Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Auden

I step back, eyeing the freshly painted walls of the living room with a critical eye. The pale blue-gray is the perfect shade. It's soothing, modern, and just the right amount of chic. It took weeks to decide on the color, but now that I see it up on the walls, I know I made the right choice. This project is so close to being done, and I can almost taste the satisfaction that comes with finishing a job well done.

But there's something else that's been tugging at my mind, something more than the thrill of completing another project. Wade.

I haven't seen much of him over the past week. It's strange, really. We've been working together for a few weeks now, side by side, arguing over tile choices and countertop materials, and yet these last few days without him around have felt… empty.

I never realized how much I've come to rely on his presence, his quiet strength, and that stupid, sexy grin he flashes when he thinks I'm being too fussy about a design choice. Not seeing him has made me realize just how much he's wormed his way into my thoughts. Into my heart.

I brush a stray hair out of my face, smudging a bit of paint on my cheek in the process. I could probably fix that in the bathroom mirror, but I don't care. I'm too busy grappling with the sudden, startling realization that I'm in love with Wade Collins.

It hits me like a ton of bricks, stealing the breath from my lungs. I love him. How did I not see this before? It's been right there in front of me the whole time, in the way my heart skips a beat when he walks into a room, the way my chest tightens whenever he flashes that lopsided smile, the way I can't help but glance at his house every time I drive by.

But with that realization comes a whole new wave of worries. What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if this is just a fling for him, a casual thing that he's already moved on from? The thought makes my stomach churn, and I have to sit down on the edge of the couch to steady myself.

I've never been good at these kinds of emotions. Give me a blueprint or a color palette, and I can make magic happen, but when it comes to matters of the heart? I'm hopeless. I've always been too afraid of getting hurt, too afraid to let anyone in. But Wade… he makes me want to take that risk. He makes me want to believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be something real. Something lasting.

A loud, clanging noise jolts me from my thoughts, and I realize it's my phone vibrating on the coffee table. I glance at the screen and see a text from Lena.

Lena: Lucky Horseshoe tonight?

I hesitate for a moment, then type out a quick response.

Auden: Sure. Be there in 20.

Maybe a night out with friends is exactly what I need to clear my head. Or at least it'll keep me from obsessing over what Wade might be thinking.

I hurry home and, throw on some clean clothes, and then head back into town and park my car next to Lena's in the parking lot.

The Lucky Horseshoe is buzzing with the usual Friday night crowd. Locals laughing, pool balls clacking against each other, and the hum of conversation all fill the air. The place is packed, but Lena has somehow managed to snag our usual table near the back. She waves me over, her smile bright as she spots me.

"There she is!" Lena says, pulling me into a hug as I approach. "I was starting to think you'd ditched me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I reply with a grin, sliding into the seat across from her.

The familiar warmth of the place, combined with Lena's easygoing smile, helps ease the tension I've been carrying all day.

We order drinks, and for a while, the conversation is light. We talk about work and how the bakery is going, but that doesn't last long. Soon, she narrows her eyes on me, her lips twitching with a smirk.

"How's Wade?" She asks, and I groan.

"So this is an interrogation? And here I thought my friend just missed me."

"I did miss you, but I still want all of the details."

"We went out a few times… slept together," I admit, and she throws her hands up in the air.

"Yes! I knew it! And how was it?"

"Amazing. Mind-blowing."

"So why are you here with me instead of with him tonight?"

"Things are… I don't know. I don't want to get too wrapped up in him. I need to focus on work."

"Why can't it be both?" She asks, and I grab my drink, chugging half of it.

"Because I…I think… I think I'm in love with him."

Her eyes widen, and for a moment, she looks genuinely surprised. Then, a slow smile spreads across her face.

"Well, duh! You have been since like forever."

I blink, taken aback by her response. "What?"

"I've seen the way you two look at each other. It was only a matter of time before one of you figured it out. I just had my money on it being him."

"I don't know if he feels the same way."

"He does. He was like your shadow in high school, but you were always too focused on the future to notice."

"What if I tell him, and he doesn't want anything serious?"

"He's head over heels for you, Auden. He will."

"What if I can't handle a relationship and work?"

"You can. You can literally do anything. Once you put your mind to something, you go over it. You'll be okay."

"What if—" I start, but she cuts me off.

Lena reaches across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Auden, you'll never know if you don't ask. And from what I've seen, Wade isn't the kind of guy to just play around. He's serious about you. I can see it."

Her words should be comforting, but they only heighten the knot of anxiety in my chest. Still, she's right. I need to know how he feels. I need to know if this is something real or just another fleeting romance that will leave me more broken than before.

"And you want him too. It's time to have more than just work in your life."

I know that she's right, but that doesn't make me any less anxious.

"What about you?" I ask, and she leans back.

"I'm happy with work."

"Liar," I say, twirling the ice in my glass around until they clink together. "You want Holden."

"Have you forgotten what happened between us? He left me once. I'm not giving him the chance to do it again."

"Maybe you should hear him out," I say quietly, cautiously.

"No."

She's so firm, and I nod, not wanting to argue with her.

We finish our drinks, and I make my excuses to head home early. Lena gives me a knowing look as I grab my purse, but she doesn't say anything, just waves me off with a wink.

The drive home is a blur, my thoughts racing faster than the car down the winding roads. By the time I pull into my driveway, my heart is pounding in my chest, a mix of fear and excitement that I haven't felt in years.

Wade's house is dark, the only light coming from a single lamp in the living room window. For a moment, I just sit in my car, staring at the house, trying to summon the courage to go over there.

It's now or never, Auden.

I take a deep breath, get out of the car, and walk up to his front door. The air is cool against my skin, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore in the distance. I knock, the sound echoing in the quiet night.

A few seconds pass, and then the door opens. Wade stands there, looking tired but surprised to see me. His hair is tousled, and he's in a plain gray t-shirt and jeans, but he's never looked better.

"Auden," he says, his voice soft and slightly puzzled. "What are you doing here?"

"I… I wanted to see you," I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. "I haven't seen you much this week, and I missed you."

He steps aside, letting me in, and I take in the cozy warmth of his house. It's the first time I've been here, and I'm struck by how much it feels like him: simple, strong, comfortable.

"This place is amazing," I say, turning to face him. "I love the way it feels. And the view of the water… it's beautiful."

Wade's lips curve into a small smile, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eases.

"Thanks. It's still a work in progress, but it's getting there. What would you do with it if you were renovating?" he asks, surprising me.

The question catches me off guard, but in the best way. My mind immediately starts racing with ideas. New paint colors, a modern kitchen island, and maybe even a skylight in the bedroom to let in more natural light. I can't help but smile as I start rattling off suggestions, and to my surprise, Wade listens intently, nodding along as if he's genuinely interested.

It feels good to talk about something I'm passionate about, especially with someone who cares. And as I lose myself in the details, I realize that this is what I want. I want to share these moments with Wade, to dream about the future together, to build something real and lasting.

But there's still that nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Does he want the same thing?

We wind up on his couch, cuddling under a blanket, and I can feel my eyes start to get heavy. I know that I should tell him how I feel, but I chicken out.

Tomorrow. I'll tell him tomorrow.

I know that I'm just pushing back a difficult conversation, but as my eyes close and I lay against Wade, I can't find it in me to care.

I'll tell him, I promise myself. Soon.