Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Wyatt!” Sawyer blurted out. “He’s afraid to ask Peyton out for New Year’s Eve. I kept telling him he should just ask because we all know she’s in love with him.”
My eyes grew round and huge. I couldn’t believe he just said that. I mean, I did, but damn. How did Sawyer figure it out? And why did he have to tell Wyatt?
Tara’s eyes met mine. I knew she saw the fear there, and thankfully, she stepped in.
“I don’t know why you think you know so much about love. Just because you’re going to work for a wedding planner doesn’t mean you have the first clue. Although I do have to agree with you. Wyatt has nothing to worry about. He and Peyton are perfect together.”
She winked at me then pulled Sawyer away, leaving me alone with Wyatt.
And the bomb they dropped between us.
Wyatt nuzzled my neck and kissed behind my ear where my pulse raced. “So what are you doing for New Year’s Eve? I should have asked you by now.”
I shrugged. “No plans. Usually I fall asleep trying to watch the ball drop.”
“I want to be inside you when the new year arrives. Would you be up for that?”
His tongue traced my ear, and his fingertips brushed bare skin at my waist. His cock rose against my ass as I nodded.
“Good. I can’t wait to get inside you tonight. I’m quickly becoming addicted to you, Peyton.”
“Me too,” I whispered.
“You know I’m not going anywhere, right?”
I nodded.
“I hope you’re as into all this as I am.”
Was he saying he loved me? That he wanted more? Or just that he didn’t want me to be with anyone else?
“I don’t want anyone else, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It wasn’t, but that’s good to know. I’m a one woman kind of guy.”
“I thought you didn’t want a relationship.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t, but you’re changing my mind, Peyton. If there was ever a woman who could get me to give another relationship a try, it was always you.”
I needed a lot more information than I could get in a room full of people. I wanted to demand he explain what he’s talking about. Have him tell me exactly what he meant. But I couldn’t with everyone else around.
I felt twitchy and uncomfortable. I wanted to get out of there. Immediately.
I told Wyatt I’d be back and rushed to the bathroom. I locked myself inside and splashed cold water on my face. As it dripped into the sink, I stared at myself. The hot flash and dizziness had to be because of Wyatt. I didn’t like feeling off-center.
It had been a long time since I’d been even a little involved with someone.
Relationships took time away from work, which was why I’d always failed miserably with them.
Work was all that mattered to me forever.
Giving parents the child they always dreamed of.
Creating families for people who ached for them.
I dug my phone out of my pocket and stared at it.
I knew it was crazy, but I wanted to talk to my parents.
To tell them I knew they never wanted me.
To tell them I did my best to be a kid they could be proud of, but I was done.
I’d worked my ass off to impress them. To build a business that they would brag about to their friends.
It wasn’t worth it. I was still killing myself, at thirty-seven, and getting nothing for it. They didn’t tell me they were proud of me. They didn’t go out of their way to say they loved me. We just coexisted.
And I was done.
I wanted to be there for Vicki as she planned her wedding. I wanted a relationship, with Wyatt or someone else if he didn’t want that. I wanted more than just my work to keep me going.
It was time for me to take on a partner.
In business and life.
I pressed to call my parents and listened to the ring. When my mom picked up, she sounded surprised.
“Peyton! How are you?”
“Hey Mom. I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and tell you I’m backing off my practice. I’m going to take on a partner because I’m sick of killing myself so you’ll be proud of me. It’s not working, so I’m going to try to make myself happy instead of trying to make you happy.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I know you never wanted me. I heard you and Dad talking years ago. It sucks, but I’m finally letting go of that.
I’m dating a guy who likes me, someone I’m in love with, and I’m second guessing everything because of shit that has nothing to do with him.
I want to build a future with him. I want it.
And I’m going to try to make it work. If that disappoints you, I’m sorry, but you’ve never been proud of me so I’m done trying. ”
“How can you say that, Peyton? We’ve always been proud of you.”
“It’s never felt like it, Mom.”
“Well, honey, I’m sorry. That’s my failure, not yours. Your dad and I have always been in awe of you and everything you’ve accomplished in your life. We wished we could have helped you with medical school. And what is this about never wanting you?”
“I heard you and Dad say something a long time ago. That you never wanted me.”
“Oh, Peyton. I’m sorry you’ve lived with that this long. You weren’t planned, but that didn’t mean you weren’t wanted. We never once thought about not having you. I cried when I found out I was pregnant, and they were not sad tears.”
I sniffed my own tears, emotions from years and years of pain coming to the surface. I dabbed at my cheeks with my red sleeve, happy no mascara washed off.
“I went into medicine to bring kids who were wanted into the world.”
“You were wanted, Peyton. Always. We’re so proud of you. We obviously don’t say it enough, but your father and I have always marveled at how easily you accomplish your goals. And if you love this man and want to take on a partner, do it. Be happy, Peyton.”
“Peyton,” my father said, his voice ringing through the phone. “What’s all this about?”
“Hi Dad.”
“You’re in love with someone.”
Leave it to my dad to zero in on the man. “I am. He’s a good man.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s the mayor of our town.”
“Mayor, huh? Does he treat you well?”
I nodded, fingering my new necklace from Wyatt. “He does. Very well.”
“When are you going to bring him to meet us? Or should we plan a trip?”
“I don’t know. We’re still getting to know each other.”
“Well, we’re not going to let you get engaged to someone we’ve never met like your sister did. When are you off again?”
“I don’t know. Things are always busy this time of year.”
“Well, talk to this mayor guy and find some time when you can both get off. Maybe the week of Vicki’s wedding if you can’t do it before. Your sister said you’re her maid of honor?”
“I am,” I said proudly.
“Good. You’ve always looked out for her.”
I laughed. “I think it’s the other way around, Dad.”
“No, it’s not Peyton. Why do you think Vicki had the guts to leave home? Or has a place to live. Or Hunter. She’s always looked up to you.”
“She does not. She takes care of me.”
“And you take care of her. It’s hard for your mother and me to be so far from both of you, but we knew you needed your space. You’ve definitely made good lives out there.”
“Thanks Dad. We’re happy.”
“That’s all a parent ever wants to hear from their kids. I thought you were at a party or something tonight.”
I glanced around the bathroom, the creamy yellow color soothing me as much as the talk with my parents did. It smelled good, like sugar cookies fresh from the oven.
“I’m at the party now.”
“Well, go have fun. And call us back when you have some time to tell us more about this guy. And Peyton?”
“Yeah?”
“Your mother and I are both very proud of you.”
I choked out, “Thank you.”
We talked for another minute, then hung up. I sunk to the floor, vaguely hoping Olivia or Ethan cleaned it recently. I felt like everything in my life was a lie. My parents wanted me. That in and of itself was a shock. And they were proud of me.
I told myself many times over the years that they were good people, and good people loved their kids. It was hard for me to reconcile my parents and who I knew they were with who I thought they were. Hearing they were the people I’d always hoped for was a relief, but also a bit of a shock.
I sat on the floor for a few more minutes before pushing up and checking my reflection. If you looked closely, you could tell I’d been crying, but no one was going to be paying that much attention to me.
Someone knocked on the door as I shoved my phone back into the pocket of my jeans. “Just a minute.”
I took another deep breath and pasted on a grin. When I opened the door, Wyatt was leaning on the frame, caging me in.
“Hey,” he said softly. His eyes scanned me quickly before returning to my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said happily.
“Why were you crying?”
I should have known.
“I called my parents.”
“Is everything okay?” He moved closer to me, his hands running up and down my arms.
I nodded. “Yeah. Just a few things that needed to be said.”
Wyatt nodded like he knew exactly what I talked to them about, then pulled me into his arms. He held me, in the darkened doorway to Olivia’s bathroom, with the party going on in the living room, and refused to let go.
He finally pulled back and tilted my chin up, his eyes soft and caring. Almost loving. His lips came down on mine slowly, gently. He kissed me like I imagined you would savor your last meal. Like every second mattered. Like he never wanted it to end.
“Becca has one last gift to give,” Noah said from the other room.
Reluctantly, Wyatt and I pulled apart, but there was an unmistakeable shift between us. Something that told me he was feeling all the same things I was feeling. That said he was falling, too.
And that was the best thing I could have ever gotten for Christmas.
We went into the living room together. Wyatt leaned against the doorframe and urged me to rest against him. I’d never been good at letting someone else take care of me, but with Wyatt it was easy. I leaned against him and smiled as Becca curled up in Tara’s lap.
“I have a special present for you, Tara. Mr. Noah asked me to keep it safe for you until today.”
Tara’s eyes went to Noah’s. I could see the unease in him. Stiff shoulders. Pinched brows. Tight grin. Everyone in the room knew her answer except him it seemed. How he didn’t know she couldn’t wait to be married to him baffled me.
Then again, I’d been called out for loving Wyatt and he was still clueless. I hoped.
“What is it?” Tara asked Becca.
“I dunno. He just said I had to hold it for you. It’s in this bag.”
The bag was a bright blue color, Tara’s favorite. She smiled and untied the ribbon holding the sides of the bag together. She pulled out one piece of tissue paper, but Becca had other ideas.
“It’s at the bottom. I’ll help you.”
“Becca!” Olivia gasped.
She turned her innocent blue eyes to her mother and said, “What?”
“Let Tara do it!”
“It’s fine,” Tara insisted. “Presents aren’t as much fun when you get older.”
“Well, this one’s fun. Mommy said I’ll get to wear another pretty dress like I did for her wedding.”
Tara gasped, figuring out exactly what was buried at the bottom of the bag.
She looked at Noah, who stared back at her with a nervous grin.
Tears filled her eyes and mine as she tore into the gift as exuberantly as Becca was.
She snatched a small box from the bottom, tossing the bag aside to open the silver box.
Black velvet stared back at her, but she paused.
The entire room was silent, waiting. I became acutely aware that Sawyer and I were the only people in the room who hadn’t personally experienced that moment.
Wyatt’s hands tightened around my waist, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of his ex and the way he proposed to her.
Was that something you ever stopped thinking about?
Noah moved toward Tara and took her free hand. He knelt on the ground next to her and Becca. Tears ran down Tara’s cheeks. Mine, too.
“I know we’ve only known each other a little less than a year, but I don’t want to go another year of my life without knowing you'll be a part of it. I feel like I’ve loved you forever.
And I wanted to make sure you knew that I’ll never stop loving you.
If you’ll have me, I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Tara nodded. Noah leaned over to kiss her, with Becca still in her lap. I tried to choke back my tears, but I struggled to do so.
I wanted that. I wanted someone to want me so much that he pledged to love me forever. I’d never felt like I was missing something in my life. But my sister and a close friend both getting engaged showed me I was missing something. I was missing someone.
Maybe Wyatt wasn’t that one person for me. I hoped he was, but it was very possible he wasn’t. The thought of him one day walking away was getting harder and harder to imagine.
A wave of nausea swept over me. I just wanted to get out of there. Part of me wanted to go home because I knew going to Wyatt’s would only make it harder if things ended, but I wanted to be with him.
Everyone congratulated Tara and Noah. Sawyer said they should get married in Hawaii over the summer. Surprisingly, Tara agreed.
“I guess we’re all going to Hawaii,” Olivia said with a big grin. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Maybe you can talk your boss into giving you a little extra time off,” Ethan said, eyeing Wyatt.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Wyatt said.
Everyone started talking about Hawaii and wedding plans. I didn’t mind at all when Wyatt whispered, “Are you ready to get out of here?”
I nodded.
We said our goodbyes and headed out. We were almost to his house when Wyatt said, “Do you want to get married?”