Chapter 7
MARCUS
Could it be that simple?
Marcus hadn’t thought it was possible, and yet Wynter had said so in her own words. She’d pushed him away, cut him out of her life, and all because she knew she was going to leave. She’d wanted to save them both the heartache of drifting apart by going cold turkey.
The way she’d gone about it was misguided. And yes, it had hurt. It had felt like a monumental betrayal.
But he could understand it.
He’d understood Wynter well over the years they’d spent together.
She’d told him in not so many words that she didn’t trust easily. She didn’t expect stability in her life, either. Before she moved to Copper Creek with her grandparents, she’d moved from town to town. Two years in one city had been the longest she’d stayed in one place.
He’d almost laughed at the realization of it all.
Wynter rarely asked for help. She was practically chronically independent. Even in high school she’d refuse to tell him when people bullied her. He’d get wind of it from someone else and handle it all on his own. Later, she’d be furious, but then she’d finally give in and thank him begrudgingly.
She didn’t like expensive gifts. She didn’t approve of him spending his money on her. So the gifts he’d give her at Christmas always had to be something simple or homemade.
Friendships don’t last forever.
Well, she was wrong, and he was going to prove it to her. They could overcome the rift she’d torn between them.
There was only one problem in his plans, and he hadn’t quite figured out how he was going to get past it.
Their kiss from six years ago had been front and center in his dreams. Every night since it had happened, he’d allowed himself to imagine an alternate reality where she’d realized they could be more than friends.
Marcus pushed that thought aside and turned up the Christmas music playing from the stereo in his truck. He wasn’t going to push her. Right now, he’d just be grateful that she wasn’t running from him—not that there was anywhere to run to.
Nora had given him an all-access pass to Wynter and regaining the friendship he’d lost all those years ago. He wasn’t about to squander the opportunity that had fallen into his lap. Well, more likely, the opportunity that God had arranged for him. Thank you, Lord.
Once he arrived at the Delaney residence, he trudged up the sidewalk.
The bits of ice melt crunched beneath his boots, and he glanced up at the sky, noting that it looked as though more snow would be coming.
He’d have to make sure Wynter understood she was not to take Nora anywhere until he could clear the walkways.
The last thing they needed was a broken hip to add to her fractured wrist.
He only knocked once before the door swung open, revealing a chipper Nora. She beamed at him. “Marcus! You’re early.”
He nodded, stomping off the bits of snow from the street before he entered the house. “I wanted to check with you before I head to town for those parts. Is there anything you need? The roads are slick. I don’t think it’s a good idea for either of you to drive on them if we can help it.”
Wynter’s huffed response from the kitchen made it clear she’d overheard his statement. He could already imagine her rolling her eyes at the notion that he didn’t think her capable of running errands in this weather.
Well, tough. While he was here, he’d make sure they were both cared for.
“Actually, I do need a few things. I’m running low on tea, and I have some medication that can be picked up at the pharmacy.”
“Grams.” Wynter materialized from the kitchen. “I can get that stuff for you, no need to ask Marcus.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” Marcus gave her a pointed look, one that only made her eyes narrow. “That’s why I’m here.”
She shook her head, obviously preparing an argument when Nora spoke up. “I suppose the both of you could go together. Save on gas and split up so you get everything picked up faster.”
Marcus would have laughed if he didn’t think Wynter would punish him for it later. The way her eyes bugged out at her grandmother’s suggestion was worth witnessing the interaction.
“Grams, I don’t think—”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Marcus cut off Wynter’s argument with a wink.
“Wonderful. The tea I like is at Leaf and Blossom.”
“Grams!” Wynter said with exasperation. “That’s in the city.”
Marcus frowned, unfamiliar with the name of the store.
Wynter looked to him for support with pleading in her eyes. “Tell her that you can’t drive all the way to Colorado Springs for tea. I’m sure I can order it online or we can go into town and—”
“It’s the only brand of peppermint tea that doesn’t taste bitter,” Nora argued.
“They taste the same, Grams. Marcus doesn’t need to drive all that way for—”
“I’m happy to do it,” Marcus assured them both.
Wynter shot him a flat look.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” he offered. “I don’t mind making the trip on my own.”
“I won’t make you do that,” Wynter grumbled. “Just… give me five minutes, okay?”
About ten minutes later, they were on the road.
Wynter tapped her fingernails on the armrest; her eyes remained locked on her window. “Silver Bells” played quietly on the radio, but it did nothing to fill the suffocating silence. He’d told her that they were still friends, but friends talked. About everything. About nothing.
He shifted in his seat, but he couldn’t get comfortable.
“You remember that time I gave you a dragonfly?”
She snorted. “You brought it to school in a jar without any holes, and when you realized it couldn’t breathe, you took off the lid. It escaped in Mrs. Arndt’s math class and chaos ensued.”
“In my defense, I didn’t know Mrs. Arndt had a phobia of bugs.”
Wynter gave him the side-eye. “In your defense? That’s not really an excuse, Marcus. You shouldn’t bring a bug to school in the first place.”
“But it was a red dragonfly. I’d never seen one before.”
A smile pulled at her lips despite what appeared to be her best efforts at biting it back. “Honestly, I don’t even know how you managed to catch it without it biting you.”
Marcus chuckled. “What can I say? I was gentle.”
Wynter shook her head with a laugh. “That insect’s last day on earth was probably traumatic and all because you’d never seen a red one before?”
He grinned, peeking at her. “I seem to recall that you’d been impressed by its color as well. What did you say again? Oh, yeah. That it reminded you of Christmas.”
Her smile softened and she settled into her seat, seemingly more relaxed. “It was a pretty color.” A little laugh escaped her. “And Mrs. Arndt’s reaction was hilarious. I just wish we had been able to catch it after it escaped.”
“Me too.”
Their eyes met once more. During the rest of the drive, they continued reminiscing.
By the time they arrived in Colorado Springs, he’d made her laugh at least half a dozen times.
And it wasn’t her polite, quiet laugh, either.
He’d managed to get her throwing her head back and truly enjoying herself.
They hit up the tea shop, and Wynter grabbed a box of peppermint tea. She read the label, then tossed it into her basket with a disgruntled look. “Grams might be losing it.” She said it with humor and a smile, no sign of worry. Then she headed for the front of the shop.
Marcus glanced at the shelf, full of boxes. Then he chuckled as he scooped several more boxes into a basket he retrieved from the floor.
Wynter gaped at him when he got to her side. “Marcus, you don’t have to get that many.”
“Fewer trips, right? You won’t have to come out this way while you’re in town, and Nora won’t have to worry about replenishing her stash before the snow melts. Call it peace of mind.”
Wynter seemed to hesitate for a moment before she finally nodded. “Yeah, okay. But you’re not paying for it.” She reached for his basket, but he held it up and away from her.
“Marcus!”
“Wynter,” he parroted in a similar tone of voice.
She huffed. “I mean it. You don’t have to take care of her just because—”
“Just because what? Tell me, Wynter, what am I doing?” When she didn’t respond to his question, he continued. “Nora was almost as important a figure in my life as yours. She helped me through my formative years. And I owe her a lot. This is the least I can do.”
Wynter pulled her mouth to the side, probably trying to decide if there was any chance she could overpower him.
Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Finally, she turned around and faced the cashier.
“Six of these.” She handed the single box of tea over to the cashier, and Marcus’s eyes widened.
Smirking at him over her shoulder, she rummaged in her purse for her wallet, but he was faster on the uptake.
In seconds, he had his card out and had ducked around Wynter to give it to the woman checking them out.
Wynter’s cry of surprise and irritation was music to his ears. He wanted to help. This was what he was good at. Wynter needed to get to the point where she could accept help from others. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world to let someone do something kind for her.
She grumbled her thanks when the cashier handed a bag full of peppermint tea over the counter.
“I’m buying us lunch,” she insisted.
“You can try.” Marcus chuckled.
Her death glare could have burned a lesser man, but he was used to her ire. And right now, it was fueling him in ways he had missed.
They were standing in a café, deciding what kinds of sandwiches to order, when a deep voice called out, “Wynter? Wynter Delaney. Is that you?”
Marcus stiffened, and they both turned to find Jake Decker. And just like that, Marcus was taken back six years ago. Jake had filled out. He might not have been built, but he didn’t look like a kid right out of high school either. Marcus’s eyes narrowed as he approached.
“It is you. Man, how long has it been?”
Seriously? This guy was acting like they’d been best friends. Couldn’t he tell that Wynter wasn’t interested by the way she stiffened as he gave her a hug? Marcus took a step toward them, but if Jake noticed, he didn’t say anything.
Instead, the man let out an appreciative whistle. “You look good. Do you live in Colorado Springs now?”
“No. I’m just running errands.”
“Cool, cool. Yeah, me too. Hey, I wanted to tell you I was sorry for the way I treated you in high school.”
Marcus snorted. The sound was enough to drag Jake’s attention toward him, and Jake’s brows lifted.
“Hey, Marcus. I didn’t see you there.”
Yeah right.
“Anyway, how long are you in town? Have you moved back?”
Wynter shook her head, her polite smile tight. The guy was an idiot. There was no other explanation for the way he was acting around her. And yet, Wynter was being nice to him despite the way he’d bullied her. “Only a few months,” she admitted.
“That’s plenty of time for a date. What do you say?”
“I beg your pardon?” Wynter asked.
Marcus saw red. He didn’t know what it was about this situation that immediately had his hackles rising.
It could be the fact that Jake had been her tormentor, and yet he still thought he was good enough for someone like Wynter.
It could be that Wynter had disappeared from the one person who cared about her when she’d first moved here.
Or it could be the tumultuous feelings swirling in his chest over knowing what it felt like to kiss someone like Wynter Delaney and knowing she didn’t want anything more.
Either way, Marcus was a slave to the tightness in his chest, to the rage simmering beneath the surface, and to the utter disgust at having to witness any of this.
He stepped between Wynter and Jake before Wynter had a chance to give her answer. “I think it’s time for you to leave, Jake.”
The man chuckled. “What?” He tilted to the side and gestured to Marcus. “Are you just going to let him—”
Marcus gave him a shove. “Don’t talk to her.”
Jake scoffed. “And what are you going to do about it?”
He shoved him again. “Final warning, Decker. Walk away.”
“Marcus,” Wynter snapped.
He ignored her. “Now.”
Jake’s dark eyes darted from Marcus to Wynter. “Doesn’t look like Wynter wants me to go.”
She managed to step out from behind Marcus. “Thanks for the invitation, Jake, but I’ll have to pass.”
“Why? Because of Marcus?”
“No,” she said icily. “I don’t owe you an explanation, but since I’m feeling generous, I’ll tell you.
” She folded her arms, and her eyes swept over him with derision.
“You treated everyone you thought beneath you like crap. I was no exception. I value my sanity enough to keep people like you out of my life. It was nice catching up.” With that, she gripped Marcus by the upper arm and marched out of the café.
“Nice,” Marcus murmured.
“Oh, be quiet,” she said. And despite her irritation, he couldn’t fight the grin that spread from ear to ear.