Page 145 of Wyatt
John’s eyes remain locked on mine. “This son of a bitch did my daughter dirty—that’s what.”
I feel Cash’s stare. “Wyatt?—”
“I can explain.” My voice sounds desperate, even to my own ears.
Sally steps forward. “Ican explain. I didn’t tell Wyatt about the job, Dad. I didn’t tell anyone except Mollie, because I was hoping I’d get to surprise y’all with the news tonight at dinner.” She looks at me. “I wanted it to be this big, special moment because it is a big moment. It is special. Or it was supposed to be.”
I look back, heart thumping. “What news?”
“I refused the job offer,” she says simply, like she isn’t wildly altering her life course. All our life courses. “I’m staying in Texas. No, I don’t know what I’m going to do about a job, and, yes, I’m working on figuring something out. But I’m staying because I’ve discovered I need a sense of community—a feeling of being connected to people—that I haven’t found anywhere else. Turns out, my dream doesn’t have anything to do with one specific job like I thought it did. My dream is serving my hometown. Working alongside people I know and love.” Sally sucks in a deep inhale and meets my eyes. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Wyatt.”
“Wait, wait.” John B blinks, finally lowering the rifle. “Wyatt really didn’t know?”
Once again, I find myself speechless. Sally isn’t taking the job. She’s not moving to New York.
Which means?—
My God, she’s actually staying.
We’re staying in the town I was born and raised in. The town where I want my children to be born, where I want to raise them.
Joy swoops through me.
“He didn’t know,” Sally confirms. “That’s proof this was my choice.”
Without thinking, I grab my zipper and yank it down. “I have proof of my choice too.”
Sally’s eyes go wide as they take in my white T-shirt. It’s one of those simpleI Love New Yorkshirts, a red heart in the place of the wordlove.
“Wyatt”—her voice cracks as her eyes flick to meet mine—“what’s this?”
I hear more zippers being pulled behind me, and then Ryder appears at my elbow. “Surprise! We’re forming a boy band.”
Sally looks at his shirt, Duke’s too. And then she laughs.
She covers her mouth with her hand and howls, tears leaking out of her eyes.
John still has my gun in his hands, but I don’t care. I curl an arm around Sally’s neck and pull her against me, pressing a kiss into her hair.
“You and I are apparently on the same wavelength, Sunshine. Same night you were gonna tell me you were staying in Texas was when I was gonna ask you if I could join you in New York. Show you I had my family’s blessing. Show you that I was excited to follow you wherever your dreams took us. I was never gonna make you choose between your job and me.”
Cash chuckles. “That’s pretty dang sweet.”
I hear another car door opening, and I look up to see Mollie climbing out of Cash’s truck. “Everything okay?”
“Not okay that you didn’t tell me Sally’s news,” Cash replies. “But, yes, it’s safe for you to come out. Right, John?”
Sally’s father has a flabbergasted look on his face. He doesn’t say a word.
Instead, he watches Sally sob into my new T-shirt, my brothers discreetly wiping their eyes around us.
“I can’t believe you’d move for me,” Sally manages.
“Aw, Sunshine, can’t you though? I can’t let you out of my sight as it is. You really think I could handle living halfway across the country from you?”
“I’m glad you can’t.”
“You sure?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. “About the job?”