by C. A. Harms
“I like the guy I am when I’m with you.” Sadie paused, her gaze locked on mine. We’ve managed to get this far without the heavy stuff, but I was done holding back the things I felt.
“I like who I am when I’m with you too.”
There we stood in her kitchen staring at one another. So many feelings being passed between us without speaking even one word. I was falling hard for her, harder than I could have ever imagined. The things I’ve imagined for us, the dreams I have for us, I just hoped what she saw in store for us was the same.
Because with Sadie, I wanted it all.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sadie
* * *
“Are you sure about this?” I tugged on Wyatt’s hand as he attempted to lead me up the driveway toward his mother's front door. My nerves were shot, my pulse was racing, and I felt slightly nauseous at the thought of seeing her again.
Wyatt refused to listen to me and had I known that he was bringing me here when we left this morning I would have refused to climb up in his truck. Most likely that would have led to him tossing me up inside on his own but hey I could have sure tried to outrun him. Secretly I loved his Alpha I am man, hear me roar ways, but I would never tell him that. He was strong confident and unbelievably sexy and yes it did crazy things to my libido but again, my secret.
Before I have the chance to try to get out of this once again the door came open and there stood his mother. A big bright smile on her face and she wasn’t looking at her son. “Sadie,” she said, moving past Wyatt she pulled me in for a hug which momentarily surprised me. “I am so glad to finally get the chance to meet you properly.”
My cheeks reddened and I knew she was referring to the last time we saw each other, and I ran out of the barn like I was being chanced by a hungry pack of wolves.
“Come in,” she said, and not letting go of my arm she led me inside and Wyatt followed behind with a matching smile. He said nothing, just allowed his mother to ramble on and take me under her wing. It was sweet really and I loved that there was never a mention of me being indisposed. I had imagined this interaction going much differently, thank God for that.
“Here sweetheart,” Mrs. Murphy walked around the counter and opened up the refrigerator. I looked back at Wyatt as he stepped in behind me and took the chair at my side. He smirked, I think reading my body language and knowing that I am still on guard as if waiting for it all to fall apart. “You like sweet tea, don’t you?”
I was trapped in the hypnotizing gaze of Wyatt, a smirk tugging at his lips and I missed his mother stepping up to the counter where he and I sat. It was almost like I was in a trance seeing Wyatt stare and me, we staring back. I felt so many things when I was with him. It used to frustration and irritation that overpowered everything else, but those things were gone. Now I had hope, excitement and so much attraction that it took over everything else. I adored Wyatt, and that adoration grew by the minute, which left me feeling like I was floating most of the time.
“You two are so cute.” I looked away from Wyatt and found his mother on the opposite side of the island, watching us both. "Tea," she held up the picture and I felt my cheeks redden with the knowledge that his mother had just caught us in some type of trance.
"Yes," I cleared my throat, "please."
I ignored Wyatt’s chuckle and focused completely on his mother, I had to. Looking at him now would only give him more to tease me about later and I was already terrified that his mother would think the worst of me.
Instead, I listened to his mother, caught up in the conversation of her most recent volunteer work through the church. I was mesmerized by her almost as much as I was her son. His mother was short, petite and so kind. I imagined she'd had a hard side knowing that she'd raised two boys I knew she had to.
We moved to the living room, sitting around getting lost in the stories of Wyatt and Will as a child. I noticed the way Wyatt was watching his mother, at and one point his eyes seemed glossy as if he was fighting some kinds of emotions. I felt my own emotions intensify and part of me wanted to reach out and take his hand in mine, only I said nothing. He didn't seem sad, but a man showing any type of emotion was a rare thing.
When Wyatt's mother pulled out the photo albums, he protested but the light in his mother's eyes made it worth it.
"Is this necessary?" he protested.
"Oh yes." The laughter that fell from his mother's lips was contagious and I too laughed feeling excited about what I was about to see. "I've been waiting so long to pull out these albums and use them to torture you and I won't let you take the opportunity away from me."
Just then Will entered the house, pulling off his boots at the door. "What are we doing?" he eyes the albums than his brother, grinning knowingly. "Is it naked baby picture time?"
"Among other things." His mother wiggled and got comfortable on the couch, placing the album on her lap.
"Ma, have we forgotten that Sadie here has already seen all of Wyatt's naked parts." And there it was. "I'm pretty sure the size of the package hasn't changed much."
Quickly Wyatt was off the recliner and moving toward his brother, jumping and placing him in some kind of headlock. The two of them started to rough house in the doorway and I couldn't help but smile. It was so much fun to see Wyatt in his element with his family. I never got the chance to meet his father, but something told me he'd be proud of the life he gave them, the closeness they obviously shared.
It was sweet.
Will got loose and found his way to the kitchen, Wyatt following closely behind.
"Those two boys are my world," I looked back to his mom and found her eyes shining with pride and maybe a little sadness too. "I miss their father every minute of every day, but I see him in them. Wyatt's strength and charm, even Will's playfulness and unapologetic humor."
I felt myself getting emotional, thinking of her loss, and her grief.
"So, these pictures," I open for the distraction I felt we both needed. When her smile returned, I knew I'd succeeded.
Picture after picture of Wyatt and even Will as a baby. They were both so adorable, with dark hair and toothless smiles. His mother has a memory for every single photo it seemed and I got so lost listening to her talk about her family. In a few images, I got to see Wyatt's father and hear the stories of how proud he was to be the father of two boys. The days when he'd hold one boy on each of his knees on the back porch and tell them all about the things he'd planned to teach them.
The images grew older, those of Wyatt in middle school and even those when he first made the football team. In some, there was Beau by his side and in his younger years, I saw more of baby Drew than I did now. I knew without a doubt Anna's son would grow up to look just like his daddy and be as handsome too.
As she flipped the page I was so lost in the dimples of the previous that it took me a moment to register hat I was looking at.
Silence set in over us, me unsure what to say and Mrs. Murphy probably the same.
There on the page before me like, like a neon sign blinking and taunting me was a picture of Wyatt at Karlie. Wyatt in a tux, with a blue vest and tie, Karlie in a silver dress, blue shoes that match him to perfection. His arms wrapped around her waist, her hand upon his chest as she looked up with him with a big smile.
It was my turn to fight emotions. So many thoughts, a flow of memories raised through me.
"I'll take you to prom Sadie, if you promise to give me a little peek of what treasures lie beneath the dress you plan on wearing."
That was just one of so many things I'd heard from the guys in school. That was actually one of the nicer comments that they'd corner me and say. That was a dark time for me, they'd all made me question who I was, they'd made me hate who I was. I never felt adequate, I'd never felt like I'd deserved to go to prom and laugh and dance with my friends. They'd taken a girl that was happy with herself and made her feel like a nothing more than a waste.
"I never liked that girl much," Wyatt's mothe
r whispered and I didn't look away from the picture. I didn't want her to see the ugliness it brought back to the surface. I didn't want it to darken what I have with Wyatt now.
But my chest felt heavy and my stomach tensed.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Wyatt
"Things are quiet in there." Will jerked his head toward the living room and I paused, listening for the laughter that had been going on for what felt like hours. I loved the idea of my mother and Sadie bonding even if it was at the expense of my manhood. I knew she'd tease me about the images she'd been shown, but hey, I'd deal with that.
But my brother was right, things had quieted down.
Placing my beer on the counter I moved toward the doorway and when I heard my mother talk, I paused. "She was also so selfish with Wyatt. Didn't like him paying attention to anyone else but her, and the drama."
Peeking around the doorway I had a side view of Sadie and saw her staring down at the album in my mother’s lap. But she wasn't saying anything in return to my mother.
"Even with William and I she hated when we took Wyatt's attention from her. Karlie was a selfish girl. Even on this night, when they went to prom," my heart sank when it then dawned on me what pictured they'd ran across. "She threw a fit when Wyatt stopped her for us to take a picture. I could see the Wyatt was unhappy and I know I should have said something, but I didn't. I'm just glad that it’s over. The man I see now, the one is with you, that's that man I raised."
Sadie nodded, and it was then she looked at my mom. "I didn't really know her, but I knew Wyatt." Fuck I wanted to go to her and hold her, apologize again for the shit I know she had in her life during that time because of me. "Regardless of who he went with, he looked very handsome."
Fuck this, I moved into the room and when I sat down on the couch next to Sadie she looked back and forced a smile. "Memory lane," she mumbled and without a second thought I lifted my hand and touched her cheek. Momentarily her eyes closed but only for a second when she opened them once more and looked at me. "It's okay," she whispered.
"It's not okay," I countered. "What I did back then, what happened after that will never be okay." I kissed her softly, not for a second worrying about the fact that mother was sitting only a few feet away. I knew that later I have to explain what this was all about but for now, my only concern was Sadie. I know she's forgiving me for the past, but part of me wonders if she'll ever be able to forget those times.
"Are you serious about this?"
"Hell yeah, I am." I pulled out another string of lights from the box my mother found in her garage. Plugging it in feeling ecstatic when the entire strand light up with twinkling lights. "I need to do this."
Beau continued sweeping up the garage while I gathered all the strands that were working. I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I wanted to give this my all. Decorating, it was not something I was good at but I'd give it all I could for Sadie.
The side door to the garage opened and in came my mother followed by a few other ladies I recognized form the church. They carried containers with what looked like materials of some form in them. "We came to help." My mother came toward me, kissing me on the cheek before they all got to work. For hours I watched as they transformed my garage into their version of a prom.
Tulle and something called gossamer with the twinkling lights mixed in lined the walls. In one section there was also so many balloons, floating along the ground that I wondered how we would walk without tripping.
To be honest I don't remember what prom was like when I went. I was a teenaged boy, who didn't care about all that stuff, but that was the thing, girls they did. Sadie should have had that experience, she should have been held on the dance floor, swaying to the music with a guy that thought she was the most beautiful girl in the room.
I may not have been the man I should have been back then, but I'd give that to her now.
Chapter Thirty
Sadie
* * *
"What is this?" I pulled back the tissue paper and found the prettiest champagne colored dress with a lace overlay. It was beautiful, with a plunging neckline, slightly on the sexy side. "Why do I need this?"
Anna walked up next to me and held out a pair of shoes that matched the dress perfectly. "Just put it on." She gave me a little nudge, but didn't give any details as to why I'd been delivered a dress much too fancy for any events taking place in out small town. I was at a loss, and my best friend was being overly pushy.
"We have two hours to get you ready," she said then she started to run her fingers through my hair and I pulled back. "I think we should put your hair up, it will show off the dress more and your neck. You have a nice neck."
"I have a nice neck?" I wrinkled my nose and looked back over my shoulder at Anna. She was acting weird, this whole thing was weird.
"Will you stop being so damned stubborn and just come on," she grabbed my arm and began dragging me toward the bathroom. Pulling the shower curtain aside she gripped the hem of my shirt and began pulling it up.
"Do you mind?" I swatted her hands away making her laugh.
"Then move it, already." Giving me a little push, she stepped back and closed the door behind her. There I stood in my bathroom wondering what on earth was going on. Had she lost her mind?
Twenty minutes later I walked out of my bathroom wearing nothing more than my robe and a towel wrapped around my head. Of course, Anna was already walking down the hallway to meet me looking eager. "Okay so, we now have less than an hour and a half so we have to get moving."
"Not until you tell me what in the hell is happening."
I should have known better, Anna was almost as bad as Granny Char, she was determined and had no intentions of letting me out of whatever it is I have ahead of me. So instead of dragging it out, I swiveled around, walked backed to my bedroom and sat quietly while Anna did her magic.
A little over an hour later I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe the transformation. Anna had swept my hair up in a mostly up do, with long tendrils hanging in spiral curls around my face and down my back. She intertwined what looked like pearls into my hair, twisting and swept in so many different directions. I'd never seen anything like it, it was beautiful.
"Wow." I whispered, holding up the mirror so I could see the back of it, reflected in the other mirror behind.
"You look gorgeous." Holding on to my shoulders she stared at my reflection with me. "Now the dress."
"Are you gonna give me even a small hint?"
"No." Stubborn woman. "But I will tell you, that tonight it will be life changing and that you deserve tonight, he's put so much time and effort into. A guy doesn't do those types of things unless he loves the girl he's doing them for."
I took in a deep breath and nodded. I'd stop hounding her.
My doorbell rang and I stood, taking in the entire view of myself from head to toe. I'd never been this dressed up, never spoiled to the extreme of my hair, makeup and even my nails and toes being done for me. I felt beautiful.
Anna walked to the door, me following closely behind. I paused in the center of my living room, the door opening and there on the opposite side stood Wyatt. He was dressed in a tux, holding something in his hand.
"What?" I was confused, but Wyatt looked unbelievably handsome.
"You look…" His eyes widened as he stepped closely his eyes scanning over me fully before locking with mine once more. "Amazing, stunning."
I felt my cheeks warm, but I didn't shy away. I loved the way he was looking at me, like I was only person in his world, the most important. It felt incredible.
Wyatt stepped even closer, leaning in he pressed a kiss to my lips and I tried not to sigh, but it was impossible. He did those things to me.
"Here." He opened the small container that he was holding and pulled out a corsage. It had a champaign colored ribbon, light pink and off white flowers with a small touch of silver. "Miley made them for us." Looking up I felt even more confused. Everyon
e seemed to be in on this, and I had missed it at every turn.
Removing it from the clear container he placed it over my wrist and I felt my anticipation of what was to come, soar even higher.
"Shall we?" Holding out his elbow I linked my arm through his and he led me to the door. Looking back over my shoulder, I found Anna still watching me and she blew me a kiss just as we stepped outside. The shawl that I wore over my shoulders slipped a small fraction and before I could pull it up, Wyatt did it for me. His fingertips brushing over my arm, and collarbone, sending chills down my arms. "Are you ready?"
I realized that second that there wasn’t much I wouldn’t do for this man.
"For what?"
"For the night we should have had years ago."
Leading me toward the garage I felt even more confused. Why would we be dressed up the way we were to spend time in a garage that was his workspace? But the second he opened the door and led me inside, it dawned on me what this was.
"Will you go to prom with me Sadie Michaels?" Wyatt whispered near my ear and tears filled my eyes. So long ago I longed for those words and I’d never heard them. Yet getting the chance to hear them now, it meant more to me then I could ever attempt to explain.
The garage was no longer a dirty, sawdust filled space, but it had been transformed. tulle, silk, balloons everywhere and so many twinkling lights were strung out all around us. Hanging from the ceiling, draped over the tulle and falling to the floor, it felt magical. The smell of what resembled my mother’s shop after the fresh flowers have been delivered lingered in the air, it was breathtaking.
"I'm sorry I robbed you of a night like this," I turned to face him and tilted my head back so that I could see his face. "I know this isn't the same, but—"
