Chapter 6
6
WYATT
I ’m staring so deeply into Madison’s eyes that I don’t realize she’s kicking my knee under the table.
“Huh?”
“Tanya was asking you how we met.”
“Oh. Right.” I look around. My entire family is smirking at me. It’s no wonder. But how on Earth am I supposed to pay attention to the conversation when I am still reeling from the best night of my life?
Even though all we did was cuddle, it felt like so much more. Every flutter of her eyelashes against my skin. Every soft sigh that dropped from her lips as my fingertips slipped along her arm, or her shoulder. The way she slept so deeply, with my arms around her possessively.
I want her. We belong together. There’s absolutely no question in my mind that this is correct. It’s more than a charade, more than a chemical reaction, more than fate. It’s real.
Madison takes a sip of her coffee, then giggles sweetly. “I think somebody is still tired from the long drive yesterday. Okay, so, I go to Ray’s Diner whenever I need to think or want some quiet time. One night the waitress Claudia suggested I try the raspberry apple pecan pie. The guy in the next booth turned around and said that he’d have a piece too. But there was only one left, so Claudia split it in half for us. Wyatt and I got talking about how incredible it was, and the next thing I knew, he was inviting me out for a dessert tour of Kingsville. Brody’s Books for the coffee and pastries, Endless Waves for the fancy desserts… Then, apparently, we were dating.”
Everyone around us laughs, muttering about how love always shows up when you least expect it. We’re all back in the Pine Lounge, which is now elegantly decorated for brunch.
Heather reaches across the corner of the table to pat my hand. “I love that. You two are so sweet together, and your dating started with sweets . It’s a sign!”
Ugh. She cornered Madison for a chat when we first arrived this morning and has been fixated on her ever since.
“Take it easy.” I shoot Heather a look. “We don’t want to scare her away.”
She gives me a significant glance, then cocks her head before chanting, “ As you wish. ”
Madison looks back and forth between us, puzzled.
Tanya runs through the same stories with each of her three bridesmaids about how they all met their husbands and fiancés as I enjoy the last three bites of my omelet.
The food here is incredible. So I’m surprised to see that Madison’s plate is still half full. “Not hungry?” I whisper.
“I am. And this is amazing. But Sarah and Lauren are texting me about meeting them for a hangover breakfast. I’m going to have to eat with them as well.”
I place my hand on her knee as I lean down to murmur in her ear, using any excuse to be as close to her as possible. “Is this a girls thing, or should I go?”
“Total girls thing. But they’re going shopping this afternoon, and I told them I was probably hanging out with you. And we’ve got the big dinner tonight, right?”
“Yes. We could go for a hike in the afternoon, or we could watch a movie in the room… Whatever you want.”
Everyone is laughing loudly at a story being told, so I add, “Now would be a great time to sneak out, if you need to.”
“Thanks for understanding.” She reaches to the floor to grab her purse, and when she straightens up again our lips are barely an inch apart. I take a chance, leaning in to kiss her cheek, then brushing my lips against hers for barely a second.
“Text you soon,” she whispers, then ducks down behind me and bolts for the door.
I finish the rest of Madison’s delicious scrambled eggs and bacon, then pour myself another coffee. By the time the stories are over, I’m feeling more than a little wired. Everyone breaks off into groups, floating around the room to chat to everyone, and Heather turns to me with a hair flip I know all too well.
“Yes, Mother?” She scowls. “Sorry. Yes, Heather ?”
“You need to get a rock on that girl’s finger,” she says with another definitive hair toss. “She’s bright, beautiful, and you two obviously click. Your sisters could probably take you ring shopping next week.”
“Settle down. Jeez. Some people date for years before getting engaged. Give us at least twelve months, okay?”
Dad turns to us, not even hiding that he’s eavesdropping. He’s always been much quieter than Heather and is constantly amused by her antics.
Mom’s neon pink nails dig into my forearm as she pulls me forward. “Why wait? I knew that your father was the one for me from the first time he bought me a Cherry Coke and said the red matched my new scrunchie.”
“Let me guess – he was sporting a mullet and parachute pants, and you had crimped hair in a side ponytail. Did your jelly shoes match your fanny pack?”
She releases my arm to give me a light smack on the shoulder. “Don’t be lippy.”
“Remind me – do the leg warmers go over or under the acid wash jeans?”
Dad snorts loudly, then shakes his head. “I’d watch it, Wyatt. People have been teasing her all weekend about how feathered her hair is going to be at the wedding.”
Heather turns around and glares. “Don’t you start, too.”
His hands go up in surrender. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare, sweetheart.”
She pretends to be in a huff as she flounces away to talk to my sisters, but I notice her eyes are twinkling.
Dad gives me a look. “Wyatt, if you don’t know by now the legwarmers go over the jeans, then you haven’t been paying attention.” He chugs the rest of his coffee, then scoots over one chair closer to me. “Also, never tell Heather I said this because I’ll never hear the end of it, but… I kind of agree with her. The way Madison looks at you… If you could put that in a bottle you’d be a billionaire inside of a month.”
It feels like my heart is cracking open, spilling over and flooding my chest. I want Dad to be right. I want Madison to be the one. I’m nervous since it’s so fast, obviously, but I want to believe, to quote The X-Files .
Wait, that’s 90’s. Sorry, Heather.
“I do think she’s amazing, Dad. But I’m don’t want to scare her by trying to make things official too soon. Can you ask Mom to tone it down, and give us…okay, if not a year, six months at the very least?”
He blinks twice, then rolls his eyes. “Have you met your mother?”
“Just try. Please. A bit of time and space.”
“I’ll do my best. Now, are you still joining us this afternoon for the official engagement party stuff?”
“No, we’re going hiking.”
Dad snorts. “May I join you?”
“ No .”
He chuckles with a shrug and wanders away. I glance out the door to the lobby. Lauren and Sarah are swarming Madison, laughing and giggling, probably telling her about whatever shenanigans went on last night after we disappeared.
No matter what the other ladies were up to, I hope that Madison felt that our night was perfect. It sure did to me. Like we were bonding. Growing comfortable with each other.
And even though it’s completely ridiculous…and too fast…and possibly insane…
I know that I’m falling for her, hard.