by C. A. Harms
The poor girl looked like she was about to pass out from fear. Honestly, I kind of wanted to hug her, but we’d just met so that could have been a little awkward. “We got this."
Chapter Five
Wyatt
* * *
"Hey, Jessie." I stood at the counter inside Java Jitters feeling like a tool. What in the hell was I doing?
"Wyatt." Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared at me and waited. Quickly I’d realized she had no plan to make this easy on me. Did all the ladies band together to torture me?
"Um," I mumbled. I looked behind me and saw that there was no one else waiting when I turned back to face her. "Yesterday there was a girl in here." Jessie arched her brow. "Brunette, she was with Anna and she got a—"
"Are you talking about Sadie?"
Nodding I felt even more ridiculous.
"I managed to—"
"Make her wear her drink." Jessie grinned and I realized right then that most likely the entire town was already talking about how I'd smashed Sadie's drink into her chest, and she stomped away from me in a pissed off state. Not much was missed in this town. Hell, it was probably on some gossip blog with pictures to prove it.
The Mason Creek Scoop had already shared my humiliation.
Unless you want to be sticky ladies, and I don’t mean the good kind of sticky, you might want to run if you see our kind officer walking in your direction. Especially if you’re carrying a fresh brewed treat from Java Jitters. Things got a little messy yesterday for our small town hero and the recently returning city girl. From what I’d witnessed, the only sparks that flew were those burning out of Ms. Michaels ears when she stormed off.
Stay tuned!
That was this morning’s addition, and the minute I read it, I felt my stomach hollow out. Nothing happened in this town that didn’t get back to Tate Michale, she had no shame, she threw everything out there. The girl went over the top with her little column and I had half the mind to make a stop at her place but knew that it’d only make things worse.
Shaking off the sick feeling the article gave me, I turned back to Jessie.
"Do you remember what she got?"
She nodded.
"Can you make another one please, and a coffee, with two creams?" Backing up with a smile, I waited, refusing to look behind me feeling like I was already on display. One thing about people in this town, they had amazing hearing skills. Everyone heard everything, even when you were trying your damndest to be discrete.
After Jessie placed my coffee and the other, topped with whipped cream and caramel on the counter, I paid and grabbed them both. Turning around, I began walking toward the front door when she hollered out behind me.
"You'll find Sadie over at Blossom's." I froze and took in a slow deep breath. "She'll be running the place while her mom recovers from her broken hip. Try not to spill this one all over her shirt."
I don't look back, instead, I pushed through the front door and stepped out onto the street. My police cruiser was parked right out front and I looked to my left through the front windows of the florist shop across the street. The nervous energy I felt earlier had nothing on what I felt now.
What was I thinking, that I'd buy her a coffee, and then she'd forget about yesterday and the way I humiliated her in high school? As if standing her up wasn’t bad enough, the teasing and humiliation continued. My friends, and even Karlie, would sit around and make fun of Sadie after they'd found out what took place. Comments about her being delusional to think a guy like me would fall for a girl like her. I was an asshole and said nothing, I just let it all unfold. Too worried about my reputation to correct them. The truth was I did like Sadie, she was sweet and didn't care about all the annoying shit most girls did.
Squaring my shoulders, I stepped up to the curb and waited for the car to pass before crossing the road. The lights were on inside the shop, and I could see movement. As I got closer, I noticed Sadie immediately, wearing a pair of heeled boots that I don't see many of the local ladies wearing. They looked uncomfortable.
Moving around the space with ease, she'd pick up a large display of flowers and move them from one cooler to the next. I don't know how long I stood there watching her but when she turned around with her hands on her hips scanning over the area, her gaze locked with mine through the large front windows.
I didn't miss the way her eyes widened, and her body tensed.
Slowly, I lifted the caramel drink so she could see it and offered her a smile she didn't return. This was a mistake, the woman hated me.
Motioning to the front door, I waited for her to meet me there only she still didn't move.
"Come on,” I mouthed, and she dropped her hands from her hips and began walking toward the front door. She made no rush to unlock it or push it open and I tried to plan out in my head what I'd say once she did.
Pushing open the door, she didn't step aside only leaned her hip against the frame and crossed her arms over her chest with defiance. My how she'd changed, the girlish features were long gone. She wore her makeup light, which I found perfect because she was flawless without it. Her lips appeared glossy as she pressed them tightly together, still saying nothing.
"I felt bad about yesterday." I held out the drink and she didn't take it. "Cut me a break here, I'm trying to apologize."
"So, this is all about making you feel better?" Timid was not something Sadie was anymore. "Well, goodness officer, here, " she took the drink and offered a fake smile, "let me ease your mind."
Stepping back inside she let the door fall shut but I stopped it with my foot. "Sadie, I was an idiot kid that didn’t know any better."
She swiveled around so fast I stepped back to move out of her way. "Yes, you were a kid, I was a kid. I spent the rest of my senior year being harassed and made fun of, but you, your girlfriend, and all your idiot friends used me as a metaphorical punching bag. There is really no reason to go back to that time, it followed me long enough. I'm not back here to rehash the past and I sure as hell am not back here to make you feel better about the dumb choices of your past. Honestly, I never thought I'd find you here."
Her chest rose and fell as she took in a slow calming breath.
"Actually, as far as this goes," she motioned between us with her hand, "there really isn't any reason for us to even communicate. I'm back, you’re here, and neither of us seems to be going anywhere. It's a small town so we are bound to run into one another, but in LA I got used to passing the same people on the street and finding it easy to walk on by without saying a word. So, the same tactic should be easy to follow here."
"Mason Creek isn’t LA."
"No, it is not."
I couldn't help but notice how beautiful Sadie had become. Even the hate she obviously felt for me did nothing to hide the spike of adrenaline I'd felt in her presence.
"I'm not the same guy I was back then." Nowhere close.
"Yeah," she squared her shoulders, "and I'm not the same girl."
With that, the door closed, the lock flipped, and she turned her back to me. I stood there for a few minutes before I walked back to my cruiser and ignored the curious stares of those, I know without a doubt, had witnessed the interaction between Sadie and me.
I’m sure this exchange would be tomorrows news.
Sadie wasn't the only girl in school that I'd hurt, but she was the only one that ended up being the butt of all the jokes from that point until graduation. Notes that would be pinned to her locker would be from guys asking her on a date and then saying things like wait on your front porch and I'll pick you up at seven.
They'd all stand back and laugh when they'd watch her grab the note and read it. Because of me, she was the girl that everyone taunted, because of me she was the girl that didn't even get asked to prom.
* * *
No wonder she hated me.
Chapter Six
Sadie
* * *
With one more look in the mirror, I wondered once again if I s
hould change. I've been dressing for LA for more than five years, my wardrobe was not meant for country life. I'd had no use for cowboy boots and jeans.
My nerves were a mess, this was a mistake. Why did I let Anna and Levi talk me into this?
Meet us all at Pony Up, they said. The whole crowd will be there, they said.
The problem was it was their crowd, not mine. I no longer knew any of these people. I didn't keep in touch.
I ran my hand over the black leather pants I had on, and focused on my black suede ankle boots. The heel was tall, but that has been the same thing with all my shoes, I don't think I owned anything without a heel.
The light gray V-neck slouchy sweater I topped it off with was my absolute favorite. It was soft and it made me feel sexy, but I found myself questioning it. I didn't remember the last time I'd felt like such an outsider.
My phone rang from inside my purse, and I hurried to grab it. I hoped it was Anna and that maybe something came up. Maybe her mom had backed out and was no longer able to babysit Drew. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" I could hear the music playing in the background and I knew my wish had not come true. "Everyone is here, but you."
"I was thinking—"
"So, stop thinking," she covered the phone, but I could hear everything she was saying. "She's trying to make excuses, but I swear if she doesn't get her ass in her car, I am going over there to drag her out, kicking and screaming I won’t care.”
I wasn't sure who she was talking to.
"Anna?"
She was still such a brat.
There was a scuffle and then I heard Levi on the other end of the phone. "Do I need to come and get you?"
"No." I was already grabbing my purse and my keys. “I’m on my way.”
“Twenty minutes, Sadie.” I narrowed my eyes like he could actually see my glaring at him. “If your ass isn’t walking through the doors, both Anna and I will be there to drag you out, carry you out, if that’s what it leads too.”
“Have I mentioned how much I hate you both?”
“You don’t hate us bug.” I cringed at the mention of my nickname. All it took was one pair of glasses in third grade that were bigger than my head and I’d landed that stupid name for life. “You love us.” And with that the call ended.
“Going out?” I skidded to a stop in the entryway feeling like a kid again, asking for permission to leave the house. “Do you need some money?”
“No, Dad.” I really needed to get my own place. “I’m good, just meeting up with Anna and Levi.”
“Good.” He nodded as he stepped up and gave me a hug. “You have fun with your friends.”
He left me standing in the entryway as he joined my mother in the living room.
The entire drive over I scanned every single space of property I passed hoping to see a for rent sign I hadn’t noticed before. With no luck, fifteen minutes later I was pulling into the busy parking lot of Pony Up and again that feeling of instant regret filled my stomach.
I hadn’t planned on jumping right into this type of outing. I thought I’d fly under the radar for the first month, quietly intertwining myself back into the typical life of small town living. But with people like Anna and Levi in my life, I should have known better.
Walking across the parking lot I did my best not to fall on the uneven ground. Voices in the distance laughing and enjoying themselves as I tried to remain hidden in the semi dark parking lot.
“Well, if it isn’t little Miss LA, herself.” Beau, Anna’s husband moved toward me quickly and wrapped me in a bear hug before I had the chance to prepare myself. “Damn girl, are those leather pants?”
I felt my cheeks heat and I tried to hide my face as he stepped back and slouched as if to get a closer look at my pants.
“We need to get Anna a pair of these.”
When I left, I’d only known Beau as one of the guys that ran around with Wyatt in school. He was one of the very few that didn’t play along in the harassment and teasing Sadie game. He was actually too busy trying to get with Anna that he’d stayed out of all the other stuff.
I’d gotten to know him over the many video chats with Anna and I’d found a new love for the man. He loved Anna, even through all her wild and crazy. She held his heart in the palm of her hand and I thought it was adorable just how awestruck he was by my best friend. He was also an amazing father.
“Yo, babe,” he hollered out hooking his arm over my shoulders as he started to drag me along, “look who I found.” A loud squeal I’d recognize anywhere echoed over the parking lot and Anna darted out of a crowd of people and quickly moved in our direction.
“Wow, look at you!” She scanned over me from head to toe. “Almost like you just stepped off a page of Elle Magazine.” I wanted to tell her to be quiet because I already felt so out of place, but it was too late, people were already looking. The worst part was that Wyatt was mixed in the crowd, staring at me, as he slowly sipped from a bottle of beer.
For far too long we stared at one another while everyone around me talked about my pants, and even my boots. I barely heard the things they’d said only catching a few words here and there.
There was no smile on Wyatt’s face, nor mine. Part of me wanted to lift my finger up and flip him off, but that would be immature, so instead I did it in my mind. What an ass, trying to stare me down as if I’d cave and offer him a wave or something.
“I need a drink.” I finally broke our staring contest and begin to walk toward the side entrance of the bar. I’d avoid the back patio as much as possible if it meant I could keep a safe distance between the officer and myself.
“Bug!” Levi held his hands up in the air as he shouted out the name he knew I hated. He chuckled when I flipped him the bird and began shuffling toward me. “What’s wrong sweetheart, are you in a bad mood?”
“You’ve only managed to get more annoying in my absence.”
“Emma, babe,” he began. I followed Levi’s line of sight and noticed Emma Hawkins behind the bar. She gave him the same annoyed look I felt I’d given him only moments again. “Need a beer and a,” he looked at me waiting for me to respond.
“Whiskey Sour.”
He nodded in approval repeating my order before giving Emma a wink that she completely ignored. “She wants me,” he insisted with a wag of his brows that made me laugh.
“I pretty sure she doesn’t.” He was most definitely delusional.
Once I got my drink and rejoined the people I hadn’t seen in years, I fell into a comfortable state I hadn’t expected. I listened as they all shared stories of when we were younger and even those that took place after I left. It was nice to see those that years ago may not have associated with one another one all stand in a crowd and laugh together.
We’d grown up, it was weird.
Moving my gaze around the bar I found Wyatt leaning against the side of the pool table laughing with Beau and a few others I recognized. It was a good a time as any to observe the guy he was now without him knowing I was doing so. The scruff along his jaw was new, but he still held that same cocky smile I’d loved years ago. He seemed taller, with broader shoulders, and a strong chest that screamed manual labor and hard work. The boy that broke my heart had become a man and I couldn’t manage to pull my eyes off of him. Wyatt had always been handsome, but this version of him—I’d never say it aloud because I’m entirely to stubborn—but it looked real good on him.
Somehow, I’d allowed myself to feel an attraction I didn’t want to feel. The memories of my adolescent years laid heavy on my heart but the truth was, he was right, he was young. We were both immature and if I could go back, I’d change a million things I’d done when I was younger.
I think we all would.
Chapter Seven
Wyatt
* * *
“She still can’t stand you, after all these years.” Beau thought he was a real comedian, chuckling as he continued to harass me over Sadie. “She disappeared like her ass was on f
ire when she saw you earlier. Now she’s doing all she can to stay at the opposite side of the bar from you.”
“You done, yet?”
“Hell no.” His eyes danced with humor as he looked over my shoulder. “Guarantee that if you turned around right now, she’d immediately look away.” It took me a second to register his words but instead of doing what he said I focused on the fact he’d just told me she was watching me. “It’s been a solid three minutes she’s been checking you out.”
Bullshit, the asshole was trying to get a reaction out of me. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“Swivel a little to the left and cock out a hip,” he tried to look serious imitating exactly what he’d just instructed me to do. He looked like a fool. “Give her the full view of your ass. I’ll tell you if she looks like she likes what she sees.”
Before he could prepare, I shoved him, and he almost fell backwards over the barstool behind him. Laughing, he held his stomach and again looked behind me. Without being about to stop myself I too looked back and damn, he wasn’t lying. She was watching me.
She scrambled a bit, shifting left then reverting to the right. In the process to look away in a hurry she bumped into her cousin Tate and almost dropped her drink in the process. It would serve Tate right if she wore it instead, that girl was always spewing shit on her blog, digging into the personal lives of others.
“You want me to talk to her for ya?”
“Leave it alone.” He’d only make things worse.
“If you say so,” he replied. He stepped around me and said, “I’m gonna go grab a beer, you want one?”
I nodded and shifted my gaze back to Sadie. Leather pants. I never thought I find that look sexy, but I was wrong. She looked out of place, but in a good way. Her clothes were upscale compared to the jeans and boots most of the other ladies wore. The way her pants and shirt hugged her body gave me the perfect visual of how toned her body was beneath. Made my body react in ways I knew without a doubt would only get me in trouble.
