Chapter Ten

 

Wyatt

 

So Zoey was against Valentine’s Day. Only surprising because she seemed like the kind of girl who would want flowers and candy and all of that shit. Maybe she only hated it because she didn’t have someone to share it with. Which truthfully, gave me some relief. I couldn’t stand the idea of her with someone else even though we weren’t together. Which was just selfish. Yet her without a V-day date and no boyfriend somehow felt like winning the jackpot.

I sat on the couch in my mother’s living room with a beer in hand thinking about the girl I really wanted. After our back and forth and the allusions to Zoey’s experience with last boyfriend, I’d have my work cut out for me if I decided to make a move now. Especially now that she knew I’d walked away all those years ago because she was so innocent. I’d expected she’d lost her virginity already and when she said she hadn’t—that surprised me. I couldn’t take that from her then leave the country for who knew how long.

As the days went by without seeing her, while horrible, gave me time to think. First I’d had to admit that I wanted her. Easy. But deciding we could be together and everything would be normal was a lot harder. I just had to be sure that I’d be in it for the long haul before acting because if not Zoey needed to find the one she belonged to. Even if it wasn’t me.

However, I realized, it wasn’t even a real question. The thought of her with someone else burned jealousy through my veins. Imagining someone else touch her the way I had or see her the way I had—that would drive me insane for an eternity.

I was already in it for the long haul and figured I probably shouldn’t try to fight it anymore. But I had something else to do first. Something my best friend deserved, even if in the end Zoey decided she didn’t want to be with me. I needed to talk to Riley.

My tires ground to a halt right outside the open bay door of Riley’s garage. I took a deep breath but my feet felt heavy as I walked into the shop. Riley would be in there and he absolutely wouldn’t like what I had to say. Still had to say it, though.

“Goodrich,” I called out as soon as I got inside. Looking for him would’ve taken too much time.

“Problem, McCann?” Riley came around the back wall his face tight in confusion. He must’ve been in the storage room.

“I’m in love with your sister.”

That brought Riley to a resounding halt. “The fuck did you say?”

“I’m in love with your sister,” I said again. Probably not the best idea to spring it on him the way I had but it was out there now and I couldn’t deny even if I wanted to.

“What the fuck, Wyatt? I told you to help me take care of her. Not fall in love with her, motherfucker.” Riley closed the gap between us and perhaps a different kind of man might’ve been worried or taken a step back. But I stood my ground unfazed by the anger in my best friends face. I’d expected it. Almost welcomed it. We needed to get this part over so Riley could help me win Zoey over. Which would happen eventually and by then Riley would be totally on board. Once he got over his angry stage.

“Yeah, too late for that,” I said back. “Now I need you to help me win her over.”

Riley snapped back like he’d been slapped. “Win her over?”

“Yeah, we’ve had a little back and forth but she’s pissed as hell now.”

Riley ground his teeth together tensing his jaw as an answer. He’d known me since we were in middle school and he’d know exactly what “back and forth” meant. “Jesus Christ, Wyatt. You’re a real good friend aren’t you?”

“Better than you.”

It wasn’t true. Riley was the best friend a guy could ask for but I needed to goad the anger out of him to get this whole thing moving. Riley would feel better once it was out.

“So what the fuck is all this about before I kick your ass?” he asked instead of replying to my comment.

“You can try.” I puffed out my chest but kept my arms relaxed at my side. “Come on, Riley. Who would you rather have taking care of your sister? Me? Or some other asshole?”

Riley’s nostrils flared a little then showed some signs of resignation. His shoulders unclenched, his jaw loosened.

“It’s not you that’s the problem. It’s the taking care of her part.”

“So, you only object to me naked with your sister?” I bit the inside of my cheek to keep a smile at bay.

“Oh god.” Riley leaned forward with his hands on his thighs like he was going to throw up. I knew better but he put on a pretty good show.

“There’s an easy fix to that.” I smirked when he snapped his head up so he could see me. “I won’t touch her.” His eyebrows went down in confusion as he stood up. “I’ll let her do all the touching.”

Riley groaned and gave my shoulder a hard push. “You’re an asshole.”

I chuckled loudly and waited for him to join in. Instead Riley just threw a dirty rag at me.

“Now come on. I want to blow her mind on Valentine’s day.” I began to walk toward him but was met with a severely dirty look. I put my hands up defensively. “I mean to win her over.”

He turned his head to glare at me again.

I hadn’t meant whatever Riley was thinking but shit it was funny that he thought I did. “I mean, to date me. Be my girl. Go steady. Whatever you want to call it.”

“Yeah, good luck with that. She hated Valentine’s day even when she had a boyfriend.”

For whatever reason, that was all the encouragement I needed. His good luck had been dripping with sarcasm but I didn’t care. A plan formed itself in my head and I knew exactly what I had to do.