Chapter 9 #2
Wyatt’s room was a lot to take in. Not that there was anything wrong with it.
A small desk was up against the left wall and above it was a corkboard covered in comic-style drawings.
Next to his desk was a bookshelf filled with comics, manga, and books on drawing.
Along the room’s right-hand wall was a queen-size bed with dark green bedding and multiple floating shelves that held framed photos.
Nearly all of them were of him and an old gentleman doing different things.
In one, the two of them were working on an old car; in another, they were fishing; in another, the old gentleman was in a hospital bed.
In that one, Wyatt was leaning close, and it looked like he was taking a selfie of them.
Then there was one framed photo of Wyatt, Roe, and Reid.
They were just kids in it, but I could tell right away it was them.
Reid was in the middle frowning, Roe was on the right smiling, and Wyatt was on the left making a silly face with his tongue out.
Surrounding the framed photos were toy models of classic cars, a few superhero action figures still in their boxes, and a wood-and-glass case with a folded-up flag and medals inside.
There was so much personality in such a small space.
Everywhere you looked seemed to tell a story.
“You’re kind of different, you know that?” Wyatt said as he straddled his desk chair backward.
“Why do you say that?” I asked as I walked over to him to get a better look at his wall of drawings. I noticed he had one on his desk. I set my phone, wallet, and keys next to it before picking it up to get a better look.
“You don’t seem shy being in my room at all. You walked in here with no problem and started inspecting silently. Most girls would be a little shy or would ask questions about things they saw.”
“I’m an entitled prick, remember?” I said as I took in the details of the scene he’d drawn.
It was of a thief running away down an alley after stealing a purse with an evil and gleeful grin.
It wasn’t my style of drawing, but I could still recognize how good it was.
Roe had been right. Wyatt was very talented.
“Do you always talk down about yourself?” he asked, shocking me.
I spared him a glance. “Is it talking down if it’s true?”
He was frowning.
“You’re a terrible tour guide,” I said. “Why do I have to ask questions when it’s your job to explain things?”
My complaint washed away his frown and he looked like he was fighting a losing battle not to smile. “Okay, you’re entitled, but I wouldn’t say you’re a prick.”
I set his drawing back on his desk. “You have talent.”
“See, definitely not a prick.”
“You need to work on your confidence as an artist, though.”
He pouted. “I take back what I said.”
Someone snorted. Wyatt and I looked toward the door. Roe was standing there watching us. “Glad to see her busting your balls instead of you hitting on her. Makes me feel slightly better for leaving.”
“Where are you going?” Wyatt asked.
“Dad left his damn wallet here again,” Roe said. “I gotta take it to the bar for him.”
It’d be a little odd being in his house without him. “Maybe I should go?”
Both Roe and Wyatt quickly said, “No.”
“I’ll be right back,” Roe assured me.
Wyatt put a hand on his chest. “I know I’m more beautiful than Roe and that can be intimidating, but I promise I’m just a normal guy.”
I looked to Roe. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
Roe shrugged. “I wouldn’t know how to respond to something blatantly false, either.”
Wyatt glanced from Roe to me and back to Roe again with an offended expression. “Don’t you need to leave?”
Roe smiled. “I’ll be right back,” he told me again before leaving. Even inside the house, we heard him turn on his motorcycle and drive off.
“So, Lottie the hottie,” Wyatt said as he swiveled his desk chair from side to side. “What’s your favorite color?”
That is random. I took a seat on his bed. “Black.”
He scooted his chair over until he was sitting right in front of me. “This is where you ask me a question.”
“Are we playing a game?”
He folded his arms on the back of his chair and rested his chin on top of them. “No. We’re getting to know each other. I’ve noticed you can be very forthcoming at times, but the rest of the time you’re closed off.”
“I’m a private person,” I said, and I wasn’t sure if that was a lie. Was I private because I had to be or because that was who I really was?
He shrugged. “If I ask something you’re not comfortable answering, then don’t answer. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
I supposed I could partake. “Is your tongue pierced?”
He grinned before sticking his tongue out, revealing a silver barbell piercing. “When did you notice?”
“At the café,” I answered.
“You’re very observant. Unlike your school, mine is very strict about tattoos and piercings. So I do my best to hide it,” Wyatt said.
“Kendry doesn’t allow piercings or tattoos on the face.
” It was why Roe took out his lip piercing while at school.
“Five years ago, tattoos and all except ear piercings were strictly prohibited. They changed the rules after a rock star’s son was enrolled for his senior year.
He was heavily tattooed from the neck down.
After a large donation from his daddy, the rules were rewritten. ”
Wyatt looked fascinated. “Who was the rock star?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. I’d been in middle school at the time and hadn’t cared enough to commit every detail to memory when I’d overheard everyone gossiping about it. “What school do you go to?”
“Summerhaven Public. It’s an all-right school. Good football team. We totally kicked your football team’s ass,” he said smugly. “Do you have any piercings or tattoos?”
“I just have my ears pierced.” I tucked my hair behind one ear so he could see one of the simple gold studs I had in. “What drew you to draw comics?”
“I’ve always loved reading comics. Was obsessed with superheroes as a kid.
One day, I was at the comic bookstore, and I saw a flyer for drawing classes they had there two nights a week.
I could only afford to go for a few weeks, but it was all I needed to get started.
Since then, I’ve self-taught with videos on the internet. ”
“I did a lot of self-teaching with videos, too,” I said.
“My mother wouldn’t let me take classes.
When I heard they were bringing on an art teacher at Kendry and she would be teaching drawing, I was so excited.
I signed up for beginner drawing my sophomore year.
About halfway through that school year, Ms. Clark insisted that I sign up for her advanced class the following year.
It felt good to hear. Like everything I had done to learn and keep drawing in my life up to that point was worth it. ”
“Why wouldn’t your mom let you take classes?” he asked.
I shrugged. “My time was better spent elsewhere.”
He looked baffled by that, but didn’t pry into the subject further. “What made you choose charcoal?”
That question felt like a knock on a door best left locked and forgotten. I looked away.
“It’s okay,” he reassured me. “What’s your favorite food?”
The burger and fries the other day had been very good, but I wouldn’t say they were my favorite. I thought about it some more. “Strawberries.”
His brow rose a little, as if he didn’t quite believe me. “Strawberries?”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I really like how sweet and sometimes tart they are. When I’m allowed to have fruit, I always go for the strawberries.”
His chin lifted from his arms as he frowned at me. “Allowed?”
I went still. I couldn’t help it, but I was able to school my face. “I misspoke,” I said, trying to sound like it wasn’t a big deal. “Why do you live with Roe?”
“I—” He looked like I’d thrown him a little.
Based on Roe’s reaction earlier, I knew it was a very personal question.
Normally, I wouldn’t have asked, but I was a little desperate and it had been the first thing to pop into my head.
Feeling like I’d messed up yet again, I twisted and fiddled with the dainty gold rings I had on some of my fingers. “You don’t have to answer.”
This interaction was a big reminder of why I didn’t have any close friends.
He stared down at my hands in my lap. “My mom overdosed when I was ten. My dad, who was the one who got her hooked on cocaine, got caught with a shit ton of it when I was seven and has been in prison ever since. I went to live with my grandpa after my mom died.” He pointed at the framed photos of him and the old gentleman on the floating shelves behind me.
“Lived with him until he passed away from leukemia when I was sixteen. Noble and Roe took me in after that.”
Now I felt like an asshole for asking. “Telling you I’m sorry seems like an inadequate thing to say.”
We both glanced toward his bedroom window, which had the blinds closed, when we heard a motorcycle pull up outside. Roe must be back.
Wyatt stared back at me with a small, sad smile. “People say that when they either don’t know what to say or truly feel sorry for me.”
Even though I felt sad for him, I didn’t think it’d make him feel better to know that.
“I watched my father die when I was six.” That was the first time I had ever said that out loud.
That I had seen it. Not even Mother knew.
I thought that if she ever did, she’d bury me next to Noah Kendry.
So why was I all right telling Wyatt? “He…” I trailed off, hating what I had to say next.
“He fell down the stairs and broke his neck.”
Wyatt’s eyes widened. “Shit.”
I began fiddling with my rings again. “Yeah. And a few days ago I found out that he wasn’t even my biological father.
” So many secrets and lies. If I hadn’t known I bled when cut, I would have assumed secrets and lies would be what spilled out of me.
Letting go of a few felt as good as it felt nerve-racking.
“Do you know who your bio dad is?” he asked.
“I only know his name.” I debated for a second whether or not it was a good idea to tell him. The odds of Wyatt knowing him were very low. “His name is—”
“Where’s Roe?” a voice interrupted me.
I looked toward the door. Reid was standing there, arms crossed, whiskey eyes locked on me. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a dark red T-shirt, black jeans, and black boots. His arms were folded over his chest, and he didn’t look happy to see me.
“He ran to the bar. I’m surprised you didn’t run into each other. Shouldn’t you still be at work?” Wyatt said.
“Noble let me off early,” Reid said before he nodded at me. “What’s she doing here?”
Wyatt sat up straight. “Don’t be a dick, Reid. Roe invited her over.”
Reid rolled his eyes. “I thought we were gaming tonight.”
“We are,” Wyatt said.
“Won’t she be bored?” Reid shot back.
Wyatt sighed, sounding like he was getting annoyed. “Girls like video games, too.”
“Girls like her don’t,” Reid grumbled.
“Girls like me?” I repeated, finally butting in. Before, it hadn’t been worth my time, but he’d seemed to press the wrong button.
“Ignore him,” Wyatt insisted. “He’s a fucking idiot.”
Reid didn’t even seem to care what his supposed best friend had said about him. He just stared at me. “Have you ever played video games?”
Well, he got me there. “No.”
“That’s okay,” Wyatt said. “I’ll show you how.”
Reid’s arms unfolded and he stepped backward. “Fan-fucking-tastic,” he mumbled as he disappeared down the hall.