The tension in my shoulders grew and I knew that I had no right to feel anything, but it didn’t change the fact that my body was humming with annoyance.
Opening the door slightly, I pressed my ear to the gap and listened the best that I could. With the quietness, the no interruptions of traffic and more, it made it easier to hear things.
“Wow, that’s sweet!”
I couldn’t hear what he was saying in return and it was grating on my nerves. Unable to control the urge I slipped my shoes on, grabbed the garbage and walked out the back door. Pretending to take out the trash gave me a better advantage.
“Dinner maybe?” Cole said gaining my full attention. I pretended to be completely oblivious of their interaction, but I couldn’t have been more aware. “Or coffee?”
“You’re sweet really, but right now isn’t a good time.”
Or next month, hell even next year.
I continued on to the large garbage can near the side of the two stall garage. Lifting the lid I lowered the bag inside and closed it carefully so that it didn’t drown out their voices. I smiled to myself once again when I heard Sadie decline Cole’s offer for lunch. I had no right to feel pleased, but I was ecstatic at this point.
Busying myself at the side of the garage, I pulled some dead shrubs and tossed them off to the side. I’d gotten preoccupied with tedious tasks hoping to gain as much insight as I could that I’d missed that I was no longer alone.
“Are you honestly eavesdropping on my conversation?”
Spinning around, a hand full of dried weeds, I looked up to find Sadie hovering only a few feet away.
“What?” Real smooth Wyatt!
“You heard me.” The corner of her mouth tipped up in a smile.
There was no way to deny it. “So, you and Cole, huh?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow. “I never expected you to be some kind of creeper. A girl tells you she doesn’t hate you and the next thing you know your sneaking around hiding next to garages, pretending to pick weeds and trying to snoop.”
“I was pulling weeds.” Shrugging I lifted the brittle debris and give them a little shake. “And the garbage won’t take itself out.”
“Wow.” Sadie laughed and honestly, I couldn’t stop myself from grinning wide. Damn that laugh alone was the best sound. I’d never thought I hear it let alone be the cause of it. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your weeds.” Smirking, she started to back away, her head shaking from side to side. Then she turned around and I took the opportunity to watch her walk away.
For days I’d felt like I was tied in knots. Frankly since the day outside the coffee shop I’d been unsettled. But suddenly I could feel myself relaxing, hopeful that maybe Sadie and I could move beyond our past.
Maybe she’d be able to look at me and not see that asshole jock that made the end of her high school career nothing more than a miserable memory.
Walking out of Java Jitters I lifted the coffee to my lips and took a sip. Jessie made the best damn cup of coffee I’d ever had.
Reaching out for the handle on my cruiser I freeze when someone spoke from only a few feet away.
“Heard a group of misfits last night,” I spun around holding my cup securely. Grady Jackson stood just outside the entrance of the coffee shop. Not sure how I missed him but lately I have been a little one tracked. A certain brunette has been on my mind heavy, cloudy my thoughts and filling my dreams.
“When I found that my neighbor and friend wasn’t out on patrol, I took matters into my own hands and scared them off.”
“Should I ask?”
He shrugged, but the smile on his face assured me it couldn’t have been anything too bad. “I walked the tree line surrounding the springs and when I got close enough I reached through and pressed the fog horn.” He chuckled. “Those little shits tore off, falling over themselves to get away. Like they had an ass full of fire ants. It was the funniest damn thing. Gave me a good laugh, that’s for sure.”
I didn’t know how the guy did it. He worked like a dog, raising his little girl on his own and still managed to find time to laugh. Just thinking about everything he had going on made me exhausted. But Grady is a good guy, always has been.
“What’s been keeping you so distracted?” Lost in thought I realized he’d asked me a question and I paused, staring at him. “Fine example.” Arching a brow, he waited for my response. “You got something on your mind?”
“I’m good.” Maybe talking about it would’ve helped, but I still wasn’t sure if there was anything to truly talk about. Somehow telling Grady that Sadie finally talked to me without calling me an asshole or looking at me like I was Satan felt strange. Not everyone knew our history, and most would wonder why after all this time it still mattered, but I understood. I did hurt her, and it was something that changed Sadie, it wounded her, I did that. She’d held a grudge, but hopefully it was beginning to fade.
I’d wait. I’d continue to show her how I was different. If that’s what it took, I’d jump through hoops.
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with the rumors around town about an old flame moving into your cottage.”
And there it was, I should have known. Nothing stays quiet in Mason Creek. God knows I love this town and its people, but would it kill them to keep some shit to themselves?
“Where did you find that? Was it front page news?”
“The MC Scoop.” When I wrinkled my brows and stared at him, he shrugged. “Yes, I know it’s a gossip column, but it keeps a single dad like me in the loop. Most are rumors, but I have found some useful information there a time or two.”
“Oh yeah, like what?”
“Jillian’s dance recital, had I not read it on the column I would have forgotten about it, or the town bake-off.” He seemed pleased with himself. “That right there is useful information.”
“Anyone ever tell you that your strange?”
Grady chuckled, pulled open the door to Java and looked back at me with a smirk. “Strange, I’ve been referred to as worse, but from what I hear we should be calling you, Wyatt the Creeper.” And with that he let the door shut behind him and I am left alone on the street. The reminder that I tiptoed around my yard listening in on Sadie’s conversation lingering in my mind.
Damn gossip column and small town living.
Chapter Twelve
Sadie
* * *
“Is this a thing now?” I fought the urge to smile.
A girl gets a little drunk, says a lot of things she wouldn’t have said had she not finished off half a bottle of wine. The next thing you know she has caramel macchiatos and a charming smile served to her daily.
“I was going there anyway.” Wyatt held out the yummy drink and I took it. “Besides I’m being neighborly. There’s nothing wrong with that. Taking a step back I see him look passed me and dip his head slightly. “Morning Miley, had I known you were already here I would have brought you your vanilla latte.”
I tried to hide my disappointment knowing I wasn’t special being the only one Wyatt brought coffee to. I was a mess, a week ago I wanted nothing to do with him or his gifted sweetness, now here I was feeling a sense of possessiveness I didn’t have the right to feel.