Chapter 9
nine
Ieye the clock on the kitchen wall. He’s supposed to be here any time so we can hang out together, but I don’t think I can do it. Will got home late and is still sleeping. The thought of waking him up just so I can go hang out with my fake boyfriend doesn’t sit right.
Grabbing my phone from the counter, I go to pull up our text messages when there’s a knock on the door.
Shit.
He’s already here and ten minutes early.
I set down my phone and head out of the kitchen.
“Everything okay, Agatha?” Dad asks as he steps out of the hall.
“Everything is fine. Why don’t you sit down while I answer the door?”
Dad nods. “Oh, all right.”
As he moves toward his chair, I head to the door.
“Hey,” I say as I swing the door open.
Wyatt stands on the porch with one hand in his pocket and a small bouquet in the other.
“Hey, beautiful. These are for you,” he says as he hands over the flowers.
Slowly I reach out and take them from him. “You bought me flowers?”
Wyatt shrugs. “I saw them and thought of you.”
He bought me flowers, something no one else has ever done besides my dad before he got sick.
I stare down at the flowers in wonder. I used to think that girls in movies and books were ridiculous when they would swoon over someone getting them flowers, but suddenly, I get it.
He didn’t buy them because he knew I wanted them or because I expected them.
He didn’t buy them because of something big.
No, he just got them because he thought of me when he saw them.
This is one of those little things people always talk about that means more than anything big could.
And to think, he’s not even my real boyfriend. He’s just playing the part.
“If you don’t like them, you don’t have to keep them,” he says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“No, I love them. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten flowers. Thank you. Oh, and come in.”
I step back and out of the way. Wyatt brushes by me and steps inside.
“So, I have some bad news,” I tell him softly as I shut the door.
Wyatt turns and looks at me, frowning. “Is everything okay? Your dad…”
I shake my head. “My dad is fine, and technically everything is okay, but I need to cancel our plans for today. I’m sorry.”
“Oh,” he says, his face falling.
“It’s just that Will worked late, so he went to bed later than normal, and he’s still sleeping. I really don’t want to wake him up, and technically, I could leave Dad alone, but that doesn’t feel quite safe. I’m sorry.”
Wyatt steps forward and rests his hands on my shoulders. “Lyla, it’s okay. I get it. Your dad comes first, and I don’t blame you for wanting to let Will sleep. The guy deserves it.”
“He really does,” I murmur as my heart clenches.
He gets it. Something Kyle never did.
Wyatt hums as he looks over my shoulder.
“What are you thinking about?”
“What if we gave Will the day off and took your dad out for the day?”
Before he even finishes asking, I start shaking my head. “That’s nice in theory, but honestly, taking him out of the house is a nightmare. I never know what he’s going to do or say. Not to mention the judgmental looks from strangers when he inevitably does something. It’s just a lot.”
“It’s hard on you,” he murmurs.
“It really is, and trust me, I know how bad that sounds, and I feel shitty for it, but it’s the truth.”
He rubs his hands over my arms. “Hey, it’s okay. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I mean, I am canceling on you at the last minute,” I quip, trying to lighten the mood.
“You are, but I won’t let you. Seriously, what if we take him with us? You won’t have to do it alone. I’ll be with you the entire time and am more than willing to pull my weight. You won’t have to do it all by yourself.”
“Are you serious?” I ask, caught off guard.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
I asked Kyle to help with my dad exactly one time, right when he really started to decline and decided I would never ask him to help again.
He drove us to the appointment and that was it.
He never got out of his car or anything, but the entire time he bitched about how it was inconvenient for him and how I should be thankful that he was giving up his time for this.
Reason one hundred and eighty-two on how Kyle and Wyatt are nothing alike.
“Are you sure?” I press.
“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.”
“Agatha, is everything okay?” Dad yells from the other room.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there,” I say back as I grab Wyatt’s hand. “Come on, let’s go tell him the good news.”
We step into the living room, and Dad looks our way.
When Dad sees us, he frowns.
“Who’s your friend?” he asks.
“This is my friend Wyatt. You’ve met him before,” I say gently.
Dad’s eyes narrow, and he makes a huffing noise. “You know you aren’t supposed to be alone with boys, Agatha. What would people think?”
“But we aren’t alone when we’re with you, silly,” I tease, making him smile.
“Semantics.” Dad’s eyes shift to Wyatt. “So what are you doing here? Are you here to take my sister on a date?”
“Yes, but unfortunately our chaperone fell through…unless you would be willing to go with us,” Wyatt says.
Dad hums. “That depends. Where are you going?”
My eyes widen.
Shit. Where are we going?
“Uh…” I stutter.
“We were going to head over to Roman Park. The trails are pretty this time of year, and I know for a fact that there is a baseball game happening today,” Wyatt says smoothly.
Dad’s eyes light up. “Baseball, you say?”
“Oh yeah, I’m a big fan,” Wyatt says.
“Well then, let’s go. We don’t want to miss the first pitch,” Dad says as he starts to get up.
Wyatt leaves my side and goes to help him. I should be the one helping him since he’s my dad, but for some reason I find myself standing back and watching.
This. This is what I want.
If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that Wyatt Scott is the real deal. He’s the kind of boyfriend girls dream about. He’s green flags all around, and for right now, he’s mine.
As I pull in front of Lyla’s house, I look over at her and smile when I see that she looks happy.
When I came to pick her up earlier, I had planned on taking her on a mystery picnic date.
I had seen a video about it on social media and knew that she would like it.
I mean, who wouldn’t like solving riddles and clues while also picking up food along the way?
As soon as I saw her, though, I knew those plans needed to go out the window, and that’s okay. I meant it when I told her that her dad comes first. Still, I’m glad I was able to convince her to still spend the day with me, even if we did have a chaperone whose mind is on the fritz.
“Where are we?” her dad asks from the back seat.
I watch as pain flies across her face before she can stop it.
“We’re home,” she says cheerfully.
“Oh, well then, I better give you two a moment alone. I’ll see you inside,” he says before getting out of the car.
“Stay right there,” I tell her as I hurry to get out.
I rush around to the passenger side and open her door. She places her hand in mine and gets out.
“You didn’t have to open my door for me all day you know.” She smiles softly.
“I know, but I wanted to.”
She shakes her head as we move to the truck to grab the groceries we picked up on the way home.
“You’re going to spoil me.”
“That’s the goal.” I wink, making her cheeks turn pink.
Groceries in hand, we head inside right as Will helps their dad get settled into his chair.
Will looks over at us and raises his eyebrow. “Did you guys have fun?”
“We did,” Lyla tells him.
The honesty in her voice makes me feel ten feet tall.
I did that. I gave her a little ray of sunshine when she wasn’t expecting it.
Lyla moves toward the kitchen with Will and me trailing behind her.
“You could have woken me up this morning,” Will tells her as she sets the grocery bags down.
“You needed sleep,” she says lightly.
He runs a hand over his face and sighs before turning toward me.
“Are you staying for dinner?” he asks.
“I planned on it, but only if it’s okay with you.”
“Of course it’s okay,” Lyla cuts in.
Will nods. “Fine with me. Can I talk to you for a minute though, privately?”
“Will…” Lyla warns as I set down the bags I was carrying.
“Of course.” I nod, ignoring her.
Will and I head to the back door and slip outside. We move over to some rickety lawn chairs that have definitely seen better days and sit down.
“I’m sorry,” he says, catching me off guard.
“For what?”
“I should have set an alarm. I knew you two had a date planned, and I slept through it. You shouldn’t have had to take our dad with you.”
I start shaking my head before he can even finish his apology.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Like Lyla said, you were tired, and honestly, I didn’t mind. All I cared about was getting to spend some time with your sister, and I did that.” I shrug.
Will looks at me like I’m crazy.
“You really like her, don’t you?” he asks after a few beats.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“Look, man, I like you, and I know you’re a good guy. Shit, you basically scream it, but if you are playing games with my sister, I need you to walk away. Now. Before she gets too attached.”
“Will, I can promise you I’m not playing games with her. The only way I’ll be walking away from Lyla is if she makes me.”
He studies me again. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“It doesn’t bother you that she can’t do shit on a whim? That sometimes she will have to cancel last minute because he’s having a bad day? You won’t get pissed off because she has to stay home on a Friday night instead of going to your game or to a party?”
I shake my head. “I’m not like Kyle. That shit doesn’t bother me.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love for her to see me play, to celebrate a win with her next to me, but if she can’t, then she can’t.
It’s that simple. Besides, there will always be more games.
If she can’t go to this one, maybe she can the next. Either way, it will all work out.”
His eyes narrow. “Are you sure you won’t get pissed when she isn’t in the stands? When she isn’t being the perfect girlfriend?”
“Will, I haven’t had anyone in the stands ever. My parents are dead. My girlfriend not being there isn’t going to bother me,” I point out, making him wince.
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t even think about how that would sound. I’m sorry you lost your parents.”
“It’s okay. I’m serious, though. If Lyla can’t show up to something, that’s fine. It’s not going to hurt my feelings at all. I’ll know why, and that is all that matters.”
Will relaxes into his chair and nods. “Okay then. We’re good.”
“Good,” I say, fighting back a smile.
Looks like I passed the test.
“When is your first game?” he asks.
“Next Thursday.”
Will nods. “She will be there.”
My heart races at the thought of her being in the stands. She would be there for me. Not for Jason, Calvin, or anyone else. Me.
Just me.
“I’d like that, but if something comes up, I’ll understand.”
Will shakes his head. “She will be there. I’ll make sure of it.”
The sound of the door opening has us turning toward it.
Lyla peeks her head outside. “Is everything okay out here? You two looked pretty serious.”
“We’re good,” Will says.
Lyla’s eyes dart to me.
“We’re good. Promise,” I tell her.
She nods slowly. “Good. Well, if you two are done doing whatever the hell you two were just doing, how about you come inside and help me make dinner?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I stand.
“Kiss ass,” Will mutters only loud enough for me to hear as he stands, making me laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Lyla asks.
“Nothing,” Will and I say in unison.
As we head inside, peace runs through me.
This. This is what I want. I want more days and nights like this with Lyla. I don’t care if her dad and brother are with us. I just want this time with her. It’s her and hockey. That’s it.