25. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter 25
There were only seven days until Laurel’s wedding, and Linda’s to-do list had seven remaining items: break in shoes, wrap gift, make card, try on dress, get nails done, thrift evening purse, buy wig, and find a date. Not necessarily in that order.
She’d been home from Seattle for almost a week. Mason still texted her every day, but there seemed to be less enthusiasm than before. She wasn’t sure if that was coming from Mason or if it was just how she felt about the situation.
She hadn’t asked him to be her date for Laurel’s wedding. She couldn’t. It was never going to work between them, as much as she’d dreamed it would. He said he was ready to settle down. That was wonderful, but Illinois did not seem to be an option for him. She understood that home held many painful memories for him. But this was her home. Her family was here, her favorite pizza place was two blocks away, and she had no desire to uproot and move.
All Mason had done for the last six years was uproot and move. That worked for him. It wouldn’t work for her. And she wouldn’t ask him to change, not if he loved to move constantly. She’d seen the way his eyes had lit up as they’d made their way around Seattle. There was always something cool and new around every corner. It filled Mason with energy and joy.
A new city was cool but overwhelming to her. She enjoyed the newness while on a vacation, for three days or seven days or slightly longer, but there was the sweet anticipation of the end. At the end of vacation, she could go home, sleep in her own bed and hug her kitties. She couldn’t imagine moving with two cats all the time. It would be too disruptive for them.
She sighed, looking at the to-do list. Most were simple, easy to accomplish, they just needed some dedicated time. But finding a date…she hated asking a guy out. Sure, she was capable. She’d done it once, and it had worked fairly well. They’d made it to date number three before they’d both decided that was enough to know there was no spark.
Sorcha’s suggestion about Wyatt came back to her. He was friendly and flirty. It was a lot to ask—the wedding was in one week—but there was a chance he’d say yes, and she was going for it.
Linda walked into the Up ‘Til Dawn coffee shop and glanced around. Wyatt typically worked Saturdays, but it wasn’t a guarantee. She stepped to the counter and placed her order with “Jill”, according to the barista’s name tag.
She asked Jill if Wyatt was working and the girl said yes, that he was grabbing some supplies from the stockroom and would be out soon.
Linda took a seat and waited. When Wyatt strolled out of the stockroom, she smiled and gave him a little wave.
Wyatt held a stack of boxes so he couldn’t wave. He nodded towards her and gave her a goofy grin.
He was tall and lanky with black hair that could use a trim and no facial hair. Linda wondered if he had ever played basketball or been teased about his height. Something to ask him about, perhaps on a date. Probably not at her sister’s wedding, though.
Wyatt placed the boxes on the counter, said a few words to Jill, and came around to say hello to Linda.
“Hi, there,” Linda said as he approached.
“Hey. How’s it going? Missed you last weekend.”
Linda glanced at the growing line of customers and wondered if Jill was annoyed that Wyatt wasn’t helping her. “I was out of town. Seattle.”
“Oh yeah, Seattle’s cool. Home of grunge.”
“Yeah, they say. Umm…” How to begin? “I was wondering. I know this is a lot to ask, and I fully expect you to say no.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows rose, but he grinned.
“My sister is getting married next Saturday, and I wondered if you would be my date?” She didn’t give him time to answer before plowing forward. “It’s local. There will be good food, dancing, and an open bar. You know—”
“Yeah, a wedding. I know.” He laughed. “Totally game. I’ve been meaning to ask you out. You beat me.”
“Really?” Sorcha was right!
“Yes, was trying to find the best way to bring it up. And you’re usually with your friend.”
“My roommate, Sorcha.”
“Yes. Her. I’m in. Give me your number, and we’ll work out the details. I better get back to it. Jilly Bean is backed up.” He handed her his phone.
Linda smiled as she punched in her number.
Wyatt took the phone and winked at her. “Text you later,” he said, before turning and joining his partner behind the counter.
Linda scratched her wrist and let out a long breath. That was done. There was a certain relief in getting it over with, but a tiny bit of her felt guilty. She knew Mason wasn’t bringing a date, and he probably expected to hang out with her at the reception, but now she’d have a buffer. Wyatt wasn’t brick and mortar, but he’d help protect her heart, albeit unwittingly.