“Are you done? Fine, I get it. You don't want me around. You don't love me. I get it. It has been all me.”
“Dad, I love you. I will always love you. I do want you around, but I want you to be someone who respects me, loves me, and isn't looking out for his best interest. And I want you to be sober.”
“Rub a lamp, sweetheart. I have no want to be sober. I have nothing to live for as it is.”
He stood up with his water in his hand.
“Dad, I’m sorry you lost the love of your life, and I hope one day you can look past that you think I was the person who took her from you.” He didn't mutter a single word in response, but rather walked to the door, cup in his hand. No comment was made to try to fix anything. He didn't look back once.
And I wasn't going to either. I wiped the tears that had seeped out of the sides of my eyes, and then cleared my throat.
“Thank you for being here, Wyatt.”
“I’ll always be your backup, baby.”
An extra tear fell from my eye and he lightly touched it then kissed my nose. I rest my head on his shoulder and steadied my breathing, clearing my brain of just hurting my father. I always felt bad, yet he never seemed to.
Wyatt took my hand and intertwined his. “I want to always be able to take care of you. I hate seeing you hurt and not able to do anything to take it away."
"Does that mean we are back together?” I asked as he looked at me.
“We should have never been apart. Yes, baby, and I’m not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
“For always.”
We kissed softly before being interrupted, “Two breakfast samplers. Pancakes will be out in a pinch,” the waitress said, popping her gum.
When I called and told Emma that Wyatt and I were back together, she was just as ecstatic as I was. She didn’t have the doubt I still harbored though.
“You gotta give the guy a break.”
“Excuse me? You are my best friend.”
“I’m just saying, he has been through this before. You said that Cash had cheated with his ex, and God only knows the crap he has gone through with Cash throughout his life.”
“He should have listened to me…”
“Blah, blah, blah. I know. I get it. You have said it a million times. The man didn’t listen to you. But now you can get over all that, get married, and have a ton of little babies. Let’s move on.”
I laughed. “Slow down there!”
“You would marry him tomorrow if he asked, and you know it.”
“I’ll neither confirm nor deny my answer.”
“You don’t have to. I already know what you would do.”
If she were sitting right in front of me I would have stuck my tongue out at her.
Mature? No. But she was right.
I was head over heels in love with Wyatt Galloway.
“Well, now let’s talk about me. You are going to love this, girl!”
“Let’s hear it.”
“First, you should know I saw Cash kiss you.”
I didn’t respond but rather just swallowed the lump in my throat.
“And it is okay you didn’t tell. I wouldn’t have known what to say if it happened to me either.”
“But instead of making him pay that night and canceling the date, I made him pay another way. The entire night in fact. We went to a high-end restaurant and I ordered the most expensive drinks and dinner. Then dessert. I accidentally opened his car door into a pole and I wish you could have heard how I played it off.”
“You didn’t?”
“That man has no manners whatsoever, by the way. You should have seen the dent I put in his Land Rover. It was a good one!” She laughed wickedly, as if she was giving herself a pat on the back. I asked for a coffee on the way home and accidently spilled it on his seat and floor. And here is the kicker…when he leaned over to kiss me good night and whispered, asking if I wanted him to come in for a nightcap, I pulled back and then slapped him. The exact cheek you got him on too. Don’t worry, Breigh, I let him know why I did it.”
Okay, I couldn’t contain my laughter any longer. I was so proud of her.
“And he lied?”
“Of course, he lied.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to believe you would listen to me, but I also knew how much you liked the guy.”
“I would have listened. I would have believed what you said, but I would have looked at it differently, and more than likely bought whatever crap he would have told me.” She paused. “I can’t believe I actually liked that guy.”
“Me either.”
“I should have waited for the deputy.”
“No, you should not have. He is mine. For keeps.”
“You know, the night after the date with Cash, I took a long hot bath, and had some champagne. And then the next day I stayed up all night reading a book I had wanted to read. Then the next day I treated myself to a spa day. I’m going to be okay. If and when a man comes into my life, who is supposed to be FOR me, I will be ready.”
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.”
“Love you.”
“And I you.”
WYATT
My phone had not stopped ringing all morning at the station. I hadn't been able to take a break and all I could concentrate on was the places I needed to go, not this bull I had to keep dealing with.
“Hey, Wyatt.” Before turning around I knew exactly who it was.
I turn my chair to face him and stood up. “Well, good to see you finally acknowledged my calls.”
He rolled his eyes. “I assume it is over Breigh again, and frankly I wasn’t in a big rush since she
