12. Jett

Chapter 12

Anna and I knock on Wyla's door a little before ten-thirty and wait on the porch for her to answer. I thought of last night nonstop. It was really fucking hard to walk away from her. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into me and kiss all those doubts she has tumbling around in her head away.

But I think the best thing is to play the long game here. I'm not entirely sure what's holding her back. She says we need to focus on being parents first, which I get, but there's something else too, I know there is. I want to do what's right for Stevie, but I want Wyla. I've wanted her for years. At this point my only option is to show her that and hope something changes.

A moment goes by and the front door swings open. "Daddy! Anna!" Stevie squeals. "We're going to the beach today! "

My smile is immediate. "There's my girl." I scoop her up as we step inside. "Can we come with you to the beach?"

"Yeahhh." Stevie drags it out as if she was saying, " duh ."

"Stevie Rose, did you answer the door after I told you to wait?" Wyla hollers from back down in one of their rooms I'm assuming.

I glance at Stevie, and she winces.

"Uh oh, kid," Anna says, and I shoot her a look that says not helpful.

I set her down as Wyla walks into the living room. She's wearing some blue jean cut offs with a thin white button up so the orange of her swimsuit shows through. Her hair is pulled up halfway with a clip, and her face is fresh with no makeup. She's so devastatingly beautiful.

She crosses her arms and focuses her attention on Stevie. "Little girl, what did I say about opening the door?"

Stevie fiddles with her cover up. "Um, I don't know," she mumbles.

"Try again, Stevie," I say when Wyla's nostrils flare at her response.

"To not open the door without you," Stevie whines. "But it was just Daddy and Anna, Mommy."

"But you didn't know that, Stevie. Do I need your uncles to give you the stranger danger speech again?" It hurts a little that Wyla's first go-to was Stevie's uncles for the speech, but I let it go. Up until this week, they've been all she's really had, but not anymore.

Stevie fiddles with her cover up again and looks down at the ground, pouting. I kneel down next to her. "Your mom's right, Little Bee. You always need to wait for an adult to open the door, okay? It's to keep you safe, that's all."

Stevie turns her solemn look on me. Ugh, don't cave, stay strong.

"Understand?" I ask, and she nods. "Okay, good. Now, what do you need to say to your mom for not listening?"

"Sorry, Mommy," Stevie says in the sweetest voice.

Wyla deflates. "Thank you, baby. Now, why don't you go grab your beach bag and we'll head out."

And just like that, Stevie bounces back. "Okie!"

Wyla chuckles as Stevie buzzes past her. "Thanks for the backup. I've been fighting her on this since she figured out how to turn the doorknob."

"Of course, that's what I'm here for."

Wyla bites back a smile. "I'm going to get my shoes."

"No rush, Wy." She gives me another soft smile then turns back down the hallway. I can't help but watch her until she disappears into her room.

I turn, and my sister is staring at me with a clown-sized smile. "Why are you smiling like that? "

"You love her," Anna sings.

"Don't start, Anna. Please."

"Fine, fine. I'll stop. I'm just saying, keep being super dad like that and I'm sure she'll love you too." Anna attempts to give me a small shove. "Who knew you'd be such a good dad?"

"Gee, thanks, but I didn't really do anything."

"You're doing more than you think, J."

Once we get the bags loaded into Wyla's car and get Stevie buckled in we're headed to one of the public beaches in the next town over. Northshore is only about a twenty-minute drive, and I believe Stevie has not taken a breath between words in the past fifteen.

"Hey," Wyla says hushed as Stevie talks Anna's ear off. Not that she seems to mind. "Fair warning. My parents are going to join us for the first few hours, then when the kids seem tired they're going to take them back to their house."

"I'm assuming you're not giving me this warning because your dad has suddenly decided he likes me now, are you?"

Wyla's lips form a thin line and shakes her head. I let my head fall back on the head rest. No, of course not.

"He can be a little tough, Jett, but he'll come around."

I hold back a fake laugh. "He hates me, Wyla. I don't blame him. I'd hate me too. "

"Well, he shouldn't. He doesn't need to put all of the blame on you, I'm just as much to blame, more really. So—"

"More? No, come on, Wy. Don't do that."

Wyla gives me a quick glance with furrowed brows. "Don't do what?"

"Take unnecessary blame." Wyla shakes her head again. "I'm serious, Wyla. It's no more your fault than it is mine."

"We're not talking about this," Wyla clips.

Is this what's holding her back? Does she blame herself?

"Wy—"

"Hey, Stevie, look, we're here!" Wyla cuts me off, ending our conversation with her most effective failsafe, our daughter.

"Yay!" Stevie screams from the backseat.

We unload the chatterbox and all of the bags. Stevie is practically vibrating with joy. She skips, bounces, and dances down the walkway to the beach.

Thankfully, the beach isn't too crowded today, but we still have to walk a little way down before we find Wyla's family.

They've got about six umbrellas set up in a U-shape and chairs scattered under and around them in the sun.

Waverley is the first to notice us walking up. She stands up with outstretched arms. "Ah, my Evie girl! "

"Wayway!" Stevie runs to her, giving her a big hug. "Is Belley here?"

Belley—or Annabelle—is Waverley and Owen's adopted daughter. Anna told me some of their story. I know Annabelle is technically Owen's niece, although he's always been her father figure. Anna was trying to give me the breakdown of Wyla's family, but we didn't get to finish because Wy and Stevie came over for dinner. But I was told specifically to not ask Owen or Waverley what happened. I'll have to get the full story from Wyla one day.

"Of course, she's throwing one of those skipping balls in the water with her dad and Uncle Levi." Waverley points out into the ocean to show Stevie.

Stevie's eyes go wide as she turns to me. "Ooo, ooo, Daddy, can we go out in the water?"

"Yeah, Little Bee."

"After sunscreen, little girl. You're not getting out of sunscreen," Wyla adds, and Stevie groans.

"It'll be quick, Stevie, come on." I let Wyla lead to our umbrella to set our stuff down. I take Anna's bag as she says she wants to sit in the sun with Waverley.

"Hey, Jett, happy you're here," Waverley says as I pass with a sincere smile.

"Nowhere I'd rather be," I reply honestly .

Wyla goes under the umbrella at the far end beside Graham and Winry. They're both sitting in the shade while Georgia is passed out on Graham's chest.

"Hey guys, join the party. Some of us can't hang," Graham says as he brushes back Georgia's brown hair.

Stevie squats by them and smiles at the sleeping baby. "Hi, baby Georgie. We're at the beach, it's fun. Wakey, wakey, baby Georgie," she says softly.

Graham chuckles. "I think she needs some more sleep, Stevie, but she'll wake up soon. Don't worry."

"I shouldn't be jealous of my baby, but I am." Winry laughs.

"Of her nap or the location of her nap?" Wyla jokes.

"Both," Winry snorts.

Graham smiles at her and takes her hand in his, bringing it up to kiss the back of it.

I haven't seen a whole lot of Wyla's family, but I did get to officially meet her sisters and their husbands earlier this week at Wyla's over some pizza. For the most part, no one—minus Wyla's dad—has really made a big deal about me entering the picture.

I set the bags down and take the open seat in front of me. I reach over and scoop Stevie into my lap. "Come here, Little Bee, let the baby sleep."

Stevie giggles. "Can we go in the water now? "

"Sunscreen first," Wyla says as she crutches in front of us, a little unsteady in the sand. As she is about to fall back on her ass, I reach out grabbing her arm.

"I got ya," I say, probably letting my hand linger a little longer than necessary as she steadies herself.

"Thanks." Wyla gives me a tight smile. She seems to shake off whatever thought crosses her brain and focuses back on Stevie. "Here, Stevie, face me."

Stevie groans, but listens… sort of. She wiggles insistently, how Wyla got it all over her is an act of God. "Alright, Stevie, while this dries, why don't we go say hi to Mamaw and Papaw?"

"Then I can go in the water with Daddy?" Stevie pesters.

"Yes, sassy butt. Now, come on." Wyla holds out a hand for Stevie, and I'm not entirely sure if I should go with them or not. Feels a little rude to not say hi, but it's painfully clear that Mr. Bennett doesn't like me… but I need to try to win him over too, right?

I try to stand but Wyla rests her hand on mine. "We'll be back." Well that doesn't bode well for me, does it?

I nod, and fall back in the chair as they walk over to the umbrella farthest away. Yeah, that checks out.

"Don't worry about it, man," Graham says. "Chief can be a hard-ass, especially when it comes to his girls. He wasn't crazy about me in the beginning either. He'll come around."

I huff a laugh. Seems hard to believe he wouldn't like Graham, he's probably one of the nicest people I've met this week. "You got any pointers?"

Winry laughs. "Don't make out with Wyla in front of him."

Graham rolls his eyes, clearly there was a story for them there. "That was your fault. You didn't tell me he was coming over."

"I was clearly preoccupied! You're the one who left the front door open," Winry retorts.

Graham shakes his head, then turns back to me. "Chief is an action man. Take care of his girls. If they're good, he's good."

"I can do that." I will do that. Even if Wyla stands firm on the no relationship front, I'll still take care of them any way I can.

"Good, we're rooting for you, so don't fuck it up," Graham says, and before I can respond Stevie is barreling her way back to us.

"Mommy says we can go in the water now!" Stevie grabs my hand to pull me out of the chair. "Oh, and Mommy says don't forget my life jacket. "

I go back under the umbrella to grab the small pink life jacket. "Sorry, kid, small problem. We don't have your life jacket."

Stevie laughs. "Silly, Daddy. It's in your hands."

I hold it out. "Oh, I thought this pink rainbow life jacket was mine."

Stevie giggles. "No, you silly goose. It's too small for you!" She snags the life jacket out of my hands to put it on.

While she works on fastening the buckles, I pull my shirt over my head and feel the sun beat down on my back. Shit, I should probably put some sunscreen on too. Wyla makes her way back and tries to help Stevie tighten her straps.

"Hey, Wy, you got any sunscreen I can borrow?"

Wyla glances up at me and before she can hide it I catch her eyes widening. "Um, yeah," she says, turning back to Stevie. "It's in my bag."

I riffle through the bags until I find a smaller bag that has some sunscreen in it. The first few I pull out are all for kids, but finally land on one for adults. I apply it where I can but it seems like I'm going to need help with my back. "Wy, can you get my back?"

"Me?" Wyla snaps up from kneeling in front of Stevie.

"Yeah, you." I laugh.

"Your back will be fine." Wyla tries to brush it off .

"Mommy, you always say we have to wear sunscreen," our smarty-pants daughter says.

"Yeah, always, Wy." I toss her the sunscreen bottle.

She studies it in her hands then something dawns on her. "Oh, I'll get the spray."

Well that didn't go exactly as planned. Wyla replaces the bottle she has for the spray kind. "Was there a problem with the sunscreen I used first?" I ask over my shoulder.

"Um, no, I just like the spray better," Wyla says, not nearly as convincing as she thinks she sounds.

"Seems like you just want to avoid touching me."

Wyla huffs. "He's good, Stevie. Y'all have fun in the water."

"Yay! Come on, come on!" Stevie pulls me away from Wyla, who is now smirking. When we reach the water, Stevie freezes. "Can you carry me past the waves?"

"Yeah, Stevie, of course." I move to her other side so I can carry her on my stronger side. My left shoulder feels better ninety percent of the time, but I'd rather have a confident grip on her while walking through the waves.

"Why did you switch sides, Daddy?" Stevie asks and wraps her little arms around my neck. "Is it because of the booboo on your arm?" Her little finger reaches over and points at the small incision scar .

"A little bit, but don't worry, I got you, Stevie." I start to walk in the water. While it's a pretty hot day for late April, the water is still pretty fucking cold. I keep going when Stevie doesn't even flinch when the water touches her feet.

Once the water seems calmer and we're starting to get close to Annabelle, Stevie wiggles out my arms.

"Belley!" Stevie yells, and starts to swim her way.

Annabelle meets her half way. "Evie! Look at you, swimming so good."

"I practiced a lot last time," Stevie says, so proud of herself. I think she means last summer but no one dares to correct her.

"Hey there, booger." Owen scoops her up from behind, and she squeals.

"Uncle O, put me down." She laughs. "I wanna play with Belley."

"You wound me, Stevie, I thought you came to swim with me and Uncle Levi." Owen lets her go and she swims back to Annabelle.

"Imagine how I feel, she just used me to get out here," I say, and Stevie giggles. I walk over to Owen and, I'm assuming, Levi… I hadn't officially met him yet, maybe he's Owen's brother? Owen called him uncle but they don't exactly look alike. "Hey, Owen, good to see you again." I hold out a hand for a shake.

"Hey, man, you too." He returns my hand, then gestures to Levi. "I don't think y'all have met yet. Jett, this is Levi, he works with me and Graham. Levi, this is Jett, Stevie's dad."

Levi shakes my hand. "You're also Anna's brother, right? The one she always calls J?"

"That's me. Seems if she would have called me by my first name just once, we might have saved ourselves a lot of time."

"Can't change the past, man." Owen claps my shoulder. "Believe me." His words feel weighted. "You're here, now. That's what matters."

Damn right.