Chapter 40
Wyatt
“What are you doing up so early on this magnificent October day?” I call across the yard, at Bryn stepping out of her place and closing the door.
Instead of continuing my path to knock on Ruby’s door, I wander slowly towards Bryn, who looks radiant in a pair of black leggings and a forest green sweater I wish was a few inches shorter so I could catch a glimpse at her shapely ass.
“Gran and I are going out for the day,” she says, the already bright smile widening at the mention of Ruby. “Sorry, stud. No one to have coffee with today.”
Tilting my head to the side, I frown, eyebrows pulling together. “Wait. It’s the tenth, isn’t it?”
Four days after the auction. Three days since I saw her.
Bryn mimics me, cocking her head in the opposite direction. “Yeah, why? And why are you here so early?”
Scratching my head, for once not wearing any hat because I don’t want it to blow off later, my frown deepens. “Today is Ruby-Wyatt date day.”
“You’re mistaken,” she says with a huff of amusement. “It can’t be today.”
Now that Bryn has stopped in front of me, I realize she’s carrying a backpack over her shoulder. And the jacket in her hands looks made for a Montana winter day rather than a Northern California fall one.
“We’re going whale watching,” I tell her, watching as her eyes blow wide open, her mouth dropping.
“Oh, she is unbelievable,” Bryn says, throwing her arms up in the air. “She orchestrated some kind of group date and didn’t tell either of us?”
Brushing past me, she marches towards the house. I’m hot on her heels, but we pull up short when we see an envelope taped to the windowpane of the screen door. It has both our names written on it in Ruby’s elegant script, and Bryn lets out a frustrated cry before snatching it from the glass.
“Watch—she’s not coming. What do you want to bet?” Bryn grumbles, pulling the contents out. There are two tickets inside, and a letter, and Bryn unfolds the latter to scan it. “See! Told you.”
I’m not certain if Bryn is upset that Ruby isn’t coming or because she has to spend the day alone with me, but I take the letter as she half turns towards me, waving it in my direction.
With her hands empty, she yanks on the screen door, stumbling backward when it doesn’t open.
I catch her by the backpack before she can hit the ground, and haul her back up to her feet, crumpling the piece of paper in my efforts.
“She locked the door!” she huffs, then tries again. To prove to herself or to show me is anyone’s guess. Maybe both.
My eyes drift over the letter.
This date was never meant for me. It always belonged to the two of you.
Sweetheart, live your life. Allow yourself to be happy.
Wyatt, give her that happiness.
Neither of you will be allowed back inside until the sun has gone down.
“If you don’t get going, you’re going to miss the boat!” Ruby’s voice drifts through the open window of the kitchen before it slams shut.
“Gran!” Bryn yells, changing her tactics from the door to the window. “Gran, get out here right now!”
Ruby stands in the window, shaking her head at her granddaughter. It’s comical, but I’m trying not to laugh at Bryn’s expense. When Ruby’s eyes meet mine, though, and her eyebrows lift expectantly, I sober. Right. This is up to me.
“B,” I start, taking the few steps that separate us. “Is my company so horrible that you don’t want to spend the day with me?”
“No!” she exclaims, whirling on me, eyes alight with a fire I wonder how often Ruby sees with all her mischief. When our eyes meet, hers soften, and she takes a breath. “No, of course not.”
“Ruby played us both.”
“That’s why I’m mad!” She gestures behind her at the window. A window which has once again cracked open. “She orchestrated this entire thing without either of us knowing.”
I nod. “Despicable woman, wanting us both to be happy.” Bryn glares at me. Trying not to chuckle and doing a piss-poor job at it, I take her hand. “We can spend the whole day coming up with ways to get back at her.”
That sparks curiosity in the beauty before me. Her spine straightens, shoulders pushing back, and she lifts an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
Running my thumb over the back of her hand, I ask, “May I take you on this date?”
She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth, my eyes dropping to watch. The second they do, her breath hitches in her chest, causing a slow smile to creep along my lips. I love knowing I can elicit a reaction out of her.
“Okay.” The word comes out as breathy as I imagined it would. “Yes. I’d love to go on a date with you.”
The declaration has my focus darting back to her eyes, reading the truth in the hazel depths. It sends my heart straight out of my chest, racing for the brilliant blue sky above to explode into a million colors.
Just like the fireworks we watched on our last date.