Chapter Twenty-Eight
Scarlett
Forget going on dates at restaurants. I want to spend every night having Wade cook me dinner. He made sourdough bread, steak, salad, and roasted vegetables.
The guy can cook a meal.
We ate the most delicious food possible and are now sitting in the living room on his couch.
I’m tucked under Wade’s arm, leaning against his side. His other hand is resting on top of my thigh, which is draped over his legs.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” he says softly when I finish telling him my story from today. “You not only did something that was really scary, but you did it for someone who probably didn’t deserve it.”
“Well, Claire might not be my favorite person, but she’s honest, and she is good at her job.”
“For what it’s worth, I think she likes you,” Wade says as he moves his hand to the back of my neck and starts squeezing gently.
Oh. My. Word. I didn’t know having Wade’s hand on my neck was on my bingo card of things that make me melt…but here I am.
“How do you feel after driving today?” he asks as he continues gently kneading with those strong fingers.
“Ungghhuh.”
He chuckles. “You did it. You told me you were almost there, and you were totally right.”
He keeps rubbing my neck, and I wonder if he’ll find me less attractive when he notices the drool.
“I still don’t want to go buy a car,” I admit with a sigh.
Wade shakes his head. “That’s okay. You don’t need to. I think you might have needed to prove to yourself that you could do it. And now you have.”
Wade adjusts my body and pulls me more onto his lap as he continues to rub my shoulders and neck.
“You’re tense,” he observes.
“I think I gripped the wheel hard enough to break it.”
He chuckles and leans forward to press a kiss against my temple. “I can’t believe this is our reality now.”
“What is? Heavenly back rubs? Because I could get used to this.”
“I mean that I get to hold you. That I get to kiss you. That I get to listen to you tell me about your day.”
It’s getting hard to swallow, and my eyes are stinging. “Wade, don’t make me cry. We just started dating, and I don’t want you to see me with mascara all over my face.”
“I’ve seen you with smeared mascara before,” he says softly. He keeps rubbing my shoulders, and I melt farther into him.
“I can’t believe I didn’t see what was in front of me,” I whisper.
“And what was that?”
“You.”
He waits quietly for me to continue.
“I never felt any connection with anyone I went out with. But I did with you. I thought it was because I’d known you for so long. I didn’t realize it was a different kind of connection. It’s weird how right this feels.”
“Why does it feel so weird, do you think?”
“Two weeks ago, I would have laughed in someone’s face if they’d said you and I would be snuggled on a couch together today. But now? I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
A door bangs loudly, and I sit up a little, trying to blink the sleepiness from my eyes. It must be Jack getting home from work.
But the thing that walks around the corner is not Jack.
It’s a brown-haired, brown-eyed, broader, more masculine version of me.
Phoenix walks into Wade’s living room, staring at the two of us together.
Phoenix, my brother, is standing in the living room looking at me while I’m snuggling his best friend.
There’s no hiding at this point. No pretending like we’re not snuggled up in a tangle of limbs on Wade’s leather sofa.
Phoenix’s eyes take it all in in the span of a few seconds.
His eyebrows shoot up. “What in the world are you two doing? What the heck is going on here?” he practically shouts.
Wade grips my hand and glares back at Phoenix. “What do you mean what’s going on?”
“What are you doing here? You’re still supposed to be gone for a few more months,” I cut in.
“Are you two…” Phoenix sputters and points at us. “Are you two canoodling?”
I press my lips together to fight a laugh. My brother hates it when I laugh when he’s mad. But canoodling? How could I not laugh when he’s using a word like that? It’s his fault for surprising us anyway .
“Why are you touching each other?” he exclaims. “You realize your legs are on top of each other, right?”
My body is shaking, I’m laughing so hard.
Wade looks at me with a concerned expression on his face. “Your brother is yelling at us, and you’re laughing. Pull it together, woman!”
That just sends me into another attack of laughter. I mean, how could I not?
I never thought this would be one of my life experiences. That Phoenix would be the one interrupting something between Wade and me. I mean, my entire childhood existence revolved around interrupting Phoenix and Wade on their adventures. And now I’m on the receiving end of it, only worse because Phoenix just interrupted a fantastic cuddle.
“Why would you plan a surprise visit? Didn’t you know you might see something you wouldn’t like?” I can barely get the words out.
Wade shakes his head. “She’s doing that thing where she’s stress laughing. Stop yelling at her or she’s going to pass out from lack of oxygen.”
His concern only makes me laugh harder. Because he’s right—I do this when I’m stressed. I’m sure my therapist could unpack all the reasons why I laugh hysterically in awkward situations like this—but I’ve just never brought it up.
“This is your fault, Hendrix,” Phoenix says with a grunt.
I take in a slow, shuddering breath as Wade stands up, leaving me sitting on the couch. “Let me get you something to drink.”
He disappears into the kitchen, and I’m left glaring at my brother.
He’s tall, maybe a little over six feet, but not nearly as tall or broad as Wade. He has dark hair like mine, is wearing a fancy suit that he probably paid a ridiculous amount for and is planning on trying to ruin my life.
“So, what’s going on between you and Wade?” he asks as he folds his arms across his chest. At least he’s not shouting anymore.
“I can’t believe you two have been dating behind my back,” Phoenix continues. “How could you be so sneaky like that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m not in middle school anymore, and I don’t need to answer to you on who I date and who I don’t.”
Phoenix frowns.
Well, my laughter fits have gotten under control because I do not feel like laughing right now. I kind of feel like yelling. And mainly yelling at my brother. Or maybe yelling at Wade, who has disappeared into the kitchen for a very long time. Good grief, what could he possibly be doing in there?
“You don’t care what I think about this situation?” Phoenix asks with raised eyebrows.
“Of course I care. But it’s not going to change the fact that Wade and I are dating.”
Wade finally returns carrying a glass full of ice water. He comes in, sits down next to me, and holds it out to me. “Here. Why don’t you drink this?”
Like he has never met me before.
“It would probably be good if you drank something. You said you were thirsty.”
“Yes, and what is this?”
“Some people call it water. It’s new. It’s cold, delicious, good for you. Your body needs it to survive, and maybe it will help you not get mad at your brother. I think he means well,” Wade says, looking at Phoenix, who’s now sitting across from us like he’s a caged animal.
There’s something in Wade’s tone that I can’t quite read, and I don’t like that. I feel like I’m on the outside of an inside joke, and that’s not a good feeling.
I take the glass of water from him and take a drink. I don’t know how people drink water all the time. I like it flavored or in a bottle of pop or in a cup of coffee. But plain water? I’ll even take bubbly water—that’s fine. That’s a lot better. There’s just something so flat and boring about water.
Unfortunately, the cold water does feel good. It doesn’t taste great, but at least it feels good.
“What would you like us to do, Phoenix?” I ask.
“I’d like some sort of explanation,” he says with a groan. “Just not too many details. I saw what I walked in on.”
“Please, you didn’t even see anything,” I reply with a laugh.
“I think I’m going to go bleach my eyes first. Where do you keep your cleaning supplies?” Phoenix asks as he pretends to stand up to go find them.
“Wade and I are dating, Phoenix.”
He throws his hands up in the air.
“I leave for one second, and the world just goes to rack and ruin.”
“So you think the two of us dating is going to end badly?”
I probably should not have asked that question in front of Wade, but I really want to know the answer.
“You guys have known each other forever. Why would you start dating now?”
It’s a fair point.
“Because he’s hot,” I blurt out and then immediately burst into laughter. Oh, gosh. This is not good. I’m going to hurt Wade’s feelings and make my brother think he’s right to protect his best friend from me.
I’m gasping for air between laughs as I stand. “I’ve got to go wash my face or something. I’ll be back once I’ve composed myself.” I walk down the hall, trying to contain my laughter. I make it to the bathroom and turn on the fan, then turn on the water. I search the cupboards for a towel or rag or something, but they’re empty.
It’s a bachelor pad stereotype.
I walk back into the hall, planning to ask Wade for a towel when I hear low murmuring voices.
“You didn’t text me and tell me it was official.” That was Phoenix’s voice.
“I’ve been a little busy trying to convince her she should go out with me,” Wade shoots back.
“I honestly didn’t think you two would ever get around to it.” Phoenix chuckles quietly.
“I can’t believe you came in here and acted like you were mad.”
“I told you, we can’t let her know I’m happy about this. She’ll probably break up with you just to spite me,” Phoenix mutters.
I lean forward a little, trying to hear Wade’s response.
“I think I should tell her you are happy about it. I don’t want to start this out with a secret.”
“Bad idea,” Phoenix replies.
“Well…I for sure want her to give us a chance…”
“Exactly. Listen to my advice.”
“But I don’t like the idea of keeping secrets from her, man. I think I should tell her.”
“Not yet!”
Something scrapes, and I spin around to spring back to the bathroom.
Phoenix already knew about us and is pretending to be mad just so that I’ll keep dating Wade.
It’s devious, tricky, and shows no faith in me or my decision-making abilities.
But on the flip side, he’s happy about Wade and me dating and wants to see us stay together. I have been known to be contrary.
No wonder Wade spent so long getting water in the kitchen. He knew Phoenix’s act was a lie.
I shut off the water and walk back to the living room with a big smile on my face.
“I’ve decided I’m not going to argue with you anymore, Phoenix.” I glance at Wade. “Wade and I are dating, and that is that.”
Phoenix tries to frown, but now that I’m watching, I catch the micro smile before he turns it upside down.
“I guess you’re going to do what you want whether I like it or not,” he says with a practiced scowl.
“You bet.” And I might even serve up some petty revenge while I’m at it.