String Beans (The Girls of Beachmont #2) (23 page)

Callie enjoyed the concert more than anyone. She
was flirting with Kirk and he seemed to like her too. But he was no stranger to
women. I didn’t want to burst her bubble and tell her that he used the same
lines in every town. Something told me she was smarter than she let on.

It was almost one when we got back to Dallas and
Wyatt’s apartment. I had planned on going back to my place, but Jolie and Connor
were catching up and I didn’t want to be around for that. Being her roommate in
college was enough, and I doubted that anything had changed.

Dallas and James ended their night when we left
the bar, and he insisted that I go back with him and hang out at his place. It
was times like that that I was grateful to have friends to help me out in a
bind. We walked into his room and Dallas grabbed a T-shirt and shorts and
tossed them at me. I was eager to get out of my outfit, especially since the smell
of smoke emanated from my pores. I thought about sneaking in a shower after
Dallas was done, but I liked
my
soap
and shampoo.

“I really hoped that he’d change his mind,” I told
Dallas when I looked down the short hallway at Wyatt’s door, which was shut.

Saturday nights at String Beans were pretty busy
with scheduled performances, so I wasn’t surprised that he’d declined the
invitation. I was relieved, in fact, because I wouldn’t have to see him and Emma
together. It would take me a while to get used to it, but at some point, I was
certain things with Wyatt and I would get back to normal.

“He’s not here,” Dallas said.

“Yeah. I figured. He’s probably busy at the shop.”

“Not really,” he answered. “I mean, I’m sure it’s
busy there, but Wyatt wasn’t working tonight.”

“Really? That’s surprising.”

“He had other plans, Vi,” Dallas said bluntly.

“Oh.”

“Oh? That’s all you have to say?”

“What am I supposed to say?” I asked curiously.

Dallas rolled his eyes and shook his head. “You
know, I thought you were this woman who was fearless. I mean, you moved out here
where you knew no one and started all over again. And at first, the whole ‘I’m
staying single to find myself’ was admirable, but I realize all of it was a lie.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re scared. And I get it.”

“I’m not scared. Wyatt is seeing someone, and sure,
it sucks, but that’s okay. I’m the one that pushed him into it.”

“And why was that again?”

“Because…because I didn’t want him to wait around.”

“And why is that? Because you’re not worth waiting
for? Do you have that low of an opinion of yourself?”

“Of course not,” I argued. “I felt like I was
giving him false hope that there could be something. And then there was Emma.”

“Don’t get me started on that,” he said. “Forget
Emma. Leave her out of the equation for a minute.”

“But she
is
the equation,” I reminded him.

Dallas raised a brow and pursed his lips in an
effort to silence me. I felt myself shrink a fraction at his admonition and
waited for him to speak.

“How do you really feel about Wyatt? If you could
have your way, and Emma wasn’t around…because I’m pretty sure that by the time
you get around to admitting it, you’ll be too late.”

“According to you, I’m already too late,” I said,
recalling the detail that he was out. Probably on a date. Or sleeping over.

It’s almost one in the morning and he’s still gone.

“And if you weren’t?”

“But I am.”

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Why are you so annoying?” I shot back.

“Have you admitted to anyone what you feel for
him?”

“That is none of your business.”

He watched me and then rolled his eyes. I knew
Dallas was growing tired of me;
I
was
growing tired of me.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, you haven’t even admitted it
to yourself?”

“What’s there to admit?”

Dallas got up from his bed and grabbed some clean
clothes. He looked over at me and gave me a disappointed look.

“I’m gonna get cleaned up and we can continue this
discussion. You are sleeping here, right?”

“Yeah. I’m just gonna go get a phone charger from
my place.”

He didn’t say anything else as he disappeared into
the bathroom. I was left alone in his room thinking about what he had asked.
While I loved him for caring, I was equally irritated that he was calling me
out.

I know what I feel for Wyatt. At least I think I do.

Admitting my feelings out loud to others was tough,
but I’d sort of told Dani and Jo. Right? I suppose admitting it to myself was
proving equally difficult. I hadn’t given myself time to really consider what
Wyatt meant to me beyond friendship, and I refused to go after him and risk
stringing him along when I wasn’t sure what I truly wanted.

Was I as pathetic as Dallas made it seem?

Yes.

I thought about the first time I met Wyatt and the
way my heart had raced. He was arrogant, but not too arrogant, and ridiculously
charming. I remembered the way he went out of his way to flirt with me and how
he made me smile. Even if he slightly aggravated me. And even
I
couldn’t deny that he was very good-looking.
Hell, I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

But it was the way he pushed himself into my life,
determined to be my friend, if nothing else, that made me tear up. Wyatt didn’t
care how he had me; he just wanted to be something to me. He’d tried more in
the three months that we knew each other than Will had in our three
years
of marriage.

I walked out of their apartment, making the short
trek to my own, when I heard someone coming up the stairs. I panicked and
rushed to my door and tried to open it, but it was locked and I recalled
leaving the key in my purse in Dallas’s room. As I glanced over my shoulder, I
saw Wyatt’s feet at the landing and turned quickly, pressing my body against
the door as I muttered Jolie’s name.

“Open the door,” I muttered.

Shit! I don’t want to see him.

I knocked softly, whispering loudly to Jolie, “Let
me in.” But I knew it was no use.

“Are you okay?” Wyatt asked from down the hall.
Even knowing he was there, I still startled at the sound of his voice.

“Yeah,” I managed to say, inhaling deeply. “Jolie
and her ex are in there and I need my stuff.”

“Why are you out here?”

“Because they’re in there,” I huffed, hitching my
thumb at the door. “I’m staying in Dallas’s room tonight. I hope that’s not a
problem.”

“Why would it be a problem?”

I looked around him and noticed it was just Wyatt.

“How was the concert?”

“You missed a hell of a show,” I said, forcing a
smile. “It was great.”

“That’s good.”

He walked to his apartment and I followed,
standing behind him as he opened the door.

“How was your date?” I asked.

He stopped with his hand on the knob and looked
over his shoulder at me. “Date?”

“Date. Two people, out together. Usually involves
dinner or something like that,” I said to him.

“Then I guess you and I had a few of those,” he
said. The times we’d spent alone flashed quickly through my thoughts and I felt
sad.

“Did you have fun?” I asked.

Wyatt turned and leaned against the doorframe with
an odd look on his face.

“On your date...did you have fun?”

“Because I didn’t go out with everyone, that means
I had a date?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, Dallas said that’s why you
didn’t come with us tonight.”

“Actually, I was working,” he said, his brows
pinching together. “He knew that.”

“But he said…” I didn’t finish because I knew what
Dallas was up to.

“He said I was on a date,” Wyatt muttered to
himself, realizing Dallas’ game.

“Something like that,” I said. It was then that
comments from the other night became clear to me and cocked my head to the side
and studied his face for a moment. “Then why didn’t you come with us?”

“I think you know why.”

He held the door open for me, and I walked inside
and stood in the living room. Dallas had invited me over—I didn’t need
Wyatt’s permission—but I still felt I needed to be respectful of his
space.

The sound of water coming from the bathroom reminded
me that Dallas was still in the shower, and I wanted to disappear into his
room. As much as everyone thought I was avoiding Wyatt, it turned out that he
was avoiding me. He had admitted as much in the hallway.

“So the show was good tonight?” he finally asked.
He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a water bottle. He held another up,
silently asking if I wanted one, but I declined.

“It was amazing. I haven’t seen Josh and Kirk in a
while, and really barely got to talk to them tonight. If you’re around
tomorrow, maybe you can meet Kirk. He’s great.”

“Won’t your friend from the club be jealous?”

“Who are you talking about?”

Wyatt rolled his eyes and walked to the couch as
he effectively dismissed me.

“No. What are you talking about?” I demanded, walking
toward the couch.

His back was to me, but I could see by the way he
shook his head that he was tired of the conversation. “The guy you were with
the other night. You know, after you told me that you’re not ready to be with
anyone?” he asked.

“Owen?” I said his name with such disdain, though
I didn’t dislike the guy—just his forward nature. “I met him that night.”

“Wouldn’t know it by the way you two were acting.”

“I don’t owe you any explanation, Wyatt. If I
recall, you’re seeing someone.”

“Then why did you call me when you were in Vegas?”

I didn’t respond right away because I’d tried so
hard to block that drunken memory.

“It was an accident,” I lied.

“An accident, huh?”

“Okay not an accident…I was drunk and bored,
trying to find someone to talk to,” I said.

“Drunk and bored,” he repeated more to himself.
“That’s always nice to hear.”

“It doesn’t matter why I called…I’m sorry, okay? I
didn’t mean to interrupt your evening.”

“My evening wasn’t interrupted.”

“Good to know,” I said as I started to walk toward
Dallas’s room.

“You’re the one who wanted me to find someone. You
even went so far as to orchestrate something to get me away from you because
you’re still
married
?”

“I’m not married,” I said so quickly that the
words lingered in the silence between us. I was frozen in place, unable to say
anything else from the shock of my own revelation. Unable to look at him, I
took a tentative step down the hallway when I heard Wyatt walking toward me. I
didn’t stop until I felt his hand on my arm. I shook my head and tried to
remove myself from his grasp.

“What do you mean
not married
?” he asked softly. That one revelation shifted the tone
in our exchange, but I found it hard to look at him.

“Nothing. It’s not important. I should get some
sleep. It’s late.”

“You’re the one who said we’re friends, right?”

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Friends.”

“Then tell me what’s going on.”

I sighed and turned to face him. He dropped his
hold of me and I moved to the opposite hallway wall. He was still standing in
the same place, waiting for my response, and I finally looked into his eyes.

“I had Mr. Bateman file the divorce papers for me.
Assuming Will doesn’t contest anything, it’ll be final by the end of the
month.”

“When did you do this?” he asked. “Why didn’t you
tell me?”

“You’ve been a little busy,” I told him.

“After everything, you don’t think this is news
I’d like to hear?”

“I couldn’t tell you, Earp. You’re finally seeing
someone and…”

He stepped forward and hesitated for only a moment
before pressing his lips to mine. What should have been an incredibly romantic
moment, and something I would have liked any other time, was horrible. I didn’t
return the kiss. I didn’t hold him or moan blissfully against his lips.
Nothing. Because it was completely wrong. My hands pushed against his chest and
he stumbled backward.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I can’t believe you did that. After everything
you know about me…you did
that
?”

Before he could stop me, I turned, walked to the
door and I grabbed my purse on the way out. I didn’t know where I was going,
especially dressed in nothing but a T-shirt and shorts, but going to my place
wasn’t really an option. And I couldn’t stay there—not with what Wyatt
had just done.

“Vi,” he called out. “Wait.”

I turned to look at him and saw someone staring at
me that I’d never seen before.