19. Wyla

Chapter 19

I wake up to my phone vibrating under my pillow. I barely need an alarm anymore with years of getting up at this same time, my internal alarm clock is pretty set. However, I didn't anticipate the muscular arm holding me down… and I don't hate it.

After he told me not to ask him to kiss him last night, I decided to cool myself down with some ice cream. It didn't help as much as I wanted it to, but it was nice.

We took a tub of strawberry ice cream out on the back patio with two spoons and just talked. You can call playing twenty questions a cliché but it was nice learning more about Jett.

Seems kind of silly that the man is my baby's father, and yet I didn't even know his favorite color is red. We went through movies, shows, music, animals—you name it, we tried to cover it .

Birthdays and family dynamics came next. I had to make another old joke when Jett said he would be thirty-five in November. Not that he is old but he looks like he wants to prove me wrong when I say it, and it sends thrills down my spine.

We talked embarrassing stories and the hell we put our siblings through. I also learned about how his baseball career got started all the way from little leagues through school, then the minors, and now the Mavericks.

After eating half of the tub of ice cream and getting all of the basic questions out of the way we decided it was best to call it a night and join Stevie in the pile. She wiggled and kicked constantly which led me to scoot closer to Jett. Not that I minded. His eucalyptus and amber scent feels so comforting. Mix that with the warmth from his furnace of a body, I was out. It was honestly the best I've slept in years

I glance at my phone, it's just after seven. I have extra time this morning since I don't have to get Stevie ready. I'm so very tempted to stay here for a few more minutes but I think if I stay any longer I'll end up calling out of work again.

The stealth it took to not only get out from under Jett's arm and to not wake Stevie up would make any spy proud. I sneak off to my bathroom to take a quick shower and get ready for work.

After throwing on my favorite orange scrubs and sliding on my shoes, I head back out to find Stevie still fast asleep with Poppy at her side, but no Jett. I tiptoe into the kitchen where he stands over the stove scrambling some eggs.

"Good morning," I say softly. "Is this for me?" I walk up to him with a smirk.

"Of course." He plants a small kiss to my forehead then turns to get in the fridge. He reaches in and takes a container of strawberries. "Considering you've eaten them numerous times this past week and a half, I think it's safe to assume strawberries are still one of your vices."

He hands me the Tupperware then goes back to the eggs. "I brought you these and some scrambled eggs yesterday morning, but ya know… with you guys being sick, I didn't figure you would want them."

I bite back a smile. "Thank you." I pop off the lid and pop one of the slices in my mouth. "Hey, if you brought eggs yesterday why are you making new ones?"

"I'll eat those. You"—he taps my nose—"get fresh ones."

"Mmm, look at you. I think someone has been practicing being a book boyfriend for these past few years." I say it, then process it and now I want to be sick. I know I have not dated in the past five years, but I definitely don't anticipate that Jett did the same thing. I had Stevie to keep me preoccupied, Jett had a girl walk out on him that he wasn't sure he would ever be able to find.

Ugh, I can't be angry about it, I made the decision to leave in the morning but I don't have to love the thought of him with other girls either.

Jett gives me a light chuckle and takes the pan off the hot eye. "I would call it more studying. There's a lot of good information in those books."

Wait, what? "Books? You read books?"

"Yeah, of course. You talked about them in Nashville, granted you didn't specify much exactly other than… I believe it was bikers, firefighters, and cowboys? I started with those." He shrugs. "You read some dirty books, babe. Very informative." He winks at me as he scoops some eggs onto a plate.

"You read books because I talked about them?"

"I read books because you mentioned them, Wy." He hands me the plate and leads me to the table when I awkwardly stand there unsure of what to do next.

He read books because I mentioned them? Does that mean he read them with only the idea of me in mind? Surely this man hasn't not dated someone in five years… I mean, look at him .

I want to ask him about it, but is it even my place to ask? We're in this weird together-but-not-together friends-only limbo. I chew on the inside of my cheek instead of my food which does not go unnoticed by Jett.

"Alright, what's going on up there?"

I try to shake this funky feeling off. "Nothing, sorry."

Jett doesn't believe me for even a single second. "You're overthinking. I can see it. So, come on, tell me what's going on."

I bite on my cheek again. "It's just… I mean, it's been five years."

Jett chuckles. "I'm aware. And?"

"I know you said you read the books for me, and I know you said you've been to Nashville looking for me, but…" Ugh I want to crawl out of my skin. Why do I even care about this?

"But?" Jett looks at me with furrowed eyes for a moment but then pieces it together. "You want to know if I practiced being a book boyfriend with someone else."

I hide my face in my hands. "It's silly, I know. I mean of course you've dated in the five years since I walked away."

"Wy," Jett's voice is soft and sweet. He pulls my hands down and takes them in his. "I can't say I haven't slept with someone since that night, but I've never dated."

"Oh, so one-night stands are your thing?" I half laugh at the irony.

"No, smartass. I think I've made it very clear that you are my thing." He sighs and tucks some of my hair behind my ear. "There was one girl, it only happened twice."

There's that queasy feeling again. I try to look down and focus back on the food that he made me. "You don't have to explain yourself. I was being—"

Jett cups my face and brings me back to meet his eyes. "Wyla, I can assure you that she meant nothing to me, and I meant nothing to her. We both used each other because the person we really wanted wasn't there. I was afraid I'd never find you, and for a moment it felt like filling a void because she didn't want anything from me either.

"But, listen to me, Wy…" His hands leave my face and pull my chair closer. "That ended because I knew no matter how much time had passed or how long I would have to wait, I only wanted to be with you. There have been no second thoughts or doubts about it."

My heart is beating out of my chest. "But, Jett, you didn't know if you would find me."

"That's true, but it didn't matter. No one was ever going to be you."

Don't worry about picking up dinner tonight. Just head home when you're done.

Why?

Because I said so.

Oh, shit. I really am a parent now.

Now do I get to tell my daddy joke?

Only to me, baby girl.

"Wyla!" a male voice snaps.

Startled, I nearly drop my phone at the harsh tone. "Goodness, Matt. What was that for? You scared the crap out of me."

"I've been trying to get your attention to switch dogs, but you've been staring at your phone for five minutes now," he huffs. "I'd like to finish up and get out of here, if you wouldn't mind helping."

"Sorry," I mutter, and I slide my phone in my pocket. I call for Pickles, one of the boarding dogs, to come and leash him back up to send him back inside.

Matt gives me an irritated look before going back in to grab the next dog. I'm not entirely sure what his problem has been lately but he's really starting to piss me off.

We've had a slow day, several cancellations, and only five dogs are staying overnight for boarding. I told him I could handle it myself but he insisted on staying. He opens the side door and hands me our last dog for the night.

"Jimmy has to be leashed the entire time," he snarks.

"I'm well aware, Matt. I read Pickle's sheet before letting him off the leash. I read all of them before starting." I snatch the leash from him. "Asshole," I grumble after he shuts the door.

After walking Jimmy around for him to use the bathroom I lead him back inside. Matt doesn't say anything as I hand him over and walk up front to shut everything down.

I leave one computer up for us to clock out on then grab my stuff.

"You ready?" Matt asks, walking up with his keys in hand.

"Yup. Left the treatment computer on to clock out, but otherwise we should be good to go. "

"Alright." He nods. "Sorry about snapping at you earlier."

"Whatever, Matt. Let's get out of here." I breeze past him. I'm not telling him it's fine this time. I tell him it's fine one too many times and he'll think it's okay to talk to me that way whenever he feels like it.

After clocking out and arming the security system, we head out to the parking lot. I don't wish to drag anything out with Matt but we both parked at the far end of the lot.

"Whose car is that?" he clips.

Well this ought to be good. "It's Jett's rental. He has Stevie today, so we switched cars so he could have a car seat."

"Hmph" is his only response at first, but then he says, "It has a flat tire."

"What? No, it—" Damn, it totally does. "What the hell? It was fine this morning." I crouch down at the back wheel. It's flat flat. No way I can drive on it.

"You probably ran over a nail or something. Flat tires happen, Wyla. Why don't you let me give you a ride home?"

I stand back up and pull out my phone. "I'll call Graham or Owen. They probably have pumps in their patrol cars. I'll be fine. "

Matt leans against the car. "A pump won't do you any good if it's a hole. Let me drive you home, and you can have your dad tow this car later."

Damn it, so much for not dragging things out. I don't live far from work, and really besides being a bit of an asshole today, I don't think Matt is going to do anything crazy. We've been friends for years which is why I find his hateful attitude even more annoying.

We make it out of the parking lot before the questions start. "So… Jett? What's going on there?"

A lot. A lot is going on there.

"We're friends. Finding our footing with co-parenting." I shrug. It's not a lie, and more details aren't really any of Matt's business.

Matt taps his fingers on the steering wheel. "That's good. I mean, he is leaving Sunday, right? Going back to Seattle?"

"He is, but he's coming back. I'm sure we'll go up there from time to time too."

This gets me an annoyed chuckle. "I wouldn't hold your breath on that one, Wyla."

What the hell is his problem today? I want to scream at him, but I'm not going to feed into his bullshit. I live another five minutes down the road. And he can turn up the heat because he's getting the cold shoulder for the rest of the drive.

As the silence stretches, I think he's taken the hint… but no, why would he.

"Come on, quit pouting. I don't want you to get hung up on this guy. You could do so much better."

My head turns to him with an eye roll that I can't contain. "You don't know what you're talking about, so keep your opinions to yourself."

We turn down my road and I'm debating if it would hurt less to tuck and roll out of this vehicle than continue to continue being in this car.

"You're not fucking serious, Wyla." Matt's voice is venturing into yelling territory. "Please tell me you're not falling for this guy's crap."

"Crap? What crap? You mean how he spends time with his daughter… takes care of her and me? I don't know what your problem is with him, Matt, but butt out. This is my life and my decision. I thought we were friends… why can't you support that?"

"Friends. Right." He shakes his head for a moment before we pull into my driveway. "You know what, fuck that." Matt slams his hand on the steering wheel, and now he's at a full on yell. "You're making the wrong decision, damn it. Why don't you actually date a guy that has been there since the beginning? What about me, huh?"

He may have yelled it, but the ‘what about me' gives me a bit of pause. "Matt, I'm sorry but I'm not…" I trail off because ‘I'm not interested in you' feels harsh. "I want to see where things go with Jett."

He scoffs. "You're not serious. Don't be stupid, Wyla."

"I am not stupid! He's the father of my child, Matt. Not some random guy off the street."

"He might as well be, what do you really know about him, Wyla? You spent one night with him five years ago, and now what? You know him so well in the two weeks he's been here. Gah! I thought you've grown up since then."

"Hey, raising your voice and insulting me isn't going to make your dick bigger. And it definitely won't make me like you, so thanks for the ride but goodbye."

I'm done arguing with him. I get out of his car and slam the door as hard as I can. Once I do, I realize there are like four other cars in my driveway. Shit, my whole family is here.

I race around his car, hoping he takes the hint to leave, but he doesn't. He jumps out of the car and yanks my arm trying to pull me closer. "Wyla, listen to—"

"Let me go," I demand as I try to pull away.

"Not until you lis— "

"Let go of her right now," Jett growls, and Matt loosens his grip just enough that I create some space between us. I take about two steps back before I collide with Jett's chest. "You okay, Wy?"

I nod. "Yeah. Matt was just leaving. Thanks for the ride."

Matt scoffs. "You're making a mistake, Wyla. He's not right for you."

"And you are?" Jett sneers.

"Yes, I know her. You have no idea what she needs in a partner. What Stevie needs." Matt's voice starts to get louder again.

"Matt, stop."

"No, come on, Wyla, you want to be with him? Let's talk about who all was there when Stevie started walking… when Stevie got her first tooth… when she said her first words. Do you even know what her first words were? Because I do," Matt shouts.

Owen and Graham make their way outside now, not that Matt notices or cares. He's solely focused on Jett. "Matt, stop! It wasn't his fault, he didn't know. And Stevie is inside so lower your voice."

Jett rests his hands on the top of my shoulders. "Go home, man. You've said what you wanted. Now go, so we can have a nice family dinner."

Matt laughs. "Family… right. You know what? You can have her, I'll find a girl who doesn't whore herself out for a night and knows how to use a condom."

Before I can even process the words, Jett steps around me and decks Matt right in the jaw causing him to fall back on the yard. "Fuck!"

"Speak that way about Wyla again and I—"

"What the hell is going on?" my dad yells from behind me.

Matt scrabbles up off the ground. "He just assaulted me."

"Oh, really?" my dad asks, stepping up beside Jett. "Graham, Owen, did you see that?"

"No, sir," Owen says as they both step around behind Matt.

"Didn't see a thing," Graham adds.

Matt looks around at the men now surrounding him. "Figures," he mutters, and spits some blood from his busted lip to the side.

"I think it's time for you to go. Graham, Owen, make sure he finds his way back to his car." My dad nods at Jett. "Your daughter wants you."

Jett's shoulders relax and unclenches his fists. "I'll be right there. "

"I know you will." My dad turns around and gives me a kiss to the head as he heads back inside the house.

As my brothers-in-law escort Matt back to his car, Jett turns to me and cups my face. "Are you okay, baby?"

"You hit him," I mutter, still stunned.

His shoulders slump slightly. "Yeah, I did. I know you work with the guy, Wy, but I couldn't let—"

A surprise laugh escapes me. "You hit him, hit him." I bring my hand up to cover my laugh, I shouldn't be laughing right now, but with how much of an asshole Matt has been these past two weeks, it was damn good to see him get knocked down a peg. "In front of my dad."

Jett pulls me in for a tight hug and chuckles. "I think it earned me brownie points."

I hear Matt's tires squeal as he peels out of my driveway, and my brothers-in-law head back to us.

Owen claps Jett's back. "I didn't know you were a lefty."

"Looks like that shoulder injury didn't do too much damage," Graham adds, and alarm bells go off in my head.

"Oh my gosh, babe, your shoulder! Is it okay?" I pull back so I can look at him. The babe slips out of me before I even realize it, but he doesn't care.

Jett smiles at me. "It's fine, Wy." He plants a small kiss on my forehead. "Let's go inside. In case you hadn't noticed, I invited your whole family over for dinner."