Chapter 31
thirty-one
. . .
WYATT
“You are alive!” Sophia pulls me inside her house, and I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tight and kissing her on the cheek. I haven’t seen her since Jake’s wedding, and in my quest to convince Blair to spend time with me, I’ve blown off a few dates with my sis.
“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been MIA.”
“I’ve missed you! What’s been keeping you so busy?”
“Let’s go out back. I brought lunch. We can talk.”
“Hmm.” Sophia narrows her eyes and twists her mouth to the side, giving me her suspicious look. She knows me well.
For the last two weeks, I’ve been happier than ever before. After the Bethany fiasco, I convinced Blair to go to a Dodgers game, and we’re taking it slow—although we’ve become more fluent at flirting via text, which leaves me so turned on that I’m ending my days with a fist around my cock.
I’m addicted to her. Yes, she’s incredibly sexy, but I forgot how funny she can be, too. I’m desperate to get my hands on her body again. We’ve kept it PG and focused on learning more about one another. I love getting to know her all over again.
I lay out our favorite Chinese chicken salad from Joan’s on Third and grab two waters from the kitchen.
“Spill it. Obviously, you have something big to tell me. Should I be nervous?”
I know Sophia won’t care that I’m seeing Blair, but I want to be respectful of the relationship they have, too. She should know what’s going on with us. Even if I’m not a hundred percent sure if we are officially an “us.”
“So, Blair…” I clear my throat. I’m nervous. I didn’t tell Blair that I was letting Sophia know about us, and now I’m having second thoughts. Maybe I should have talked to her first.
“What about Blair?” Sophia has a huge smile on her face as she takes a big bite of her salad.
“I was going to say that we’ve been spending more time together…in a non-professional capacity.”
“Smother Pucker. I knew it.”
“I wanted to make sure you were ok with this.”
She snaps her head back up to look at me. “Of course I’m ok! I love this!”
“How are you feeling about signing with her?”
“I think she’s the one for me. She’s already set me up to meet with Grant after Labor Day about a project I’m in love with. She said she’d go with me even if I don’t sign with her. Classy.”
I roll my eyes at the mention of Grant. I’m still not convinced he isn’t interested in Blair. And he’s way too old for my sister.
“I’m sure Grant can’t wait to meet with both of you.”
“What’s that?” Sophia points her fork at me.
“What?”
“You’re jealous.”
Fuck yeah, I’m jealous.
“I can see you thinking. You are totally jealous.”
I roll my eyes and stand to clear off the table. It’s my cue to Sophia that it’s time to wrap up this visit and get back to work.
“Did you have a chance to look at the contract Blair sent over?” Sophia asks me.
I hesitate because I’ve had an idea brewing but it could blow up in my face. I don’t think Sophia should sign with Blair right now with the uncertainty of TWA and her name on a list of departures. But I can’t really suggest it without context, and both Sophia and Blair will want to know why.
“I haven’t yet,” I say, “but I will.”
“Thank you, big brother.”
“Soph… Do you think…”
“Spit it out.”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about how it might be better timing to sign once this TWA merger is done.”
“You think I should wait?”
“I think you should trust your instincts. If you feel good about Blair, sign.”
Sophia gives me a look that says she knows better. “I think you are working on this merger and you know something you can’t tell me.”
I wrap my sister in a quick hug and promise to send her over some options for dinner next week, but she doesn’t let our conversation go just yet.
“Maybe you need a little more time to review the contract?” she asks. The undertone of that question tells me that she understands what I’m suggesting.
“Yeah, maybe.”
She nods, and I take off before she can question me anymore. I’ve already said too much, and Blair would kill me if she found out I was influencing Sophia’s decision in the slightest.
On my drive back to the office, I think more about Blair. I definitely don’t want anyone else touching her. I don’t think she is seeing anyone else. I just assumed that since we were hanging out so much, she wouldn’t have time for anyone else, but now I need to know for sure.
As I pull into my office, I realize that I’m fucked.
I am totally jealous, and I don’t want Blair to be with anyone but me. The idea that she might be interested in someone else makes my heart feel like someone has reached in and wrapped their fingers around it and is squeezing it as tightly as possible.
The last two weeks have been so easy and fun. I crave time with her, even if it doesn’t end in sex. I also dream about having sex with her every time I leave her. I’m so desperate for her that I didn’t even realize I’ve been taking whatever I can get from her.
We need to talk.
I’m nervous even thinking those words. Those are relationship words, and I have no idea how to have a relationship with anyone.
Even worse, what if she doesn’t want a relationship with me?
I text Blair to see if she’s up for dinner tonight. I wait to see her response before I suggest a place.
ME
Dinner?
BLAIR
Sure. Time? Place?
ME
7pm
ME
My house?
I see three dots appear, then disappear, and then appear again. I jump in with another text so she doesn’t think I’m suggesting this just to sleep with her.
ME
I wanted to cook for you. I make a mean lobster roll.
After a few more minutes, she responds.
BLAIR
Ok. Send me the address.
I text her my address and then jump into work so I can wrap things up here and get ready for tonight. Because I do not know what I’m going to say.