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“Sure, I do. But you’re grouping him with you when you’re two different people. He’s not why I find you interesting.”
“Don’t compliment me because we live together.”
“I’m not. You’re wise about things most people our age don’t understand, you’re perceptive, you’re witty although you don’t show that side of you much because you’d rather people not notice you, and you make me think twice about things I don’t understand, like how to accept someone’s good and bad qualities, and how anyone can possibly enjoy running.” He cracks a bit of a smile.
“You’re more interesting than anyone I know.” He tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear as he locks his gaze with mine. The movement sends my heart racing, and not just because he touched me. Once again, he makes me feel like I’m the only thing he sees when he looks at me.
This stare is turning inappropriate, building a connection between us that surpasses merely affection and respect. But I can’t break it. I get lost in it actually, consumed by the warmth it spreads throughout my body. It makes me think Wes must feel the same, because he seems no more eager to move than I am. So, we sit. Silently. Comfortably. Staring at each other as if we're not capable of seeing anything else, until another knock jolts us back to my room.
“Hey, Jen.” Wes looks at the door so casually I wonder if I imagined the moment we shared seconds earlier. The sudden change puts me on the defensive.
"What's up?" I say curtly.
“Just wanted to say goodnight.” Mom’s voice is cheery, telling me she saw nothing amiss.
“I’m heading to bed too.” Wes abruptly stands and strides toward the door, holding it open for my mom.
Mom blows me a kiss and gives Wes an affectionate pat on the chest before she leaves. As her footsteps echo down the hall Wes pauses in the doorway, a distant expression on his face. It's the first time he's looked at me without seeming to see me. I don't like it. I want the old look back.
“Thank you. For seeing me, not my dad.” I press my lips together to keep from saying anything more, feeling more unsure than I ever have around him.
“Always.” He gives me a smile, though it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Maybe we can do Bachelor and ice cream tomorrow.” I hold my breath, anxious for his reply.
“As you wish. Night, Sawyer.”
“Night,” I whisper as the door closes.
Wes
“You’rewatchingwithoutme?”Sawyer jumps when my complaint reaches her. Over the past few months, we’ve been watching The Bachelor together, and I’ve come to think of it as‘our’thing.
“There was nothing else on.” She shrinks into the couch. “I just started it, so you haven’t missed much.”
I settle in next to her, far enough that we aren’t touching, but close enough that we could with a subtle shift.
“Did Jen and Pop head out?” Saturday is usually their date night, but as the wedding gets closer, their schedule has become less predictable.
“Cake tasting. No, wait. That’s next week. Tonight, they’re picking the menu for the reception dinner.”
“I can’t believe how much stuff goes into a wedding,” I mumble.
“I can’t believe your dad’s as excited about it as she is. I mean, Mom and Dad did the courthouse thing, so I get why she wants a princess wedding. But didn’t your dad have one of those already?”
“Yeah, but it was small and kind of rushed. They were so young and my impending arrival meant they didn’t have a lot of time to plan something fancy.” I give her a playful wink.
“Hmm.” She nods. “How was your workout?” That’s a sly way to change the subject.
Since I called her out on it, Sawyer has been much better about asking questions. Sometimes, I miss the curious looks or cryptic statements she used to give me when she wanted to ask something, but this way is nice too. I take it as a sign that she’s beginning to feel comfortable with me.
“Eh, better than doing nothing, but not tough enough to prepare me for college.” I kick my feet up on the coffee table.
“Should you get a trainer or something?” She chews on her lip, same as she always does when she’s thinking out loud.
“Probably, but I’ll wait until after the wedding for that. Pop has enough going on without adding that expense into the mix.”
“Maybe my dad would help you. After his season, I mean. He’ll need something to do, and it’s not like he needs money to do it.”
