16. Jett

Chapter 16

She blames herself. I knew she did to some extent, but it seems like she's been punishing herself for it too.

Her tears fall slowly down her cheeks. "Wyla, baby, don't do that." I step closer and this time she doesn't retreat back so I take the opportunity to gently wipe away the tears. "Don't put all of this on you. I knew I wanted more of you but I let you go on thinking it was a one-night thing."

"Don't try to make me feel better." She sniffles and takes a deep breath. "Ugh, I didn't mean to break down like this." She glances behind me at an older couple staring as they walk past. She gives them a fake smile and waves so they keep moving.

"Come here, baby." I pull her back to the bench. She's hesitant but sits beside me. She's stopped crying but I know she doesn't feel any better. "You've said how you feel, so now it's my turn. "

Her eyes look off to the side at nothing. I tilt her chin back to me, she's going to look at me when I tell her this. "Wyla, I've been to Nashville countless times over the past five years looking for you. My flight back to Seattle isn't actually until Monday night. The flight I have Sunday is headed to Nashville because I planned to spend the day there… looking for you."

Her lip trembles. "What… why?"

"Because you're it for me, Wy. You always have been. Call me crazy, but one night with you was enough to make me realize I don't want anyone else. I don't give a fuck about missing the past five years as long as I have you back in my life. I know you're scared and holding on to this guilt but you've got to let it go."

I tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Her hazel eyes are glossy as tears fill them but she doesn't let them fall. "But I think I've been going about this the wrong way," I say.

Wyla swallows down her emotions but her voice still cracks, "How?"

"I've been pushing you too much. I've spent the past five years thinking about you and what I would do when I found you. While I'd like to think you've thought of me some, your life has been dedicated to our daughter, who is amazing, but a bit of a handful. "

Wyla chuckles, and I just barely see those dimples on her cheeks.

"Let's be friends first. Co-parents, yes, but actually be friends. No pressure to form any relationship, no avoiding me, no more doing everything by yourself…" She rolls her eyes and that dimpled smile is getting closer but not all the way there yet. "And no more kissing until you ask."

Wyla swallows hard. "What if I ask?"

"Wyla, I'm good to be in your friend zone for as long as it takes but…" I pull her closer by her knees. "When you ask me to kiss you again, I'll never stop. It will be me and you, Wy. No going back."

"What if I never ask?"

"Then, I guess we'll just be best friends forever, and I'll be really acquainted with my hand."

Wyla lets her full scrunched nose, dimple smile take over her face. "You do have good hands."