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“Yep. Tomorrow,” I quip, my voice trailing off, my nerves kicking up a notch. “Can I talk to Lola real quick? I know she needs to get in bed.”
“Oh, right. Just a second.” I hear him holler for Lola and then her voice in the background. “Here she is. Goodnight, Chloe.”
Never goodbye, always goodnight. Or talk to you later. Or see you soon.
Lola requires me to sing her a song as she gets tucked in. I can see Wyatt’s face cringing at the sound of my off-key voice coming through the speaker of his phone. I sound worse in person, so he needs to be prepared for that.
After she’s tucked in tight, I hang up, not waiting for Wyatt to get back on the line. There will be plenty of time to talk tomorrow. Time to worry and fret and freak out.
“Knock, knock,” Addy calls out as she opens the front door.
“You’re not naked, are you?” Jones asks, hot on her heels.
He still hasn’t left. It’s been over a week since his “weekend” visit started. I heard him fighting with Wyatt on the phone the other day about coming back home. I don’t think he has any intention of returning. Not if Addy has her way.
“Shut up, Jones.”
“Just checking. I don’t need another reason for Wyatt to want to kick my ass. The list is already long enough.”
“You know, you could always catch a ride with me tomorrow if you want.”
“What? And leave me here all alone to wallow in sorrow? He’s not going anywhere.” Addy stomps her foot as she whines.
“There’s always room for you too. You know that,” I tell Addy for the sixth time today. I’ve been asking her to come with me, but she won’t. Denver isn’t her home, but she’s attached to it. I don’t think anything could convince her to leave it.
Well, maybe not anything, but someone might be able to. They just need to stop tiptoeing around how they feel about each other. If I’ve learned one thing over the last few weeks, it’s that not talking about things won’t lead to answers.
I’ve found my answers, at least enough answers to satisfy the questions I needed answered most.
“I have a feeling if I even try to pack my bag, she’ll tie me up and hold me hostage.” Jones’s eyes light up for a moment before Addy slaps him across the chest. “Just an idea.”
“Not one I plan to entertain. Plus, being a hostage isn’t supposed to be fun.”
“Anything involving you and ropes sounds like fun to me.”
He just doesn’t know when to quit. I make a gagging noise, and they both roll their eyes at me.
“You have no idea how nauseating you and Wyatt used to make me just by looking at each other.”
“What?” I’m genuinely shocked at Jones’s admission. Wyatt and I always tried to play it cool in public. In private was another story.
“Think about it, Chloe. All those times you thought you were being stealthy playing footsie under the table, or when he used to put his hand in your back pocket as the three of us would walk through town. Don’t forget all the times I caught you making out by the pond. I’d be gone less than two minutes to take a leak and come back to find you two looking like you were trying to eat each other’s faces off.”
Addy bursts out in laughter and I can’t help but follow.
“You find that funny? What about the time you didn’t realize that Becky was home and she walked in on you two about to get it on?”
My laughter catches in my throat and turns to a deep cough. I can feel my cheeks heat at the mention of that night. Becky was furious, I was embarrassed, and Wyatt had blue balls for the rest of the night.
It’s beena week since Wyatt and I first made love. We’ve been trying to find time to spend together, alone, but things have been crazy busy. My parents have me helping with the ranch; one of the ranch hands quit without notice a few days ago. Wyatt’s been working his butt off trying to make as much money as he can this summer.
It’s all about timing.
And maybe a little bit about luck.
Wyatt invited me over tonight. His parents are about to leave for dinner with another couple and Willow is working at the bar. We’ll be home alone.
No more tents.
