Page 60 of Wildly Inappropriate

“There isn’t a rush, but at the same time, I know Bryn is end game for me, so why wouldn’t I start taking steps to make it permanent? Plus, I can’t keep renting that house. It was never supposed to be a long-term rental—Conrad was just doing me a favor. And, especially now that Lila is in Wild Bluffs for the foreseeable future, it feels like a good next step. Bryn insists on calling it my house, if that makes your commitment-phobe heart feel better.”

“That’s, that’s great, man,” I manage to reply.

I can’t imagine throwing myself into something like that. Jameo has been hurt by a long-term girlfriend before, and yet here he is, willing to risk it all again for the woman he loves. Even as I say it, I see Lila’s face like it was last night on our video call, her eyes bright as she told me about her day and the work she’s doing on her top-secret security proposal. I could see it with Lila—diving headfirst into the deep end of being with her. Unfortunately, I know it wouldn’t last. I would need to focus on my game, on earning my parents the life they gave up for me, and she would get tired of not being my top priority. After a week, a month, or a year of being put second, she’d give up on me and leave. And I can’t have anything but golf be my priority. It’s the only way to pay my parents back for the dreams they gave up to support mine.

“Speaking of Lila.” Jameson starts talking to me again, and I force myself to focus on the present. “I haven’t been contacted by the police, so I take it you two have kept from murdering each other or burning the house down. How is she? I haven’t had much time to talk to her lately between her work schedule and mine.”

“Thoroughly satisfied” feels like the wrong answer, but I also smirk with pride at the accuracy of the statement. I wasn’t sure what the protocol would be for our time apart, but Lila texted me minutes into my flight, and we’ve only stopped messaging each other since while I’m actively golfing.

Thursday afternoon, after a good day on the course had me in ninth, I opened my phone to find messages from Sam, Lila, and my dad. I, of course, opened Lila’s first. She’d texted me almost twenty times, all string of consciousness thoughts about my attire, excitement at my good shots, and amusing tidbits and gossip about the guys in my foursome. Her comments made me laugh, and I’ve never felt more supported by someone. My dad’s message, on the other hand, had been short and sweet: About time. Call me to discuss your chipping form.

I ignored my father and texted Lila back instead, the first time I didn’t call him directly after a round. I ended up texting Lila all night, including falling asleep messaging her. While it wasn’t the same as having her in my arms, it was so much better than being alone or lying next to some random stranger like I used to.

Lila and I texted each other all day Friday, and I laughed out loud in the locker room as I read her thoughts from the round. She was highly offended on my behalf that the announcers didn’t mention the decline in female viewers during my absence. To be fair to the announcers, though, I’m pretty sure that’s a stat that only exists in Lila’s head.

The best surprise came Friday night when my phone rang, notifying me of a video call from Lila. She’d been out with the Harpers and Becca—the Mavericks football team was away last week at a summer camp, so none of her “new friends” were there, thank God—and she was a bit tipsy as she lay on our bed, her phone held in front of her face so I could see her beautiful grin.

We’d talked for almost two and a half hours before she’d fallen asleep, and I’d put my phone down on the pillow next to me, tilting the screen so I could sleep with her from hundreds of miles away.

I’d been on fire on the course today, too, and I knew it was thanks to Lila. And fuck me if that doesn’t suck, because I know it’s going to end, and then what am I going to be left with? A gaping hole in my chest and a golf game that can’t function without her, that’s what.

I realize Jameo is waiting for me to answer him about the state of his sister, so I force myself to focus on him rather than spiraling about what’s to come.

“Honestly, Lila seems to be doing really well. She loves her job, and she’s making friends with Bryn’s sisters and some of the other people in town.” A few too many of the men in town, but I don’t mention that to her brother.

“My mom said you’ve been driving Lila to and from work every day since her car got totaled.” He looks at me, and I can’t read the look on his face. His arms are crossed, but it feels less like he’s mad and more like he just doesn’t know what else to do with his arms.

“It’s not every day. Izzy and Kelsey give her rides back home sometimes.”

“Well, still. I appreciate you helping her out while I’m not there. Bryn’s car is at long-term airport parking. If you can get to Denver, I’m sure we can figure out how to get it back for Lila to use. Or I’ll just buy her a new car and get it delivered there,” he says, considering.

I know Jameo means it, and suddenly it feels like I might lose my time with Lila even sooner than I anticipated. “Oh, no. It’s not a problem. I’ve developed an addiction to the coffee at Wild Brews anyway. Plus, I’m gone most of the next few weeks for tournaments, so no need to figure out a car until then. Even then, I can switch my rental contract over to her name if she still needs something.”

Now I know it’s suspicion on his face. “Okay, who are you and what did you do with the guy who can’t stand to be in the same room as my sister?”

“It was never that bad,” I say defensively.

“My mom had to add an extra table at Thanksgiving because you two made the rest of us miserable with your bickering.”

“That’s not true, there were just more people there for a couple of years.”

“There were fewer people than normal two of the three years she did it.”

Fuck. I didn’t realize how bad we’d gotten.

“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was that bad. I’ll call your mom. I’ll apologize. Crap. You should’ve said something. I never meant to inconvenience anyone. I don’t have to come—”

“JT,” Jameo says, grabbing me firmly on the shoulder. “It’s not a big deal. Of course you’re coming this year. If anything, we’ll kick Lila out.” He laughs at his own joke, and even though I know he’s kidding, I kind of want to punch him in the face on Lila’s behalf. And I suppose it doesn’t matter. I won’t be at Thanksgiving with the Walkers this year—the first time since Jameo and I became friends freshman year of college. There’s no way I’ll be able to face Lila in front of her entire family, to hear about the life I’m no longer a part of, and not completely lose it.

“Right. Sorry.” I reach up and shift my baseball cap so it sits backward before reversing the movement so it’s forward again.

“Are you all right, JT?” Jameo asks. He’s a much better friend than I deserve and is, of course, picking up on my nerves.

“Yeah. I just feel bad about imposing on your family. I feel like such a dick for making your mom do extra work.”

“No one has ever felt that way about you. My family loves you, and we all really appreciate you helping Lila get settled into her new life.”

“We’re friends now,” I say. “I’m happy to help.”

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