Page 36 of Wrangling Nash

Wylie’s eyes widened as a wicked grin spread across his face. “Her boyfriend, eh?” he said, shaking Patrick’s hand.

“Well, no, I guess not technically. Sorry, still getting used to saying that. She did break up with me before she left, but I told her I’d be waiting.”

Wylie chuckled. “She sure is hard to get rid of, isn’t she?”

Patrick didn’t catch his tone and just smiled in response.

“How about you join us for dinner, Patrick?” Wylie asked, as I cringed, shooting Wylie a deathly look but of course, he avoided my gaze.

“I’d love that; I’m starving. You mind showing me where we’ll be sleeping tonight?” Patrick asked as Wylie raised his eyebrows at me.

“Yea Jovie, why don’t you go on and show Patrick where y'all will be sleeping, and I’ll heat up the dinner.”

I wanted to kick Wylie as I gritted my teeth watching him disappear inside.

“What was that about?” Patrick asked.

“Look, Patrick…”

I couldn’t believe I was having to explain this to a 35-year-old man. I sure as hell thought I’d been clear when I left three months ago, and though if there had been any lingering doubts regarding returning to Houston and reconnecting with Patrick, the past three months with Nash had devoured those. Things with Patrick had been good yet never this passionate, even at the beginning.

“I thought I’d been clear when I left that I wasn’t looking to continue our relationship.”

Patrick’s eyes narrowed as he assessed me. “Is it because of that guy Wylie?”

I let out a breath. Why did men always assume you were ending things with them because you’d found someone else? Sometimes, two people just didn't fit. I ended things with Patrick before I met Nash, and I’d do it again. We might have been compatible on paper, but wanting to be with someone required a lot more than an arbitrary checkbox of similarities and interests on a dating app.

“No, me and Wylie are just neighbors and friends.”

He nodded his head, still watching me. “Ok, well shit, this is awkward for me then. I thought you’d just been ending things because you were moving away, but I can see it in your eyes now, you don’t feel the same way for me as you used to.”

I sighed, remaining silent but in my heart, I knew, I had changed a lot these past three months.

He raked a hand through his hair again, “I'm disappointed. But I respect your decision. I can head back to Houston then; sorry to bother you.”

“Look, it’s already late, and that’s a long drive. Why don’t you just come have dinner with Wylie and me, and then sleep in the pool house outside? No one has slept in there in a while, and it’ll at least make sure you’re rested before making the trek back to the city.”

I could tell he wasn’t sure, but when I reassured him again that Wylie wouldn’t mind, he agreed.

Returning inside, Wylie had already heated up our dinner. We ate together with animated retellings by Wylie of the adventures I’d gotten into over the past three months while he tactfully avoided any details that would give away my situation with Nash.

As the night wound down, Patrick stood up from his chair while Wylie cleared the plates and rinsed them in the sink. “Well, thanks for not kicking me out on my ass to make the drive back tonight, Jovie; this was fun. Wylie seems like a good guy and I’m glad you have a neighbor who will be looking out for you. And though I’m disappointed things ended between us, I’m glad you’re doing well and will be safe here over the next nine months.” He bent low to give me a kiss on my cheek.

“And maybe if things change in the future when you come back, and we’re both still single, we can give this thing a shot again.” He grinned sadly and then retreated out to the pool house.

I took a few minutes to compose myself before finishing clearing the table and joining Wylie in the kitchen.

I could see the smirk on his face, but he didn’t say any words as he continued to rinse while I leaned against the counter.

“Just so we’re clear, Patrick is not my boyfriend.”

“I figured as much,” Wylie spoke as he continued rinsing with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“I broke up with him before I left for Houston, just as he said. I thought that I’d been clear, but he’d texted and called me a few times since I arrived. I guess he didn't realize how serious I was that things were over.”

“Whatever you say, Jovie.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t mention it to Nash. I didn’t want Patrick driving back in the dark this late to Houston, so he’s staying in the pool house.”

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