揑 was thinking,?Elizabeth said, stepping into the kitchen through the patio door, jarring me from my thoughts. 揥e should start a book club.?
揂 book club??I raised my eyebrows and blinked.
揥ell,?she winced. 揗ore like, you recommend books, I read them, and we talk about them over lunch.?
揙h.?I blinked more. 揝ure. I was going to bring you that historical romance I was telling you about anyway.?
She smiled wide at me. 揥onderful. That would be wonderful.?She watched me for a moment with a wistful expression. 揑 just adore you, honey. Your mother would be so proud of you.?
My throat closed up and I couldn抰 breathe. I started to turn away but Elizabeth抯 hands came to my arms and she turned me to her. I couldn抰 hide.
揑 forgot you knew my mom.?My voice wobbled and I cleared my throat.
揑 sure did.?The apples of her cheeks popped when she smiled. 揑 remember how proud Claire was of you as a little girl and then as you grew up, as a teenager.?She nodded. 揙h, yes. If she saw you today, running that shop and chopping off your hair and camping and surfing, she抎 be thrilled.?
I didn抰 say anything, just let her words settle in my head. They rolled around in my mind as I considered them.
Maybe she would be proud.
揟he only thing she ever wanted was for you to be happy. That抯 all I want for Wyatt.?She shrugged. 揇oesn抰 matter what that looks like, as long as he lives a life that抯 good for him.?She raised an eyebrow and that wolfish gleam appeared in her gaze. 揃ut it sure looks like what抯 good for him is you.?
My mouth fell open. 揑 don抰棓
揑t抯 none of my business.?She rubbed my arms again and stepped away with a smile and a wink. 揧ou don抰 have to explain anything to anyone.?She disappeared through the patio doors and I stood there, feeling seen, special, confused, and torn.
We sat out on the patio until it got dark. Holden had to head home because he had an early morning the next day and Emmett wanted to get up for a run and Wyatt was sending me more of those worried glances, so we said goodbye, exchanged hugs, and headed home.
Holden抯 reaction to Emmett and Avery抯 ring discussion popped into my head. 揇o you think Holden抯 lonely??
He made an amused noise of disbelief. 揘o. He could date if he wanted to.?
I thought back to who I was before this whole thing with Wyatt started. How I wanted someone but didn抰 know how to go for it. I had hid in my bookstore with my nose pressed up against the glass, watching the world go by. 揥hat if he doesn抰 know how??
When he pulled the truck into his driveway, anticipation fluttered in my stomach.
We hadn抰 discussed where I would sleep tonight. Mid-afternoon, we had stopped at my place and I had packed a bag of clothes and books. He抎 probably offer his bed to me like a gentleman and sleep on the couch.
I didn抰 want that, though. I wanted more of what we did while camping.
I smiled to myself. I was going to be brave and go for what I wanted.
22
Hannah
We stepped in the front door of Wyatt抯 home and slipped our shoes off. The air radiated with tension.
揂re you tired??His hand came to my arm and he peered down at me, searching my face.
It was only nine thirty. I smiled and shook my head.
揋reat. Go sit on the couch and I抣l bring you a tea.?
My heart squeezed. Staying over, him making me tea, dinner with his family, it was like I was his girlfriend. Like I was his. Like he was taking care of something precious to him.
Hannah, shut up, I told myself. It was just tea. Avery had made me tea before. It wasn抰 a big thing.
I plopped down on the couch in Wyatt抯 living room. His home was small and tidy, with sparse, minimalist furniture, and I got the sense he didn抰 spend much time in the living room. He was either on the water, in his shop, or hanging out with his brothers. He had a TV though, and a few accent items like a sansevieria plant and a framed vintage surf poster. Perhaps Elizabeth had brought those over.
Wyatt returned from the kitchen with mugs of tea, and I remembered something Avery had said to me.
Tea is the least horny beverage.
I held back a snort. This cup of tea had dashed any hopes I had of Wyatt and I reenacting the what we had done in the tent. No one had an orgasm with a stomach full of Sleepytime tea.
揥hat are you snickering at, bookworm??Wyatt set the mugs down on the coffee table and flashed me a curious look.
揘othing. You want to watch a movie??
揧ou抮e not supposed to look at screens.?
My head fell back in exasperation. 揧ou抮e so stubborn.?
The corner of his mouth kicked up and he reached for the book I抎 set on my bag. When he dropped down onto the other end of the couch, he pulled my pink-socked feet into his lap.