“Nah.” He used his thumb and forefinger to lift my chin to him. It was then that I noticed he had my hat in his other hand. When did he bend down to get it? He plopped it back on my head. “You got this in the bag. You know that?”
My shoulders slumped, and I gave him a soft nod. “Let’s get Hook settled and then head back to the hotel, I’m tired…”
He pinched his brow slightly, his smile fading before he blinked away his expression, giving me his bright smile once again. “As you wish.”
“Ah…The Princess Bridehas officially entered our friendship.” I unclipped Hook’s breast collar, giving Wyatt a smirk, grateful that I could think about something else for a moment. “One of my favorite movies.”
He took a sharp inhale through his teeth. “So, if I tell you I’ve never seen it—”
“No,” I cut him off, pointing a deep yet sarcastic glare his way. “That’s a deal breaker. It’s a classic.”
“I was doing other things as a kid; I didn’t really watch movies.” He tilted his head, giving Hook his attention as he spoke. “I mean, I watchedDie Hard.”
“Of course you did.” I chuckled. “I’m fixing this.The Princess Bridewas what sparked my love for fairy tales. You can’t be my friend and not know that movie. How did you know to say ‘as you wish’ then?”
He laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile. I loved his laugh. It filled my stomach with butterflies every time and always managed to drown out all the noise of any surrounding area.
“Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean I don’t know girls go feral for that line.” He scoffed, his expression turning cocky as he pulled the leather on Hook’s saddle loose.
I tightened my lips.Oh.
I pushed that little comment aside, blinking a few times to really erase it. “Well, I’m still fixing this. We’re watching it tonight.”
“Hell, no. Hook just agreed to take them to Neverland. We’re watching our show.”
Our show.
“Fine, but when we finish this series, you’re watching it.” I pointed at him.
“As you wish,” he sighed, his voice low and smooth. So smooth, so low, I had to shove the flutters down.
He was so close to me then, all I had to do was…
I cleared my throat and stepped back from him.
An hour later, my horse was happy, my hair was washed and braided, and Wyatt stepped through my hotel room with two to-go salads. I plopped on the bed and grabbed my laptop, opening it up to cue up the show just as Wyatt sat down next to me, sliding a salad and a fork my way.
I dwelled on the idea of my mother being here during my ten-minute shower, telling myself that’s all I would give myself to think on it. It wasn’t her fault I let it get to me; she was simply doing her job as Kelly’s coach—right? I shouldn’t let her doing her job affect mine.
But it did.
Every. Single. Time.
I went down the same rabbit hole.
And I could already feel myself falling like Alice.
That’s why I only gave myself ten minutes. So, I couldn’t fall.
Wyatt fluffed up the pillows on the headboard, getting comfortable as he waited for me to find the right episode. He stabbed his salad with his fork, shoved what seemed to be the entire head of lettuce in his mouth, and then waved his fork in front of my laptop. I took his gesture like a little wand, his fork magically starting up the show, so to make him smile—even with a mouthful—I pressed play and settled myself next to him.
We were quiet, no words needed as we ate and enjoyed the crew landing in Neverland. Wyatt’s comments began to reminisce on the first time we ever watched this show together, ranging from him saying, “Well, now that all makes sense” to “I honestly should have seen that coming.” When he shouted at the TV that Henry was about to trust the wrong person, it sent my soft laughter through the room, and without realizing it, Iscooted closer to him. Once the episode was over, I managed to burrow myself under the covers, the laptop seated closer to our feet.
“So…” Wyatt began, his voice a little heavier than normal.
I hummed. “So.”
“I saw—”
