As my eyes open, I become aware of the warm, naked chest my cheek is resting on and the strong arm wrapped around me. My hand is splayed on his hard abdomen and Wyatt's still asleep, his breathing deep and even. Even though I've been sleeping in his bed for the past few nights, this is the first time I've woken up before him, so I take advantage of it. Balancing myself on my arm, I start at the top of his head, gazing at him in wonder. He's so freaking adorable when he's sleeping. Wyatt's face is relaxed and the worry lines that are usually present on his forehead are smooth, his mouth tips up in a small smile making me wish I knew what he's dreaming about.
I trace his full lips with a finger, unable to keep my hands to myself. His hand at my hip tightens and my eyes fly up to meet his now open ones. His expression is amused and I know I flush bright red. He's caught me studying him which makes me feel vulnerable. Add to it the fact that waking up with someone else is still pretty new to me and I'm feeling bashful, which is completely unlike my usual abrasiveness.
Wyatt turns suddenly to grab his phone off the nightstand, looking at it before he falls back onto the bed with a groan. "What is it?" I ask, alarmed.
"It's almost noon. Clay and Emmett will probably be back soon, and I'm sure they won't be alone." His eyes are apologetic and I know he's not looking forward to sharing me anymore than I am to sharing him.
Sitting up, I wrap the sheet around me more securely, hoping that feeling less exposed physically will help with how exposed I feel emotionally. The fight that we had yesterday shook me much more than I would have thought, and it made me realize just how attached I am to Wyatt. His lips touch my shoulder and I flinch, unprepared for the touch. Wyatt puts a hand on my cheek, turning me to face him. He studies me, his eyes moving back and forth between my own. When he doesn't find the answer he's obviously looking for, he frowns and the lines I was so happy were gone just a few minutes ago are back.
"What's wrong, baby?" he asks gently, the concern in his voice obvious.
I try to turn my face away, but his hold is firm. "Nothing," I murmur, "I'm just a little nervous about all of this."
Dropping his hand from my cheek, Wyatt turns slightly so that he's facing me instead of just sitting beside me. "Nervous? About what?" I know he's confused, and maybe nervous isn't the word I should have used. This is all just so new to me.
"Everyone is going to be staring at us, wondering what went on this week. I just don't know how to deal with it." I shrug, trying to play off how uncomfortable I suddenly feel.
Wyatt knows me enough by now that he knows I'm getting ready to withdraw from him. It might just be self-preservation, a way to keep myself from getting hurt, but he grips my upper arms, pulling me around so that we're facing each other. "Who cares what everyone else thinks or wants to know? What happened this week is between us and only us. Quit worrying so much about what everyone else thinks."
He's right, but I always worry about what everyone else thinks. No matter how much I act like an untouchable ice queen, and trust me, I've been called that too many times to count...especially by Brad. Ugh, he's the last person I want to think about. Wyatt pushes me onto my back before hovering over me and pressing his lips to mine. "I know I said not to worry, but if we don't get up soon, everyone will be here and you'll be smack dab in the exact situation you're trying to avoid." Getting up, he extends a hand to me and pulls me up so that I'm standing in front of him. Wyatt wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me into his still very naked body. "Come on, let's take a shower," he whispers against my lips.
After sharing the shower, which was another new experience for me - who knew showers could be so...enjoyable? - Wyatt makes us breakfast. It's nothing fancy, just scrambled eggs on toast, but it's delicious. "Wow. Good in bed and you can cook? Will wonders never cease," I say teasingly, and he smiles at my words.
"What can I say...you're a very lucky girl Peyton Williams," he says with a laugh and I grin back at him, enjoying the back and forth banter.
I feel more at ease with him than I ever have with anybody else, even Scarlett. There's just something about Wyatt that makes me let go and lower the walls I keep around myself. He teases me, but he's the type of person who never takes it too far. I never have to worry that he's masking a nasty thought with a joke. There's been entirely too many people in my life who would.
We're standing side by side at the sink doing dishes, me washing and him drying, when the front door opens and loud voices yell his name. Wyatt looks over at me with a half-smile before shouting back, "In here assholes." Shaking his head at their replies, "are you decent" (Emmett) and "Dude, you didn't fuck her on the table did you?" (Clay), he mouths "I'm sorry" as they walk into the small kitchen. Emmett has his arm around Olivia and Clay is leering at SarahBeth who looks about as uncomfortable as I am around him while Max and Kat just shake their heads.
Clay's look changes to sorrow when he looks over at me. "Oh man, I was hoping y'all would be naked," he groans with a wink as I roll my eyes at him.
Emmett smacks him on the back of the head and everyone laughs. Obviously, this is something that happens often for Clay, someone always seems to be smacking him for making a suggestive comment.
"Hey Peyton," Max says with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about Clay and his poor manners. I promise he wasn't raised in a barn."
"Don't worry about it," I tell him, waving away his apology as Kat comes over to give us both a hug. I'm still not that comfortable with hugs though, so it's a little stiff, but she doesn't say anything about it.
After she hugs both me and Wyatt, she looks between us thoughtfully, "Something looks different..." she trails off when Wyatt puts his arm around me and smiles proudly.
Her eyes widen, but just as she starts to say something, Clay shouts, "Go Wyatt! You actually did score!" Coming over, he holds out a fist for him to bump, but Wyatt pushes it away with a frown.
"Shut up you moron." He says grouchily before grabbing me by the hand. "Come on Peyton." Wyatt pushes past everyone, heading for his room. Closing his door, he deflates with a sigh before looking down at me nervously.
"What is it? What's wrong?" I ask, worried about what's going through his head. Was the reality of us being together too much for him? I quickly run through the events in the kitchen in my head, but come up with nothing. I don't know why he's looking at me like he's afraid I'm going to bite his head off. When he still doesn't say anything, I start to panic, "Will you please tell me what's wrong, Wyatt?"
"Hey," he murmurs, pulling me into his arms so that I can rest my head on his chest, "I'm fine. I promise."
"You are not fine," I argue, crossing my arms over my chest. "Fine isn't leaving the room where all your friends are, and it definitely isn't pulling me into your bedroom away from everyone else. Are you...are you ashamed?" My voice cracks on the word, and is much lower when I continue. "If this is too much --"
Wyatt cuts me off. "Don't be an idiot," he grumbles, and I can feel him shaking his head back and forth against the top of mine. "I was just worried about how you'd react to Clay putting all our business out there. I know you're pretty private and I know you were worrying about how it would be with everyone here now. I just...I didn't want you to have to deal with that." Still keeping me tucked under his chin so that I can't see his face, he says softly, "If you want to go home, I'll understand. Just...will you let me stay?"
"You really are an idiot," I say with a huff. "Clay doesn't bother me. I mean, yeah, he's an ass and he has absolutely no filter, but I knew people were going to wonder what went on this week. I'll be okay."
Pulling away, Wyatt looks down at me, studying me carefully. "Who are you, and what have you done with the Peyton Williams I met a few months ago? That Peyton would have kicked Clay's ass...and then mine too just for being friends with him."
Laughing, I punch him lightly in the stomach. "Jerk. I'm still the same girl. I'm just not as uptight." Looking up, I give him the naughtiest smile I can, or at least I hope it's naughty, and not just a weird grimace. "I guess you relaxed me this week."
Now, it's his turn to laugh. "Oh, is that what it is? Well, I guess I'll have to make sure you stay relaxed then, huh?" After a moment, he opens the door and gestures out toward the main room. "Well, are you ready to face the firing squad then?" Instead of answering, I grab his hand and lead him back to the kitchen, where our friends are all still talking, only now, Scarlett and Annabelle are here too.
"Peyton!" Scarlett screeches before running over to me. I try to push Wyatt in front of me, but it's no use. Scarlett flings herself into my arms, jumping up and down with her arms wrapped around me, leaving me no choice but to wrap my free around her. "Ohmigosh! I missed you soooo much! How was your week? Did you and Wyatt have a good time?" She barely takes a breath as she looks down to where Wyatt's hand is entwined with mine, "Ahhh!" she screams, "Are you guys together?!?"
I haven't been able to answer any of her questions because she's just firing them all at me, but after the last one, she's just staring at me with wide eyes. "Jeez, Scar, calm down would you? To answer your questions, my week was great, and we did have a good time." I don't answer the last one right away and she releases me so she can glare at me. "Okay, okay. Yes, Wyatt and I are together now." Turning back to him, I smile at him and he grins back at me before dropping a quick kiss on my lips.
Scarlett squeals before hugging me tightly once more. "Oh wow, this is so great!" she enthuses. "Now, we just need to find me a man," she muses, looking first at Max, then Clay before bringing her gaze back to mine. "Or..." she starts, "maybe your new man can set me up with someone!" Wyatt laughs, but doesn't agree or disagree with her.
"Fuck guys, are we going to have to listen to the "OMG Wyatt and Peyton are boning" show all night, or can we go do something? This is fucking boring," Clay complains.
Wyatt wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in so that my back is against his front. "You guys want to go race go-karts?" His voice is excited, and I'm reminded of the time he took me to the go-kart track. I am so ready for a rematch!