Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
RACHEL
It’s the Fourth of July, and I’m working at Mitchell’s because of course I am.
We all are, and there’s a reason for that.
It’s complete and utter madness. There are people everywhere, and they’re all dressed in red, white, and blue, including all of the employees.
The owners, Misti and Calvin, insisted we go all out in our Independence Day gear because the customers love it.
Paige and I stopped by the local Dollar Tree a few days ago and bought out all the star-shaped sunglasses, red-white-and-blue bead necklaces, and whatever else we could find that fit the theme.
We brought our haul with us this morning and doled it all out to everyone who was working.
Even the employees back in the kitchen are wearing headbands with sparkly stars on springs that wave back and forth as they walk.
Despite how busy and hectic it is, the atmosphere is light among all the staff. Everyone is in a good mood and ready to have fun, including me. I’m working the window on my own, though Mila is never too far, thank goodness.
The week has been a whirlwind of work, preparing for the holiday rush, and Wyatt. Lots of time sneaking off with him whenever I can. We are so hung up on each other, it’s pitiful. But a great kind of pitiful, not the emotion I was feeling the day my house caught fire, which was over a month ago.
I finally got a text from my dad a couple of days ago, letting me know the house was going to be cleaned out this week and that I should “move accordingly.” I have no clue what he means by that statement, but it goes to show he has no idea where I am, when he could obviously check his Find My Phone app and see that I’m not staying at the house.
That’s how much he doesn’t care about me or what I’m doing.
I heard from Scarlett too, who was full of apologies for not reaching out sooner, and we had a two-hour FaceTime call, where I filled her in on everything.
She was beside herself over the house fire and broke out into the biggest grin when I told her about Wyatt.
She said all the perfect, supportive comments that a best friend should say, and when I got off the call with her, Paige was mad that I didn’t ask to have Tate appear on the call.
I reassured her that would happen next time.
Speaking of Paige . . .
“You should take your lunch.” She approaches me, Mila by her side. “We’re going to take over.”
“Are you sure?” I glance at the line winding around the building. “I can work for a little longer if you need me.”
“You’ve already worked too long without taking a break.
Kick your feet up somewhere and eat some protein.
” Paige pats my shoulder, which is just a cover for her actually pushing me out of the way, gently.
I step aside and go to the soda fountain, where I refill my drink.
I’m not a big soda drinker, but today seems like a good day to indulge in nonstop Cokes, and the caffeine is keeping me hopped up.
I’ll probably crash later, but oh well. I have no plans for tonight.
Well, I assume Wyatt and I might do something, but he hasn’t mentioned it to me.
He’s been too preoccupied with making sure Dottie has somewhere to stay while his parents are out of town on their cruise.
It’s only one of those quick four-day, three-night jaunts to Catalina Island and Mexico, but he has to make sure everything’s covered.
His sister is watching Dottie the first night—tomorrow.
Nate is watching her the next two nights, and we watch Dottie the final two nights.
Wyatt will be off before his parents even come home, and while I’m looking forward to spending time with Dottie, I’m also nervous.
I’ve never been responsible for the care of a six-year-old overnight in my life.
Paige isn’t worried about it because she used to babysit all the time when she was like thirteen or fourteen. I can’t even imagine that.
I could barely wash my own face properly when I was that age. Babysitting a bunch of little kids when I was a kid myself sounds like way too much responsibility.
Once I’ve got my drink, I sip on my straw and meander through the building.
The ice cream line isn’t so bad because everyone is grabbing lunch, so Kelcey and Tara are both on shift, gabbing away as they pretend to wipe the counter and refill the spoon basket.
I wave at them as I walk past, and they call out my name like they want me to join them.
“What’s up?” I ask when I stop at the counter. I notice both of them have red-and-blue glitter outlines of stars drawn on their face by their eyes. They look great. But they always look great. These two seriously make me self-conscious.
They share a look before Kelcey asks, “What’s Captain McKinney doing outside, just sitting at a table with his kid?”
I glance through the window to where most of the outdoor seating is and see that, yes, indeed, Wyatt is sitting at a picnic bench with Dottie across from him.
Her hair is in a single braid, and white sunglasses cover her eyes.
Her sundress is dark blue with white stars scattered all over it, and I’ve never seen her look cuter.
“I have no idea,” I tell the girls when I turn to face them once more.
“Suspicious,” Kelcey tells Tara, who nods.
“What do you mean, suspicious? Maybe he came here for lunch?”
“Everyone knows . . . everyone knows locals don’t come here on the Fourth. Not for lunch.” Kelcey says it like it’s a curse.
“It’s nothing but pure chaos,” Tara adds.
“Ha! This isn’t bad. Wait until tomorrow.” Kelcey’s eyes get wide. So do Tara’s. “That’s when shit really hits the fan.”
“What do you mean?” Shit. She sounds serious.
“It’s busier today than normal, but a lot of people are at their campsites or whatever, and they’re grilling hot dogs and burgers.
But tomorrow, when they have to pack everything up and leave?
They’re not going to fix their own food.
They’re going to stop here. And it’s going to be even worse than today.
” Kelcey’s tone is so ominous, I almost start laughing.
“What does any of that have to do with Wyatt being here?”
“Like I said, locals don’t come here on the holiday.
Well, they’ll come for the boat parade tonight, before the fireworks, but that’s it.
By then most of the people are cleared out of here anyway, desperate to get a good spot by the lake to watch the show.
Are you going to watch the fireworks, Rachel? ” Kelcey’s brows shoot up.
“I hope so. I hear they’re pretty good.”
“What time are you off?”
“Five.”
Kelcey and Tara share a look again, both of them rolling their eyes. “It pays to live with Paige. You get the best shifts.”
“I don’t have a car. Paige makes it so I’ll always work the same shift as her.” I guess it is a privilege, being so close to Paige. And I didn’t even realize it. I should probably thank her.
“You should go out there and talk to the captain,” Tara suggests, her eyes lighting up. “Find out what he’s doing here and then report back.”
“Okay. I will.” I definitely plan on asking him why he’s here, but am I going to report back to the girls?
I don’t think so.
I make my way out of Mitchell’s and head right over to Wyatt’s table. He’s got his back to me, and Dottie spots me first, waving her hands over her head and calling my name.
“Rachel! Rachel, we’re over here! Look, Daddy, there’s Rachel.”
He glances over his shoulder and flashes me a slow, sexy smile that has me melting—and not because of the heat, though the sun is blazin’ today. It’s predicted to be a high of ninety-five, which is hot for these parts.
Oh my God, I sound like the old men who stop by Mitchell’s every morning for their cup of coffee. Maybe I’ve been here too long—
That thought stops me short, and I falter, nearly tripping over my own feet. Wyatt notices because he’s always watching me like a hawk, and he bounds up from his bench seat, running over to make sure I’m okay.
“You almost fell.” He grabs hold of my arms, his touch setting me on fire, as per usual. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I tripped over my own foot.” I laugh, but it feels forced, so I stop, letting Wyatt lead me over to their table. “Hey, Dottie!”
“Hi, Rachel.” She beams at me as I sit across from her. “I like your necklaces.”
I’m wearing two sets of the red-white-and-blue beads we got at the Dollar Tree, and I take one of them off, offering it to her. “You want it?”
“Can I?” Her entire face lights up.
“Of course.” I shake the necklace at her, and she snatches it up. “It’ll look good with your dress.”
She drops the necklace over her neck, brushing her fingers along the shiny beads. “I love it! Thank you!”
Wyatt settles his hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze. I hate it when he touches me like this in public because all I really want to do is trap his hand between my thighs and beg him to shove his hand down the front of my shorts.
I remember guys calling each other horndogs back in high school, and I thought that term was so gross. Now I know how it feels to be a horndog. Wyatt makes me horny all the damn time, and I think I do the same thing for him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Wyatt, smiling up at him.
“Wanted to come see you.” He shrugs, playing it off.
“You’re brave enough to come out during this?” I wave my hand around at the various customers surrounding us.
“I mean . . .” He winces. “Us locals usually avoid this place during the holiday, but I wanted to see you.”
“And I wanted ice cream,” Dottie adds, making us all laugh.
“I can get you some. The line is pretty short right now.”
“Let’s go get it.” Dottie hops off the bench and is already halfway to the building when her dad’s voice stops her in her tracks.
“Dottie! Hold on.”
She turns to look at him, her annoyance obvious. I jab Wyatt in the ribs and jump to my feet.
“Let’s go get her some ice cream.”
He stands too, bending his head so he can whisper close to my ear, “I came here because I wanted to invite you to go out on our boat tonight. To watch the fireworks.”
I pull back a little so I can look into his eyes. The relief that fills me from having something to do tonight is stronger than I thought it would be. I was worried I’d have no plans. “That sounds like fun.”
“My sister and her husband are taking their boat out too, so my family will be all divided between us.” He sends me a pointed look. “Meaning my parents will be there too. And Nate. My nieces.”
“Oh.” I swallow hard. “The whole family, huh?”
“You can bring Paige if she’s not busy.”
“Only if Nate doesn’t bring a date.” I hesitate. “He’s coming, right?”
“Definitely, but he wouldn’t bring a date. Who’d date him?” Wyatt grins.
I poke him in the ribs. “Don’t be mean.”
“I’m speaking facts. He should consider himself lucky that Paige is still interested in him. Even after all these years.”
“I think it’s fading slightly,” I tell him as we enter Mitchell’s.
Dottie is already standing in front of the ice cream display, slapping the glass case over and over with her grimy hands and earning dirty looks from Kelcey and Tara.
The moment they spot her dad, though, they both smile brightly. Kelcey even bats her eyelashes at him.
“Hey, girls.” Wyatt waves at the teenage flirts, then points at Dottie. “Whatever the girl wants, let her have it.”
“One scoop of cotton candy on a cone, please,” Dottie announces, earning a grateful smile from her dad.
“Thank God you suggested cotton candy,” he tells me, his smile disappearing. “And what do you mean, it’s fading? Like Paige’s feelings for Nate?”
“She’s tired of his antics.” I shrug, not saying anything else. Paige actually hasn’t talked about him much, which I’m taking as a positive sign.
“Aren’t we all?” He chuckles, and I laugh, and then he turns dreadfully serious, all in the matter of about thirty seconds. “You’re okay with meeting my family tonight?”
I nod, trying to ignore the nerves bouncing around in my stomach. “I can’t wait.”
I sound like a liar. The skeptical look on Wyatt’s face tells me he knows it.
“It’ll be fine. They’re going to love you.” He slings his arm around my neck and pulls me into him, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
I glance up to find Kelcey staring at us in shock, her mouth hanging open.
Tara didn’t notice because she’s too busy making Dottie’s order.
I send Kelcey a meaningful look, and she gets busy tapping away at the register.
Wyatt lets go of me, sending me one of those dreamy-eyed glances he gets every once in a while.
Those glances are the type of thing a girl could get used to because when he looks at me like that, all dopey eyed and even a little silly?
I start to think that maybe he’s falling in love with me.