Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Wyatt
Ikeep Ivy’s hand firmly in mine as we make our way through the Fairmont’s lobby toward the hotel restaurant.
I try to push Cleo’s words out of my head, but they keep circling back, fueling my frustration.
Her attitude lately has been pushing the limits, and tonight, she might have finally pushed too far.
Telling me that being with Ivy isn’t a good look for my image?
That might be the last damn straw. I’m seriously close to cutting her loose.
“You’ve tensed up, Wyatt. Are you sure everything’s okay?” Ivy asks, her free hand resting on my arm.
I let out a slow breath. “Cleo said something that got under my skin, that’s all.”
“What did she say?”
I glance down at her, and the light from the chandeliers overhead catches the diamond at her throat, making it sparkle. My eyes stay fixed there, and a smile tugs at my lips.
“You’re wearing the necklace.”
Her fingers graze over it as she laughs. “You’re only just noticing?”
I grin, a little sheepishly. “I was a bit distracted by the dress.” Her cheeks flush, and my smile deepens. “I meant what I said earlier. You look amazing, Ivy.”
The pink in her cheeks deepens. “Thank you.”
God, I want to kiss her, and I could. We are pretending, after all, but our first kiss shouldn’t be when we’re faking it, no matter how desperate I am to feel her lips on mine. Still, if this act is all I ever get with her, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold back.
“Come on, birthday girl. I’m pretty sure there’s a bottle of champagne with your name on it.”
Once we’re settled at our table and have placed our order, I reach across and lace my fingers through hers. She looks a little surprised, but she doesn’t pull away. If this night is all I get, I’m going to savor every second of it.
“Have you had a good birthday?” I ask, knowing this probably isn’t how she would’ve chosen to spend her day. I’m guessing she’d have planned something with her parents, or Ash, or maybe both.
She flashes a wide grin. “It’s been the best day, Wyatt. Thank you.”
I smile back. “Good. What was your favorite part?”
“That’s easy,” she says without missing a beat. “Watching you with Luca at the stadium. The way he looked at you, it was like you hung the moon. You’re his hero.”
I laugh. “I don’t know about that. I doubt I was even in his top five favorite players before today.”
“You can’t be sure of that. He left with your jersey.”
“True,” I admit, chuckling. “Although most kids are all about the quarterback. Even Ben, apparently.”
She giggles, and the sound makes my heart skip a beat. “Can’t win them all,” she teases.
I hold her gaze. I don’t care how I’m seen on the field, or off it, but I care what she thinks. I’m not sure how she sees me. Probably just as her best friend’s brother, maybe a friend, if I’m lucky. But I wish she saw more. I wish I had the courage to show her what she’s starting to mean to me.
Maybe that’s what makes this so hard. We’ve known each other too long. If she were a stranger and things went south, I could walk away. But with Ivy it wouldn’t be simple. She’s woven into all of our lives. If I take the risk and lose, I don’t just lose Ivy, I risk everything that comes with her.
She squeezes my hand, pulling me back to the moment. “You okay? You’ve gone quiet,” she asks, her voice threaded with concern.
I offer a faint smile. “Yeah, sorry. Just thinking.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I smile again, this time more genuinely. This is exactly why she’s so special. “I’m all right. Really.”
Before she can push, a server appears with a bottle of champagne, pouring us each a glass before placing it on ice beside the table.
“Don’t let me drink too much of this,” Ivy says, lifting her glass and taking a sip. “I’d rather not be too drunk tonight.”
I grin. “Why? Got big plans that require a clear head?”
She leans in slightly, and my pulse kicks up. “Not clear, just not wasted,” she says with a soft laugh. “We’re supposed to be faking a relationship. I don’t want to forget it’s all pretend.”
My eyes widen, and my mouth parts before I can stop it. She must notice, because she waves her hand, laughing.
“Relax. I promise not to jump on you.”
The words are barely out of her mouth before I hear myself respond, “Who said I’d mind?”
She rolls her eyes with a smirk. “Funny.”
“I’m not joking, Ivy,” I say quietly, my eyes fixed on hers.
She meets my gaze for a beat longer than usual, then winks. “In that case, maybe I will finish the bottle and jump on you after all.”
She laughs, clearly convinced I’m teasing, but I’m not.
And maybe it’s easier this way. Pretending gives me cover.
I can let little truths slip out under the safety net of a fake relationship.
It’s messed up, but right now, it feels safer than laying everything bare.
At least this way, I get to say something real… even if she thinks it isn’t.
“Wyatt,” a voice calls out, and I glance up to see Margot, the charity’s representative, weaving her way through the crowd toward us, notebook and pen in hand. “It’s so good to see you.”
I slip my fingers from Ivy’s and rise to greet her, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Good to see you too, Margot.”
“Last time was Miami, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, the football camp the charity hosted.”
“That’s it.” She smiles and nudges my shoulder. “You never called,” she adds in a low, pointed voice.
I manage to keep my expression neutral, even as I sigh inwardly.
She’d flirted relentlessly during that week in Miami.
I tried to stay polite, but in the end, I’d taken her number just to end the awkwardness.
She was at the auction last week too, but I’d dodged a run-in, probably only because I left early with Ivy.
I’d hoped showing up tonight with someone would keep things professional.
Clearly, I’d hoped wrong.
“Hi, I’m Ivy,” Ivy says, rising from the table and slipping her hand into mine.
Her smile is warm as she turns it toward Margot, who glances down at our joined hands with a flicker of surprise.
“Margot, this is my girlfriend,” I say. “Ivy, this is Margot. She works with the charity.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Ivy says politely.
“You too,” Margot replies, though her tone is a little tight. Her brows furrow as she studies us. “Wait a minute… weren’t you the one who placed the winning bid on Wyatt?”
Ivy nods, unfazed. “Guilty.”
Margot’s eyes dart between us, her confusion deepening. “But… you’re dating? So that means…” She trails off, piecing it together. “Ivy placed the bid on your behalf?”
I offer a sheepish smile. “What can I say? I wasn’t eager to have dinner with someone else. We’d only just made things official between us.”
Margot forces a smile. “That’s… unconventional.”
“But it’s still for a good cause, right?” Ivy says lightly. “And the charity gets the same support, no matter who writes the check.”
“I suppose,” Margot replies, clearly not thrilled.
“Wyatt’s told me so much about the work you all do. He really believes in it,” Ivy adds, looking up at me with genuine warmth.
I meet her gaze and can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips.
Margot clears her throat, snapping me back to the moment. “The photographers are ready for the website photos, if that’s okay?”
“Of course,” I say, reluctantly turning from Ivy. “Where should we stand?”
“Just over there, by the charity’s banner,” she replies, gesturing to the far side of the room.
I nod, and keeping Ivy’s hand nestled in mine, we walk away from Margot and across the room.
“Sorry to butt in back there,” Ivy says quietly from my side. “It looked like you needed rescuing.”
I give her hand a grateful squeeze. “I did. Margot spent most of the Miami trip trying to get me to ask her out. I ended up taking her number just to keep the peace. I never intended to use it, but it got awkward, especially since I work so closely with the charity.”
“You were trying to be the nice guy,” Ivy says with a smile.
“Yeah, maybe a little too nice.”
She crinkles her nose, making her look even more beautiful if that’s possible. “Is there such a thing as too nice?”
I laugh. “I guess there is when it blows up in your face like that.”
She shakes her head. “It wasn’t that bad. She’ll get over it.”
I feign hurt. “You mean, she won’t be pining over me forever?”
She laughs and lightly slaps my chest. “I highly doubt it!”
“You’re ruthless,” I say, clutching my heart with mock offense.
“Just keeping you grounded, Mr. Hot Shot Football Player.” She winks.
“I’m glad you do,” I tell her, my voice more serious now. “I love that none of this impresses you.”
She smiles and then shrugs. “I’ve known you since you were eight, Wyatt.
I’ve seen you pick your nose, burp the alphabet, and fart in Ash’s face.
” I laugh, shaking my head. “Granted, you’re a little more polished now, but you’ll never be ‘Wyatt Brookes, NFL superstar’ to me.
You’re just Wyatt. I might not have been super close to you growing up, but so many of my childhood memories have you and your brothers somewhere in the background. That’s who you’ll always be to me.”
God, how did I not see it before? I could have kicked myself.
She’s been right here all along, and somehow, I never truly saw her, never recognized just how incredible she is.
Every word she says feels like it’s aimed straight at my heart, but it’s effortless and unintentional.
She doesn’t even realize the effect she’s having on me.
And the worst part? I don’t think she ever will.
As much as I want her to see me the way I see her, she never has… and maybe she never will.