Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
RACHEL
We eat, making conversation about how delicious our meals are, my mind stuck on the story of the horrible Cheryl, who’s a bad mom who ditched her baby for drugs.
And while I despise what she did and I don’t know how she could’ve so easily walked away from Wyatt and Dottie, another small part of me wonders if she felt trapped by her life.
I don’t know what was going on with her mentally, and I don’t want to ask because it’s obvious how much Wyatt doesn’t enjoy talking about it.
But here’s what’s funny: I was perfectly willing to hate Cheryl for doing what she did. After hearing the story, though? I sort of feel sorry for her instead.
Feeling trapped at a young age is never fun. I’m around the same age they were when they found out they were pregnant—what would I do if that happened to me? Freak out, most likely, especially if it was Edmund’s baby.
A shudder moves through me at the thought. He wasn’t there for me like he should’ve been. When we were together, I always felt like I was on edge. Like something horrible was about to happen at any moment. He never made me feel secure. Safe.
Wyatt? He might’ve been frustrated with me the first time we met, but I see his true personality now and know that he’s steady.
Loyal. Thoughtful. He loves his daughter and his family and his friends.
He’s a good person. I don’t feel on edge when I’m with him.
I feel safe. A little nervous too because I like this guy so much and can see myself falling for him.
An older woman stops by our table, placing her hand on Wyatt’s shoulder, and he smiles up at her. “Mrs. Gates.”
“Hi, Wyatt. Don said I shouldn’t bother you two, but I had to stop and say hello.” She glances in my direction, offering a kind smile, and I return it.
“I’m glad you said hello. I hope you guys had a nice dinner.”
“We always do here. It’s one of our favorites.” She glances in my direction again, and I know she’s dying of curiosity.
Wyatt picks up on it. “This is Rachel.”
“Hi, Rachel.” The woman offers me her hand, and I shake it. “I’m Donna.”
“Don and Donna?” I raise my brows, and she laughs, shaking her head.
“It was embarrassing when we first started dating, but after a while, we just went with it. Silly, I know, but what can you do? You fall in love with someone, and you can’t worry about their name. Nothing really matters if they’re your person.”
Her words stick in my brain while she makes idle small talk with Wyatt. I guess we can’t help who we fall for. If it’s real love, you don’t let things like matching names get in the way. You just . . . go for it.
The moment she walks away, Wyatt leans across the table, his voice lowering. “She lives by my fire station.”
“Ah.”
“They have a huge garden and always have way too much produce by summer’s end. They like to stop by and drop off the extras, and we always take them. I think they like to hang out with us and chat. Their kids all moved away and live out of state.”
“Aw, I bet they miss them.”
“I think they do. I don’t know what I’d do without my parents living nearby. They’re a huge help to me with watching Dottie.” His expression turns serious. “Speaking of watching Dottie, did Paige mention I texted her?”
“She did. Said that you needed an overnight babysitter and took her up on her offer from earlier. She did say yes to you, right?” I find it a little odd that he never texted me about it directly, though Paige said he was going to. Maybe he chickened out?
“Yeah, she said yes. Paige, uh, mentioned that maybe you’d help her too.
” His expression turns—I don’t know how to describe it.
Bashful? Embarrassed? “It felt kind of weird, asking you to watch my kid after everything that’s .
. . happened between us. Like, Oh hey, I think you’re hot.
We’ve hooked up, and it was spectacular.
By the way, do you want to watch my little girl?
” He grimaces. “Talk about taking it to another level extra fast.”
A giggle escapes me, and I cover my lips with my fingers. “You think I’m hot?”
He sends me an incredulous look, his heated gaze roaming over me yet again, leaving me flushed. A little shaky. “Rachel. Be serious.”
“I am being serious.” And I’m not fishing for compliments either.
Okay, fine. I’m lying to myself. I’m totally fishing for compliments. He’s called me beautiful before, and I can’t lie, I like hearing him say that I’m hot too. And hearing him mention our hookup.
Wyatt reaches across the table, taking my hand and interlocking our fingers. “All I can think about is getting you back to my place and taking off that dress.”
I swallow hard, my mouth going dry at his words. The look in his eyes and on his face. Who’s the one that’s hot now? “What are we waiting for then?”
He curses under his breath. “The goddamn check.” He lifts his arm in the air, catching the attention of our server, and she rushes over. “Can we get the bill?”
“Absolutely. I’ve already got it.” She pulls it out of her apron and sets it down, making like she’s going to leave, but Wyatt stops her.
“Hold on.” His impatience obvious, he pulls his wallet out of his pocket and drops his credit card into the leather folder, snapping it shut and handing it back to the server. “Here you go.”
“I’ll be right back.” She dashes off like there’s a fire lit under her feet.
“I think you scared her.”
“Nah.” He sets his wallet on the table. “I’m sure she deals with impatient customers all the time.”
“You’re probably right. I know I do.” I grab my glass and drink the last of the watered-down alcohol inside of it.
I’m nervous at the idea of Wyatt taking me back to his house.
Alone. Nervous and excited because I want to be alone with him too.
I’m dying to get my hands on him and see where this night takes us.
I know where the night is going to take us, and I want it.
I want him again. I never stopped wanting him.
I can tell from his current mood that he still wants me too, and it feels good, having a man seem completely into you.
A man who has a full life and hasn’t been looking for a woman to complete him.
“You like working at Mitchell’s?”
Wyatt’s question catches me off guard, and I answer truthfully. “I do. It’s . . . fun. It can also be hard work, but I like getting to know everyone and helping people out.”
“Sounds like you’re fitting in pretty good over there. Though the job is temporary.” He sends me a pointed look. “Right?”
“Um, yes. It is.” I nod. Clear my throat. Want to squirm at the way he’s watching me carefully. “I mean, everything in life is temporary, right?” I smile. Laugh. Like what I just said is no big deal, but my laughter dies when I see the flicker of worry in his eyes.
“Not always.” The server shows up with Wyatt’s completed bill and hands it to him.
“Thank you for coming in,” she says, offering us a smile. “I hope you two have a great night.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, smiling at her in return. I never really thought about servers until I started working in the restaurant industry, and it’s wild how many people treat us like we don’t even exist. “I hope you have a nice night too.”
“Why, thank you. I appreciate that.” She gives me a little bow before she takes off.
Wyatt finishes signing the receipt and places his credit card back in his wallet. “You ready to go?” I ask him.
He shakes his head, contemplating me. Making me nervous for a different reason. “I suppose I should’ve asked you this before I suggested that I want to take you back to my house.”
My stomach twists. “What do you want to ask me?”
“Are you planning on sticking around here past the summer? Or will you be returning to New York or wherever your home base is?” His tone is purposely casual, but I see that little something flicker in his eyes again.
Unease. Worry. I’m responsible for that.
Putting that feeling in him. That fear? I don’t want to hurt this man, but . . .
“I-I’m not sure,” I respond. I clear my throat, hating how hesitant I sound. “Mitchell’s closes in October. I plan on staying for that long. Probably.”
So much of it depends on if my father demands I come home, though how can he do that now?
He’s not controlling my money situation.
I’m giving Paige rent for staying in her guest room, and it’s helping her pay off her credit card debt.
She’s been working both jobs nonstop, full-time at the resort and nearly full-time hours at Mitchell’s.
And she remains cheerful all the time too, despite the exhaustion I can see in her eyes.
I don’t know how she does it. I’m working as many hours as she is at just Mitchell’s, and I’m worn out.
My father could demand I return home, but I don’t have to. I can stand on my own two feet. I can.
“Probably?” He shifts in his chair, putting his wallet into his back pocket, his gaze intent on mine.
“Look, I don’t mean to sound like a demanding asshole, but I don’t let just anyone into my life—specifically Dottie’s life.
The fact that I want to let you in at all is a big deal for me, and for my daughter.
But if you’re not planning on sticking around, then what are we doing, Rachel? What are you doing?”