Page 49 of Wright Together
I didn’t know what to do about Bailey. I didn’t know what to do about Dad. I didn’t know how I could keep going without Gram. I ran my finger across the inside of my bicep, where the wordsBe here nowwere written in her familiar scrawl. That had been her motto. The words she’d always used for me when I was struggling. I had to stay here in the moment. I had to keep moving even if it was sideways instead of forward.
My hands shook on the steering wheel. I clenched it harder to try to get them to stop. Usually, Gram’s words helped, but right now, I felt unglued.
“Fuck!” I yelled into the empty vehicle.
I dug my phone back out and opened the last text from Whitt. He’d responded to me a few times while I was inside. Flirty things. I scrolled up and again read the message where he’d invited me over. Maybe…maybe I should do that. Maybe it’d be good to be held by someone right now.
Is that invitation to come over still available?
The response was almost immediate.
Always.
I swallowed and then put the car in drive. Here goes nothing.
I’d never been to Whitt’s place before, but he’d given me the address while we’d been texting as an invitation to come over whenever I wanted. The thought of doing that had crossed my mind many times, but I’d never given in to that urge. Our situationship was good the way it was. Why was I suddenly complicating it? All because Bailey had called? I’d been dealing with that for so long it shouldn’t have bothered me. And still it had.
His house was a new build on the south side of town. Not that far from where I’d been showing houses. It had immaculately cut green grass, even in the blazing August heat. Trees in the front provided some shade. Comfy porch furniture sat in front of the brick house. I passed through the open stone archway and knocked on the black iron door.
Whitt appeared a minute later in very familiar lounge shorts and a gray T-shirt. “Hey, this is a surprise.”
“Hey.”
He opened the door all the way for me. I hesitated on the threshold.
Was I making the right decision here? I didn’t feel like I could come back from this. All those walls that I’d built up between us. I’d spent months denying myself, just to wind up here anyway.
I didn’t have to walk inside. I could stand on this doorstep in the evening heat and talk. I could…turn around and get back in my car and ruin everything. Except I couldn’t do that. Not with his big blue eyes all lit up at the sight of me. That smile, unusually bright. I’d done that. I made him happy. A thing that I found myself enjoying and wanting to continue to do.
Maybe there was an inkling of selfishness in there, too. I wanted to step inside. I wanted towantto step inside. I hadn’t felt that in so long.
“Do you want to come in?” he asked almost hesitantly.
“Sure. Yeah,” I said, realizing that I’d been standing there awkwardly. “Thanks.”
I stepped into the house, and Whitt closed the door behind me. It was everything I’d expected. Hardwood floor, giant open floor plan, carefully selected furniture, and a massive television over the fireplace. The whole place screamed Whitt. Minimalist, clean, everything in its place.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come by.”
“I was nearby.”
Which wasn’t the reason I’d stopped by at all. Work had nothing to do with this.
“How did your showing go? Did they like the house?”
“Yeah. They’re bringing their daughter to look at it tomorrow.”
“That’ll be good for you. Another sale.”
I brushed my hair off of my face. “I don’t really want to talk about work.” The words fell abruptly out of my mouth, but I just couldn’t bullshit. My barometer for small talk was nonexistent on a good day. And today wasn’t a good day.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “Something on your mind?”
I sighed. “It’s been a long day.”
Whitt leaned back against the kitchen island and waited for me to explain further. I didn’t know how he knew that I needed the space, but he clearly did.
After a minute, he finally asked, “Did something happen?”