Chapter 24
The music pulsed, the lights flashed, and the temperature rose to ungodly levels.
I excused myself from the dance floor and asked the bartender for water.
I hadn’t had a chance to ask them to feed me fake drinks all night, but no one seemed to be paying attention to me.
Besides, Wyatt already knew I was having stomach issues, so it made sense not to have a cocktail in my hand.
I took a gulp, then a few tentative sips. My eyes scanned the dance floor, but they didn’t have to travel far to find Wyatt. He was in the middle of the crowd, tie around his head, shirt halfway unbuttoned, and he and Chris were in the middle of another one of their epic dance-offs.
Cynthia took Chris’s jacket from him and spun it in the air as he flung himself to the floor and attempted to breakdance.
The music switched, and Wyatt immediately jumped into the running man. A smile curved my lips but quickly faltered as a wave of nausea slammed into me.
I swallowed, forcing down the unwanted feeling. I was doing so well. I just had to get through the next few hours, then I could curl up in bed and get some sleep. Then tomorrow I would be on my way home to the comfort of my own couch and bed.
It was probably just the heat getting to me.
I took another sip of water and then placed the cool glass against my wrists.
My entire body cooled, and I took several deep, grounding breaths.
Within seconds, the nervous energy calmed; my nausea, while still there, lessened.
I finished the water, put the glass on the bar, and made my way toward the dance floor.
My stomach churned, and I about-faced toward the bathroom. It felt like I was being punished for keeping this pregnancy a secret. It’s not like I didn’t want to tell Wy. I did. I was just… scared.
The door to the bathroom flew open, and a group of women hurried out, talking and laughing. I smiled as they went, then hurried inside. I passed by all the empty stalls and sighed when I realized I was the only one in here.
My stomach revolted against me, and I barely made it to the toilet before everything I had eaten that day came out.
I grabbed some toilet paper, dabbed my mouth, and tried not to collapse on the bathroom floor.
The hotel room's bathroom was one thing; God only knew what was on this floor. However, the white tile glistened and didn’t have a speck of dirt.
I flushed, waited a few minutes, and with a deep breath, headed out of the stall.
“Oh, sorry,” I said when I accidentally jolted when I made eye contact in the mirror with Lori, Wyatt’s partner for the wedding. “I thought I was the only one in here.”
She finished applying her lipstick and smiled. “No worries. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Her eyebrow arched. “How far along are you?” she asked, and my entire body flung back at the question.
“Excuse me?”
“OBGYN.” She held her hand up. “I have a knack for guessing.”
“I…” Tears built in my eyes for no damn reason, and I blinked them back. “My sisters know, but no one else. Not even…” I couldn’t bring myself to say it. To say that the father of my child had no idea said child was growing inside me.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. And I’m still in the first trimester. It’s been… well, it’s been hell. I can’t seem to stop throwing up. Morning sickness has turned into afternoon and nighttime sickness.”
“Have you talked to your doctor about it?”
“I did. They prescribed me some meds that didn’t work. I read some blogs that said it took a couple of tries to get the right meds. I thought it was normal.”
Her head tilted. “Could be, but it could also be hyperemesis gravidarum. Severe nausea and vomiting. It can knock the wind right out of you.”
I swallowed, hoping it wouldn’t bring on another wave of nausea. “That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
Her lip quirked. “It’s miserable, but manageable. The most important thing is staying hydrated.”
My hand drifted to my stomach of its own accord. “So the baby—”
“Is fine,” she said immediately. “Right now, they’re more resilient than you think. You just need to take care of you.”
I nodded even though my mind raced. Should I have called my doctor sooner? Was I a terrible mother for ignoring this? “I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten,” I admitted.
“It happens. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Thank you,” I said as her words settled warm in my chest. I took out the travel toothbrush and toothpaste I had in my bag and did a quick freshening.
“I know it’s not my place, but Wyatt will be a great father.”
I spit the toothpaste out, cupped some water in my hands, and rinsed. Lori handed me a paper towel.
“He doesn’t want kids. Never has.” The confession was like a punch to the already sensitive gut.
“Some people don’t know what they want until it is presented to them, and they can’t fall back on excuses. Trust me. He’s going to flourish and be the best father to your baby.”
Tears pricked my eyes again, and damn it, I swiped at my eyelids. “Damn hormones.”
“They’re a bitch.” Lori and I laughed.
“I should probably get back out there before someone comes looking for me.”
“Same. Free night without the kids. My husband thinks that means we should act like we’re twenty-one again.”
“Well, if he happens to fall asleep in the hallway of the hotel, Wyatt is always good to help.”
She laughed. “Experience?”
“You have no idea.”
“Good to know, but hopefully, I won’t need his expertise.”
The door swung open, and Cynthia came barreling in. “There you are! They played our song, and I couldn’t find you.”
Lori patted my shoulder. “I’ll catch you later.”
I waved as she headed out, then looked back at Cynthia. “I was just talking to Lori.”
The door opened again, and a familiar song flowed in. Cynthia jumped up and down, clapping. “Such a good song!”
“Go,” I said. “I just have to wash my hands. I’ll meet you out there.”
She hesitated, looking at the door, then back to me, before she couldn’t resist the pull of the music. “Okay, but hurry.” She ran out on her heels, and I faced the sink.
I turned the water on, washed my hands, and let the cool water run over my wrists. I wanted to splash my face, but I didn’t need mascara running down my cheeks. I focused on my reflection and stared until the woman looking back at me felt real again.
I took a steadying breath and another.
“You got this,” I said to my reflection. With my shoulders rolled back and head held high, I made my way out of the bathroom and back to the dance floor.
I might be pregnant, but I could still have a good time.
It wasn’t hard to find Cynthia; she was in the middle with Wyatt as they both tried to out-dance the other. Normally, I would be right there with them, dancing the night away, not having a care in the world.
For a moment, I stood back, watching Wyatt.
He was all loose limbs and easy confidence, spinning Cynthia out and bowing dramatically when the crowd whooped their approval.
Then his eyes zeroed in on an awkward teen, who looked amused and anxious to be a part of the crowd, but something kept her back.
She shifted from foot to foot, hands fidgeting with each other as she watched but didn’t participate.
Wyatt danced toward her, held out his hand, and waited.
She shook her head, but he only re-offered with more dramatic flair.
She laughed, shaking her head, eyes downcast, a shy blush spreading across her cheeks.
He said something, and with a confident nod, she grabbed his hand and allowed him to bring her to the center of the dance floor.
She danced with the crowd, blending in effortlessly. Wyatt smiled at her with a thumbs up, then threw his arms in the air when the song changed to something even more upbeat.
The tie on his head was lopsided, and that dark brown wave that never stayed in place fell over his eye. He moved like he belonged everywhere and nowhere, as if gravity didn’t fully apply to him.
And God help me, he was magnetic.
He’d always been the kind of man who filled space without trying.
The life of the party, the one people gravitated toward without even realizing.
He laughed with his whole body, eyes crinkling at the corners, head thrown back, so full of joy and life.
Not afraid of what people thought. It didn’t matter.
He didn’t fear joy, he embraced it wholeheartedly.
And that was the part no one ever talked about.
They saw the wild child, the jokes, the refusal to take life too seriously.
They didn’t see the way he noticed when someone was left out.
Or how he instinctively shielded people without making a show of it.
Or how, even now, he checked the perimeter of the room between dance moves to make sure everyone was having a good time.
His gaze caught mine, and his face lit up, that spark in his eye brighter than the sparklers he always bought me on the Fourth of July. He abandoned Cynthia mid-spin and made his way toward me, hands already reaching out .
And that was why this hurt so much.
Beneath the chaos and charm and the commitment issues was a man who loved deeply and fiercely. Who showed up in all the ways that mattered, even when he didn’t have to.
My hand momentarily touched my stomach, grateful for this baby, even if their mom and dad were a bit of a mess.
Lori was right. Wyatt didn’t know it yet, but he was going to be a great father. The absolute best. The kind who turned bedtime into an event. The kind who taught laughter before fear. Who always made time for them even when the world pulled him in a million different directions.
It dawned on me then that Wyatt wasn’t afraid of marriage or fatherhood.
He was afraid of failing at love, just like his dad had failed him all those years ago.
Breathless and grinning, he pulled me into him like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like these last few weeks didn’t exist. The universe suddenly made sense again.
“Where’d you disappear to? he asked, brushing a thumb across my jaw.
“Just needed a minute.”.
“Stomach’s okay?” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ginger chew. “I have back-ups if you need them.
My heart exploded right there, and I yanked him into me, crashing my mouth to his, kissing him with everything I had. He was all I ever needed, and I was an idiot who put us through hell for no reason.
I pulled back, resting my forehead against his damp one.
“What was that for?” he asked. “And did you brush your teeth?”
“I love you,” I said simply.
“I love you, too.” He kissed me again, soft and sweet. “Are you ready to get back on this dance floor, because if Cynthia steps on my foot one more time, I might lose a toe.”
“She never could keep up with your pace.”
“No, only you can.” He held his hand out to me and bowed, waiting for me to take his offer. I didn’t hesitate. I took his hand, ignored any weirdness in my stomach, and followed him onto the dance floor.
The crowd parted until we were dead center. Wyatt looked at me and winked. “Ready to show them how it’s done?”
“Let’s do this.”
The music switched into an upbeat techno mix, and with a laugh, Wyatt and I fell right into our rhythm.
He spun me once, twice, thankfully not a third time, and pulled me in close, our bodies moving as one, like muscle memory had taken over. This was us—effortless and electric, like nothing else mattered but each other.
He dipped me low, earning a cheer from the crowd, then popped me back up. Our eyes locked, his grin wide, thriving off our energy. I laughed, breathless, head tipping as the room spun just a little too fast.
I blinked, forcing my focus to him.
“Hey,” he said, his face flashing with concern. His hands tightened at my waist. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. I forced a smile. It was easier than trying to explain the sudden wave of heat coursing through me. “Just… warm.”
He leaned in, lips brushing the upper part of my ear. “That’s what happens when you dance with me, Grasso.”
I rolled my eyes, but my vision blurred for a half a second, the lights above smearing into color. I steadied myself, gripping his shoulders a little tighter than necessary.
Wyatt didn’t pull away. He held me steady, grounding me without even realizing he was doing it.
He pressed his forehead to mine, slowing our pace just enough that no one would question it.
The crowd kept cheering; the music kept pounding, but I focused on the rise and fall of Wyatt’s chest. The comforting grip he had on me.
The way his golden-brown eyes sparkled despite the concern.
I inhaled through my nose. I could do this. Just one more song.
Just one more minute pretending everything was exactly how it always was.
Then, I could go back to the room, take a cold shower, climb into bed and fall asleep in Wyatt’s arms.
I closed my eyes, focusing on that, and ignoring the voice in my head that screamed at me to come clean to him.
I would. Just not right now.