I’m standing alone in the hallway, watching as Wyatt disappears down the stairs. Seeing him this upset causes a wave of panic in me that I didn’t see coming. Jana appears next to me a few moments later.

“I’m sorry, I thought you guys would have fixed it already. So you told him you were sorry for trying to keep him at bay and that you love him, but he still stormed out? Maybe he just needs some time,” she says with her hand on my shoulder.

“I didn’t exactly say all of that,” I mumble.

“Wait, what exactly did you say?”

“I told him that I wasn’t trying to hide things from him.”

“So you lied.”

“No…okay maybe. Argh! I know I should have told him but it was my issue to fix.”

Jana looks over at me, rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and starts to walk away. I reach out to her and ask, “What is that look supposed to mean?”

“Forget it. I’m gonna get everyone and maybe we’ll go down to the bar on the corner. We’ll get out of your way,” she says, clearly annoyed.

“You’re not in my way. You’re my best friend, and if you have something to say, I want to hear it.”

“Trust me, Winnie, you don’t,” she says as she starts to walk away. I stop her once again. She sighs loudly and pulls on her bottom lip. She always does that when she’s trying to stop herself from blowing up on someone. It never works.

“Jana, say what you have to say. I want to hear it,” I push.

“Okay, here goes: I love you very much, but right now, you’re being so fucking stupid, I could wring your damn neck!”

“What? Jana, you don’t get it, I—”

“No! You wanted to hear my thoughts, so here it goes: Wyatt could have any fucking woman he wants; we both know that. But instead of chasing mindless women whose shoe size matches their IQ, he has chosen you. That makes him a smart man because you’re wonderful. Or at least you would be if you would just stop letting Danny get in your head.”

“This isn’t about Danny!” I protest.

“Bullshit, everything is about Danny, and it’s not fair to Wyatt. I know Danny hurt you; I was there. And I get wanting to be guarded but when you find a guy like Wyatt, if you’re lucky enough, you take down your fucking walls, even if it’s piece by piece. But that’s not what you’re doing. Instead of working to tear them down, you keep making them higher and higher.”

“That’s not true. I have been open with Wyatt. I practically live in his house.”

“He’s not asking you to live in his house, he’s asking you to let him in. And you know what, he has a right to be pissed off. Can’t you see what’s happening?”

“Apparently I’m missing it. So, why don’t explain it to me?” I reply as I cross my hands over my chest and try to stay calm.

“It’s really simple: You’re blowing it. That guy who just marched out of his own house and let you take over, that guy is the guy you should happily let in your heart. That guy would move fucking mountains for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to do anything for me.”

“Argh! That’s just it—you don’t have to ask him; if it’s for you, he’ll do anything. Anything for love, that’s who he is when it comes to you.”

“I know that he loves—”

“Well you don’t act like you know. C’mon, Winter, do you have any idea how much pussy that guy gets offered? But he doesn’t care about that. He only cares about being with you. He’s a nightly guest at the ‘Blue Balls’ Inn because he’s waiting on you.”

“So if I don’t fuck him then I’m blowing it?”

“Sex would be greatly appreciated but if you are not ready, fine, but how about giving the man a goddamn key? How about telling him when your life is in danger and not going behind his back to his friend?”

“Hey, you knew I was doing that. You can’t throw that in my face.”

“Yeah, I knew you were hiding it from him but I hoped it was for a day or two. I thought you’d come to your senses. But you never did. Why are you trying to screw this up? Not everyone gets to be in love. Some of us are kept outside the gates and all we get to do is look in. Meanwhile you’ve been granted full access to love and everything that comes with it and you’re blowing it! You are letting Danny cast a damn shadow over everything.”

“I’m sorry that I’m not running my love life the way you want me to.”

“Yeah, me too. Because maybe if you take five seconds and look at what you have, you wouldn’t be so quick to throw it away.”

“I know what I have.”

“No you don’t! If you did you wouldn’t have sent a sweet, caring, intelligent, hot piece of ass out into the cold for other women to pounce on. For God’s sake, he raced in to help with the Will drama, he’s put up with all the roadblocks you put in place, and he’s doing it all with a smile because he’s just happy to be around you.

“And how do you repay him? You don’t tell him you love him, although everyone knows you do. You keep him in the dark about major happenings in your life and you lie when he confronts you. I mean, for the love of God, tell me you’ve at least given him a decent blow job.”

“Are you serious? Look, not all of us measure love with our tongues, okay?”

“Right, so I’m wrong because all I talk about is sex and sex acts. I’m the foolish whore in your book. The one who only knows about sex and has no concept of love.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“No but your tone did. And you know what, maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m just a ‘good time’ chick who doesn’t know the first thing about being in love or being in a relationship. But there is something I know a lot about—making stupid mistakes. And you letting that man walk out of here thinking you don’t give a damn about him—that’s a big fucking mistake.”

***

Jana gets her stuff and leaves. I try to stop her but she says she wants to go home and get some rest. So tonight I’m an awful girlfriend and also a horrible friend. I would follow her but I have no idea what to say. Jana’s right about everything. She usually is, but I know this is about more than just Wyatt and me. There’s something else going on and I will find out what it is but now is not the time. This day has felt more like a year. Why, oh why, can’t today just end already?

I lean on the wall for support and bury my face in the palm of my hands. I can feel a headache creeping in. It’s behind my right eye and chances are in the next hour or so it will advance and be a full-on migraine.

That’s perfect. Just fucking perfect.

I close my eyes and rant, “Fuck me!” as I rake my hands through my hair.

“Can’t now, sweetheart; rain check?” a deep booming male voice replies. I open my eyes and practically jump out of my skin. There’s a man standing directly across from me. I didn’t even hear the elevator door open. This guy is over six feet tall, exquisitely muscular, with searing blue-gray eyes, mid-length dirty blond hair, and five-day-old stubble that only adds to his sexy “just-out-bed-and-I-don’t-give-fuck” look.

“Who the hell are you?” I ask, standing up straight, now on high alert.

“You’re in front of my brother’s place, sweetheart, so I think the question is, who the hell are you?” he says pointedly. He’s Wyatt’s brother? Wow, what the hell did they put in that gene pool and can I please have some?

Seriously, Winter?

“Hi, I’m Winter.”

“Oh, yeah…‘the pause,’” he replies as he rakes over me with his eyes.

“That’s actually not my name but—sure, okay. So you’re one of Wyatt’s brothers? Are you the one who’s married to Shelby?”

“Fuck no! Life’s way too short for that.”

“Yeah, she’s something else. So who are you—I mean, what’s your name?”

“Logan.”

Of course it is.

“So, no one in your family believes in calling first, huh?” I mumble to myself. He grins. Damn that smile is hot.

“You’re kind of a smart ass and you have a nice ass. So yeah, I get it.”

“Get what?”

“I get why ‘the pause’ happens when he talks about you,” Logan adds.

“That’s very rude.”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“I don’t think Wyatt would appreciate the way you’re talking to me. In fact, neither do I. So change your tone or get the hell out.”

“Yup, I can totally see it,” he says, looking me over yet again, this time with a smile of approval.

“Do you have a message for him?” I ask, wanting this to be over.

“Yeah, tell him I’m headed out of the country, so I can’t make it this year; he’s up.”

“Will he know what the last part means?”

“Yeah, he’ll know.”

“Okay, I will let him know,” I promise. He wants to leave yet he remains standing where he is. I can see him struggle with what he’s about to say.

“Shelby said you were…you know, a good girl and shit. Is that true?”

“Um…yeah, I guess. I mean, I don’t think I’ve earned the amazing dinners he made me or apparently any of the good things he’s done for me, according to my best friend, but I’d like to think I’m good to him. Or not. Look, I don’t know. You have caught me on a really odd day,” I admit as I get more and more flustered. He looks at me as if I’ve somehow revealed something scandalous and beyond belief.

“What is it?” I ask, getting annoyed.

“Wyatt cooked for you?” he asks incredulously.

“Yeah, why is that such a big deal with you people?” I beg. His eyes soften and suddenly this big, tall, looming hunk of sexy “badass” guy is hugging me. It takes a few moments but eventually I hug him back because, well, it’s rude otherwise, right?

When he steps out of the embrace, his tone hardens and he looks into my eyes and warns, “Look here, sweetheart, you seem nice and everything and I hope to God you are. But you hurt my kid brother and I’m coming for you.”

Yeah, you’re way too late for that.

He nods briskly and sprints to the elevator. Macy enters the hallway and purrs as she watches the elevator door close on him.

“Wow, who the hell was that and can I have some?” she says. I roll my eyes and push her nosy ass back inside.

I need a drink or three; right now!