Stumbling I reach for something to hold onto but found that the only thing near me was Wyatt. Part of me thought I’d rather fall then have him help me, but he didn’t allow me to make that choice.
Instead, he reached out, grabbing my arm, and pulling me upright.
Of course, being half looped it was as if my body was swaying uncontrollably and the next thing I knew my entire front was laying flush to his. I could feel his warm breath span out over my cheek, the sound of his deep inhale, followed by the release. It took far too long for me to pull back, as if my body was betraying my mind.
I didn’t look up, still feeling completely flipped around, unsure of what to do next.
“Well, I’m going get this one home.” Beau stepped out of the house, holding Anna close to his side. She pretended to be unable to walk, and allowed him to practically carry her, but when she winked at me, I knew it was all a game. The damsel in distress being rescued by her prince.
Smiling I focused on them instead of Wyatt as Beau led her to his truck. The entire time it took him to load her up and fasten her in I could practically feel Wyatt’s eyes burning a hole in the side of my head. The cool night air did nothing to soothe my heated body.
Anna’s words from our night together rolling around in my mind. He’s not the same guy. Isn’t Wyatt handsome? You can’t hate him forever.
Both Beau and Anna waved through the windshield of the truck as it slowly backed down the driveway. Then I was left alone with my thoughts and Wyatt, who still stood at my side.
“Goodnight,” Wyatt said as he stepped passed me. It was the first time I’d seen him since he grabbed me to keep me from falling. Sweatpants and a sweatshirt, he seemed like a completely different person from the man I’d seen every time before. So relaxed and settled.
“I don’t hate you, ya know.” Wyatt stopped walking only he didn’t turn around to face me. A million thoughts ran through my mind but again my mind couldn’t keep up with my mouth. Drunken rambling was a curse I was dealt. “I know you think I do, and fine maybe I haven’t really given you any reason to think otherwise. It’s just,” I tried to move forward but my foot got caught on the rug beneath my feet. I stumbled a bit and grabbed the railing around my porch.
Taking in a deep breath I looked back up and it was then I was met with Wyatt staring back at me. “I’m humiliated. I was then, and I still am now.” Shrugging, I did my very best to hold myself together. Crying was not an option, but sadly I was also cursed with the drunken sniffles. It alone was some wicked form of voodoo that overpowered me when I least expected it to. “I liked you,” the confession wasn’t as humiliating as I thought it would be. But then again, I was three sheets to the wind, so that helped. “Really, really liked you and then you…” I waved my hand before me, I knew I couldn’t finish the sentence. My emotions were sneaking up on me like a crazy bitch. “Well, you know what you did. I just thought you should know that I don’t hate you, I just hate what you did.”
I’d had enough, honestly I was surprised I was still standing.
“Good night.” I said those last words in a rush and hurried back inside, closing the door securely behind me. It was time to call it a night, I knew I’d feel like hell tomorrow and I’d already said too much.
Chapter Eleven
Wyatt
* * *
Hearing the tires of a vehicle pop against the gravel drive, I moved toward my kitchen window and peered outside. Almost immediately my body tenses, when I see its Cole Jackson. It had been more than a couple weeks now since Sadie signed the rental agreement, so there was no reason for him to follow up with her.
He climbed out of his Expedition and walked around the opposite side, making it harder for me to see him. Hurrying across the dining room, I made my way down the hallway and stood just at the side of the backdoor, peeking through the bind that covered the window. I felt like a peeping tom.
Cole took something out of his backseat, closed the door and started walking toward the front of the cottage. It was a basket of something, all wrapped up in cellophane, and a ribbon tied around the top.