Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
My voice trembled as I told him, “If you’re just wanting to get off, then go get one of the other girls because I’m not interested.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Well, it certainly feels that way.” A tear trickled down my cheek as I told him, “It hurts me when you won’t talk to me, Wyatt, especially when we’re like this.”
I hoped he would apologize or, at the very least, explain what was going on inside his head, but he didn’t say a word. He simply stood there staring at me with a storm of emotion raging in his eyes. I wanted to be there for him, but not like this—not unless he opened up and talked to me. He stood there for a moment longer, then turned and started for the door. “I’m sorry.”
“Wyatt! Wait!”
I jumped off the bed and rushed after him, but I was too late. He was already out the door and halfway down the hall. I would’ve gone after him, but I wasn’t dressed and had no desire to give the brothers an eyeful. Flustered, I slammed my door and got back in bed. I sifted through my blankets, and once I found my nightgown, I slipped it over my head and nestled under my covers.
I loved Wyatt.
I’d loved him for years.
He’d always been there for me when I needed him, and I wanted to do the same for him. But to do that, I needed him to talk to me, not shut me out. I tried to give him a moment, hoping in time he would show me the tenderness he’d shown me the first time we slept together, and it was impossible not to be hurt when he didn’t. I hated that he seemed so closed off, so lost, when he touched me.
I hated it even more that he’d left. I waited for over an hour, hoping that he would eventually come back. When he didn’t, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I got out of bed, put on some clothes, and charged down the hall to Wyatt’s room. I tapped on the door, but there was no answer. I knocked a little harder, but yet again, no answer.
I was beginning to think that he’d taken my harsh words to heart and had gone to hook up with one of the club girls when I heard a faint hum coming from inside his room. I turned the doorknob, and to my surprise, it wasn’t locked. I eased it open and whispered into the dark, “Wyatt?”
There was no answer, but I could still hear the muffled hum in the corner. I opened the door a little wider, letting the light from the hall fill the room. That’s when I spotted Wyatt sitting at his desk, his hand covering his eyes, and he was wearing a pair of headphones. I closed the door and quietly made my way over to him. I placed my hands on his headphones, and an old rock song blasted from the earpieces as I slipped them off his head.
He turned off the music, then whipped around with a start. “Elsie?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” I reached across his desk and turned on the lamp. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m better now.” He placed his hands on my hips and tugged me closer, and anguish filled his eyes as he whispered, “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“What exactly was that?”
“It was nothing... I was just in my head.”
“In your head about what?”
“You.” He lowered his forehead to my chest and sighed. “I can’t take the idea of something happening to you.”
“Nothing’s gonna happen to me, Wyatt.” I ran my fingers through his thick hair. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“You have no reason not to.” I placed my hand under his chin, forcing him to look up at me. “You have to know how I feel about you.”
“But why?”
“Because you gave me a reason to get up and face the day.” Tears stung my eyes as I told him, “I’d lost everything, Wyatt. My family. My home. And there were times when I thought about giving in to the heartbreak, but then, I’d see you. I don’t know how you always knew, but you never failed to be there when I needed you the most.”
“You do the same for me.”
“I’d say we’re pretty lucky to have one another.”
“No doubt.” A lopsided grin crept across his handsome face. “You remember the day I wiped out on Hayes’ dirt bike?”
“How could I forget? You almost killed yourself that day.”
“Yeah, it was pretty bad. I tried to hide from everyone, especially my mother. I’d barely returned to my room when you came rushing up behind me.” He shook his head, “Pretty sure the scolding you gave me was worse than the one my mother would’ve given me.”