by S. Herrera
Except for Emerson, we also avoid all topics Every and Knox. She asks Sawyer how she likes being an aunt and if she gets to spend much time with her. I didn’t think it was possible, but her smile gets brighter at the mention of her niece. It causes me to think about a future with her. Would there be kids? Marriage?
I shake the thoughts from my mind, getting rid of them as quickly as they snuck up on me. Where did that even come from? It is way too soon to be having thoughts like that.
“Wyatt.” Sawyer whispers, so that only I can hear, placing her hand on my knee. “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere.” Everywhere.
Sawyer watches me for a few long heartbeats before squeezing my knee and turning her attention back to my mom, who continues to talk her ear off. Dinner is over. We had cake and coffee over an hour ago, and yet we are still sitting at the table talking.
I can’t help but watch Sawyer and smile at her, the way she interacts with my parents. Listening to my mom and joking with my dad. She’s the perfect girl.
I’m brought back to the present by the buzz of my phone in my pocket. I pull it out, checking to see if it’s Sawyer cancelling our dinner with her parents tonight.
I look down. No such luck.
Wren: I hear you’re having dinner with the parents.
Me: How do you know about that?
Knox: I told him.
Damnit, I forgot to check if it was in the group chat.
Me: You both suck.
Wren: I think he’s nervous, Knox.
Knox: He should be.
I refrain from replying. Instead, I turn my phone into do not disturb mode, only allowing calls and texts from my parents and Sawyer.
Since I’m pretty confident that dinner won’t be cancelled, I lock up and head to Sawyer’s. I’m picking her up from there to meet her parents at a restaurant for dinner. Which under normal circumstances would be great, having dinner with your girlfriend’s parents.
Because normally you don’t have a bunch of complicated history between your ex, her husband who happens to be your girlfriend’s brother, and then there’s the part where you were almost the one raising their granddaughter. Add in all the stories Sawyer has told me about her mom’s investigative powers and her dad being just like Knox, and yeah, definitely not normal circumstances. But I care about Sawyer enough to endure any interrogation that comes during dinner with her parents.
The drive passes quickly while I’m lost in my own thoughts. But when I finally lay eyes on her, waiting for me out in front of her building… everything else quickly falls away.
Our parents have been hounding both of us for weeks about have dinner together, so we finally gave in. Last weekend we travelled back home to see his parents, and this weekend my parents are staying in Durham to go to the Duke game tomorrow. The very same baseball game that Wyatt is taking me to. Thankfully, we won’t be sitting in the in the suite level with them.
Wyatt picks me up in front of my building, and he’s smiling like a goon when I get in the car. “What?” I ask.
He’s still looking at me and hasn’t yet pulled away from the curb. “I just-” He starts, then looks at me again with his goofy grin, pulling me in to a quick, firm kiss.
Wyatt releases me and doesn’t say a word. He just takes my hand in his as he steers us onto the road, driving toward the restaurant my dad chose for tonight, his favorite steak house. When we are only a block away from the restaurant, I turn down the music. “Okay, so you remember everything I told you about my mom, right?”
He turns to look at me and laughs.
“Wyatt, I am serious. Her skills aren't something to be laughed at.” I give him a pointed look, hoping he’ll take me seriously.
“To be honest, Sawyer, I'm more worried about your dad than I am your mom.”
“My dad isn't the one that will have you spilling your guts about something stupid you did five or ten years ago.” Crossing my arms, I turn and look out the window. I try not to think about everything he could blurt out in front of my parents.
“Okay, I promise not to tell your mom anything.”
“That's not how this works. You don’t get to decide what you tell her. She pulls the information from you, like a siren or something.” I'm rambling and I know that I probably sound crazy, but I'm really nervous.
Dinner went so well with his family, and I want it to be great with mine too. But I know how my dad feels about him, and if Mom’s questioning makes him blurt out something stupid, then my dad will have even more of a reason to not like him.
“Don't say I didn't warn you.” I sit back in my seat as he turns into the parking lot and finds an empty space close to the front door.
“Sawyer, you are convinced that your mom has some secret life where she's had FBI training. You have to understand that I'm not one hundred percent on board with that theory, right? I've met her before and she's a very sweet and kind woman.” He says, facing me with an amused smile on his face.
I don't argue with him, at this point there is nothing I can do but let him figure it out for himself. Just like Everly had to when Knox and I told her our theory. I shrug my shoulders and say, “Okay.”
His brow furrows, but I hop out of the car before he can question my sudden agreement.
We walk hand in hand through the front doors where we are greeted by the hostess, who leads us to the table where my parents are seated. Wyatt and I take the seats across from them as they greet us with pleasantries.
“How is your team doing?” Dad asks after the bread and drinks are delivered to our table and orders have been placed.
“Great, we had a meet this morning at Raleigh High. Our relay team won their race, and Stacey, the one I have started working with one on one, won all her races. She’s really good.” Reaching into the basket, I pull out a hot slice of bread and smear the butter across the slice, devouring it while my parents direct their attention to Wyatt, asking him about school and the program he is in for sports medicine.
Everything is going great. My dad is being civil, and Mom is keeping her questions to a minimum. That is, until she decides to ask about how we started dating.
“Mom.” I say, trying to deter her.
“What?” She asks innocently. “I'm just wondering how you guys went from friends to a couple is all.”
I open my mouth to speak, turning to Wyatt to give him a look that says, I'll handle this. Only I'm too late and he starts talking.
“Well, I walked her to her door one night, and the way she looked at me… I kissed her, and she kissed me back. But then I told her it was all a mistake, and we should just stay friends. But who was I kidding? There was no way we could go back to being friends. Not after that kiss, that’s for sure. But next time, I kissed her, and I didn’t stop-”
I drop my hand down on his knee and squeeze hard, speaking through my teeth. “I think they get the point, Wyatt.”
My dad’s eyes widen then narrow into slits, clearly suspicious as to where Wyatt had been going with that.
The rest of dinner goes smoothly enough, and Mom takes it easy on Wyatt after his outburst. He is also much less chatty now. We finish dinner and even dessert in peace. When it’s time to leave, my dad insists on taking me home, but I decline since Wyatt is staying at my place tonight. Though, I leave that part out.
We walk into the lobby of my building and the elevator is already in use, so we take the stairs. When we reach my floor and push the door open into the hallway, it’s to find my parents punching in the code to the door next to mine. The unit my brother used to live in, and apparently the one that my parents are staying in while they are in town.
“Hey, honey. Wyatt.” My dad greets us as he holds the door open for Mom.
“Hi, Dad.” I share a look with Wyatt, silently communicating that our plans have changed.
He nods slightly, walking me the rest of the way to my door. “I’ll be here in the morning with coffee and donuts.” Leaning in, Wyatt brushes his lips softl
y to mine, barely making contact. No doubt because he could feel my dad’s eye on the back of his head.
The next morning Wyatt shows up, as promised with coffee and donuts. “Oh my gosh. Thank you, thank you!” I throw my arms around him and pull him inside the door kissing him firmly on the mouth.
He laughs huskily against my lips before pulling back and placing a steaming hot cup in one hand and a donut in the other. Placing the bag on the kitchen counter, we walk into the living room, sitting on the couch and he tells me about an upcoming game of Wren’s.
I find myself thinking, I could get used to this.
Which isn’t a thought I’ve had since… Erik. When I thought that he was my future. Obviously, I was wrong about that. After everything that went down with Erik, I wasn’t sure I could picture a future with anyone else. Thankfully, I haven’t heard from him since my birthday.
Now, the thought of marriage makes me want to break out in hives. Like I have some deep-rooted fear that no matter how amazing Wyatt is now, years down the road I will find that’s not who he really is. And if we’re married… I just know I’ll feel trapped. Maybe that’s a conversation we should have someday, but right now I just want to enjoy what this is and what we are now.
It’s just that the more time I spend with Wyatt and find myself thinking about the fact that he is definitely a long-term guy, complete husband material, I feel overwhelmed with guilt. I know deep down that’s the kind of man he is, and that I should be selfless enough to let him go and find the woman that can give him those things. Things that I wish so badly I could give to him.
“Are you about ready to go?” Wyatt asks, walking back into the living room with a fresh donut in hand. “I’m surprised your dad isn’t trying to make us ride with him.” He laughs. Then his eyes meet mine and they fill with concern. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m great.” I stand from the couch and walk to my bedroom. “Let me throw on an old jersey I have of Knox’s and grab a hat. Then I’ll be ready to go.” As I walked away, I could have sworn I heard him mumble something about how I could have worn one of his Duke jerseys.
We arrive at the stadium and start by loading up on snacks. When my hands are filled with popcorn, Diet Coke, and a hot dog, we find our seats on the Devils side of home plate. The stadium is loud with the rumblings of excitement from fans. Only getting louder with cheers from both Duke and Clemson fans alike when the game starts.
As Wyatt and I shout and applaud his old teammates, I can’t help but picture him on the field in Duke Blue.
“I bet you looked good out there, babe.” I say off handedly.
“Did you just call me babe?” he says, chuckling and pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Ignoring his question and my heating cheeks, I look out among the crowds on either side. At the sea of blue with spots of orange, white, and purple.
Reading my discomfort for what it is, he nudges my shoulder with his. “I did look good out there.” He teases on a deep chuckle, but he doesn’t mention the pet name again.
We fall back into our easy banter as usual while continuing to cheer Duke on. Sometime around the fifth inning I make a snack run, getting us each more popcorn. Wyatt laughs at me when I return with only one bag for him and two for myself. I throw a handful of popcorn at him in response, and he pulls me to him in a bear hug, kissing my forehead before releasing me.
The game is great, and Duke wins by two. It has been such a great day, a perfect day that I want to relive over and over again. Slowly, but surely being with Wyatt is making me want to face my fears and eases the doubts I’ve been feeling.
chapter eleven
“You’re joking, right?” Sawyer stands on the other side of the counter where I’m sitting with my textbooks spread out, smirking at me. She isn’t joking. “You expect me and your brother to spend a weekend together and NOT kill each other?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s not like it will just be the two of you.”
“Right. Because adding you, Everly, Charlotte, and Emerson to the mix is much better.”
“But it’s for Wren.” She tries, adding in a little pout for effect.
I just stare at her. She’s trying to guilt me into it, but it won’t work. In fact, Wren probably doesn’t even know yet. Everly is probably trying to convince Knox right now. And knowing him, he will probably agree to it to make her happy. If not, she’ll break him down.
I chance a look up at Sawyer, whose lip is still out. “What about classes? And work?”
“You don’t have any classes on Thursdays or Fridays. I will only be missing one class on Thursday and have the weekend off from the coffee shop.” I forgot that she no longer has to work every weekend now that track is over.
She’s thought of everything which means I’m running out of excuses. “What did your brother say?”
“Well, Everly is going to talk to him when she gets home.”
“Did you guys just plan this today at lunch?” I ask, voicing my suspicion because I suspect that is exactly what happened.
“Charlotte already planned on going for Wren's game since she didn't go back to Houston this summer. At first, they were planning a girl’s weekend, but they thought it would be nice for you and Knox to go too.”
I would like to go to one of Wren's games, I haven't been to one since he proposed to Charlotte and that was two years ago. But that means spending almost five hours to Baltimore and back in a car with my girlfriend, her brother, my ex who is married to the brother, their daughter, and Charlotte.
“Can we take our own car?” I ask, hopeful.
“No, that would defeat the point of us all going on a road trip together.” She walks around the counter to where I am seated on a stool and places herself between my legs. Standing there she looks up at me, and I know right then that I am going to cave. Her phone pings in her pocket and she hurries to pull it out and check the message.
“Everly says that Knox said yes, and she wants to know what you said.” She relays the information while watching me expectantly.
“If I said no now, I would be being a Knox.”
She purses her lips, trying to fight the smile of victory. “So, is that a yes?”
Instead of words, I answer her with a firm kiss, pulling her into my arms. “Of course, it's a yes,” I say, speaking the words against her smiling lips.
I regret this decision already.
As I pack, I realize that I didn’t ask nearly enough questions. I know we’re getting a hotel room, but Charlotte was taking care of all the details, making sure we were staying in the same hotel as the team. For all I know, we could all be sharing one big room, and that would be awkward as hell.
It doesn’t matter now. I shove a few more things in my bag and lock the door on my way out. I’m supposed to meet Sawyer at her place in fifteen minutes, and if I leave now, I should have time to stop and grab coffee for everyone.
I pull into the parking garage right as Knox is loading Sawyer’s bags. I park next to him in the spot that’s reserved for his empty unit and deliver the coffees to Everly before tossing in my own bags and greeting Sawyer with a kiss.
“Aww.” Everly and Charlotte say in unison.
“First rule, no kissing my little sister.” Knox declares louder than necessary, walking around to the driver’s side.
Turning to Sawyer, I take her face in my hands. “It’s still not too late. We don’t have to go.”
“Our bags are in the car.” She laughs.
“We don’t need them. We can just go right upstairs and-”
“Let’s go.” Knox barks from right behind me.
Sawyer giggles when she looks over my shoulder at her brother, then back at me. “I think I’d like to hear where that was going first.”
I widen my eyes at her in an attempt to telepathically communicate for her to stop talking.
Knox's only response is to point in the direction of the car. Laughing the entire way, Sawyer foll
ows his lead. Everly's SUV has three rows, Knox and her in the first, Emmy and Charlotte in the middle captain seats, leaving Sawyer and I in the back. We climb in and get settled before Knox pulls out of the parking garage and into traffic.
For the first part of the trip Everly drives Knox crazy by loudly singing along to every song that comes on the radio. Sawyer and Charlotte play with Emerson, who is a surprisingly good traveler for being just a couple months shy of a year.
“You are such a happy baby.” Charlotte says softly, playing with Emmy’s toes. “I hope my babies are just as sweet as you.
Sawyer and I turn to look at her at the same time. “Are you and Wren...” I don’t finish the question because I shouldn’t have asked it in the first place.
“Oh no.” She says, smiling. “Not yet, but someday.”
“What about you, Ev? Do you guys plan on having another any time soon?” Sawyer asks.
Knox laughs, but Everly doesn’t say a word. She sits there, silently looking at her husband for a few long seconds. Then she turns back to answer Sawyer. “I’m not sure.”
The car goes quiet. Knox is no longer laughing but watching his wife and trying to figure out what that comment means.
“What about you, Sawyer? I know you guys haven’t been dating long, but do you want kids of your own eventually?”
Sawyer's reaction is similar to Knox's, only after her laughter she adds on an “Oh, god no. Could you imagine? I'll just stay the fun aunt.”
Before I can turn to look at Sawyer, Everly's eyes catch mine and they’re filled with something I can't quite decipher. But I brush it off, turning my attention to Sawyer and analyzing how I feel about everything she’s just said. Wondering if that's her firm stance no matter what, but she keeps talking.
“I just don't think I'm the type to get married and pop out a bunch of babies.” She shrugs, going back to playing with Emerson who is starting to get cranky.