CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Wyatt cursed and slammed his laptop lid shut. He leaned back in the uncomfortable hotel chair and rubbed his eyes. This script was going nowhere fast. Stupid writer’s block.
The weekend had been awful. Imagining Tamera with Drew made him physically sick, but Wyatt couldn’t get the image out of his head. He hadn’t left his hotel in three days and it showed. The bed was unmade and dirty towels littered the floor, mixing in with the empty room service trays.
In two days, he’d see Tamera again whether he wanted to or not. He was closing on his house and knew she’d be there despite the turmoil their personal relationship was currently experiencing.
He wanted to hate Tamera. He’d put his heart on the line, begged her to stay, and she’d driven away without a backward glance. Wyatt wanted to furious with her for not trusting him. But a bigger part of him wanted to wrap her in his arms and promise to spend the rest of his life proving to her she was worth loving. That not all men were out to hurt her. The baggage she carried must be so heavy, and he would gladly help lighten the load if she’d just let him.
A sharp rap sounded at the door and Wyatt looked up in surprise. He’d put a do not disturb sign on his door and not even housekeeping had bothered him.
“Open up,” came a cheerful voice. “Your sister’s here to save the day.”
The sound of his sister’s voice had him scrambling to open the door. He flung it open and pulled Natalie into a tight hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Can’t. Breathe,” Natalie panted, pushing against his chest.
Wyatt dropped his arms and stepped back. Normally her antics would make him laugh, but tonight he couldn’t summon up the energy.
“I thought you decided not to come until the semester was over,” Wyatt said. “I should be all moved in by then.”
Natalie tossed her sandy blond hair, the same color as their mom’s, over one shoulder and shut the door behind her. “This is a surprise visit to do damage control.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Clearly you’re depressed and wallowing over your admittedly horrendous luck.” She sat gingerly on the edge of his bed, her nose wrinkling in disgust. “Gross, Wyatt. Let the maids in to clean occasionally. It looks like you haven’t left in days.”
Wyatt slumped into the uncomfortable desk chair, not meeting her eyes.
She groaned. “Yeah, hopping that plane was definitely a good idea. Talk to me.”
“What do you want me to say? I tried to explain, and she ran right into Drew’s waiting arms.” The second time he’d lost a woman to the quarterback. He’d thought last time had been painful, but it was nothing compared to this. He hadn’t loved Becky. But his entire heart ached for Tamera. His feelings for her had snuck up on him so gradually, he hadn’t realized what was happening until it was too late.
Natalie slugged him hard in the shoulder. “You are such a guy.”
He rubbed his arm and scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re an idiot.” She sighed and absently began to straighten the items on his bedside table. “Of course she ran back to Drew. She’s known him longer. He’s safe and familiar—exactly the kind of scum she’s used to dating.”
Wyatt furrowed his brow. “You’re making even less sense than usual.”
Natalie rolled her eyes and placed one hand on her hip, reminding him vividly of their mother. “Tamera said so herself—she’s always fallen for guys who are all wrong for her. She’s dated the Drew’s and Caleb’s of the world her entire life. Now that she’s faced with a Wyatt, she’s scared.”
“Huh?”
Natalie sighed dramatically and flopped back on the bed. “I know, I know—matters of the heart can be confusing. The point I’m trying to make is that Tamera has never felt for someone what she feels for you. And she’s terrified it’ll all blow up in her face if she moves forward. So when something happened that seemed, you know, explosion worthy, she ran for the hills.”
Wyatt struggled to process what Natalie was saying. “You’re saying she freaked out and left because she did believe me? She knew all along I was telling the truth?”
“Maybe. You’ll have to talk to Tamera to find out for sure.” Natalie lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “What I’m saying is that I’ve never seen you this way over a girl.”
That’s because he’d never been in love before. The weeks following Becky’s betrayal had been difficult, but more because of the situation than because he wanted her back. Wyatt rubbed his jaw, considering Natalie’s words. He certainly hadn’t felt like his heart had been been ripped out of his chest and stomped on with Becky, that was for sure. It hadn’t hurt to breathe. To imagine a life without her.
“So what do I do about all this?” Wyatt said cautiously. “Tamera is in San Antonio with Drew right now. They’ve got history together.”
“History we both know was built on manipulation and lies. Did you even pay attention to the show? He totally destroyed her game.”
“Yeah, but it was a game.”
“It showed his true colors,” Becky countered.
“So I’m supposed to … what? Declare my undying love to her? Wave a magic wand and somehow make her forget all the lies and accusations she’s heard against me?”
“Seriously, do I have to do all the work for you?” Natalie tossed her hair over one shoulder, a sure sign of annoyance. “Tamera needs to be reminded of who you really are. She needs to be shown the real Wyatt. The one she fell for, outside of all the rumors and speculations and evil quarterbacks trying to ruin your life.”
“Sure. Because that will be so easy to show her.”
“You know Tamera.” Natalie’s eyes softened and she leaned her chin in her hands, holding Wyatt’s gaze. “Not the girl on Eye in the Sky. Or the woman who sells houses. Or even the actress who goes on auditions with Hollywood agents. You know her. And that’s what you have to show her. That both of you have been real with each other. Take off the masks, throw all your cards on the table, and see if you can win the biggest game of your life.”
Wyatt’s breath quickened as he imagined confronting Tamera one last time and doing just that. He could almost imagine her eyes softening. Her body leaning toward his. Her lips caressing, tugging, opening.
He wanted Sunday afternoon movie marathons with her in his new home. He wanted to hold hands in the mall and argue over what to make for dinner. A life with Tamera was worth risking it all one last time.
Wyatt snapped his fingers together, an idea forming. “I think I know what to do.”
“You’re not going to put Tamera, will you marry me? on the JumboTron at the first pregame, are you? Because that’s a little cheesy.”
“Uh, no. I think a marriage proposal is a little premature.” But maybe it wasn’t as out of the question as Wyatt had feared. Maybe Natalie was right, and there was a way to salvage this.
“What’s the plan then?” Natalie asked.
“Okay, here’s what I’m going to do.” He leaned forward, outlining his plan to Natalie. Her eyes grew wider with each word and she nodded enthusiastically.
“If that doesn’t work, Tamera is insane. Oh my gosh, I’m dying. It’s too perfect.” Natalie clapped her hands together. “Chop chop, big brother. Let’s get to work.”