Page 57 of Taming Georgia

Chill, Georgia.

It’s just someone at the door. Pressing pause, I throw off the blanket and make my way to the front door.

My jaw drops when I open it and see who is on the other side. I quickly recover and close my gaping mouth.

Wyatt is standing on the front porch. Cooper stands at his side, his tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth. In Wyatt’s arms is Mila, my miracle puppy.

I’m so excited to see her that the shock that Wyatt is also here is momentarily forgotten. I immediately take her from Wyatt’s grasp and hold her to me, kissing her soft fur.

“It hasn’t been that long, and she’s so much bigger already,” I say.

“Yeah, they’re going to be ready for adoption in a couple of weeks. I thought you might want to have her. I know she’s one of your favorites.”

I step back from the doorway and invite Wyatt and Cooper to come in out of the cold. With Mila still in my arms, I kneel down and pet Cooper, who returns the affection with some doggie kisses to my face.

I head into the living room. Cooper and Wyatt follow. I sit on the couch with Mila. She becomes extra squirmy, so I let her down to explore.

“You know, she’s probably going to find a place to pee,” Wyatt warns me. He takes a seat in the oversize chair across from me.

I shrug. “Good thing we have wood floors.” Then, I look to him. “What are you doing here?”

He looks down as if there’s something fascinating on his shoe before lifting his head and locking his eyes with mine. “I don’t know, honestly.”

“I can’t adopt Mila,” I respond to his comment from moments ago. “I’m moving soon. I can’t take her with me, unfortunately. I wish I could. I don’t have a stable enough life for a pet right now.”

“Where are you going?”

“Africa, I think.”

He bobs his head in acknowledgment. “Okay, well, good.” He drops his palms to his thighs and stands. “Sorry to bother you. We have to go.” His tone is firm and his words short.

I follow him into the kitchen as he looks for Mila.

“Wait,” I say on an exhale.

He turns to face me.

The room is silent, save for our breaths. In the background, there’s some rustling in another room. I’m sure it’s Mila ripping apart something, as that’s what puppies do. But I don’t care to investigate. I’m frozen, locked in Wyatt’s stare.

I can’t believe he’s here, and if I’m truthful with myself, I don’t want him to leave.

“Why did you come here?” I ask him again, taking a step in his direction.

He shakes his head and takes a step forward, lessening the distance between us even more. “I don’t know.”

“Tell me,” I breathe out.

My heart beats wildly in my chest. It hasn’t been that long since I’ve been in Wyatt’s presence, and yet my emotions are running rampant. I’m terrified that he’ll leave, and I’m equally afraid that he won’t.

His eyelids close. I can almost feel the internal torment radiating from him.

When he opens them, his eyes lock with mine. “I don’t know what to say, Georgia.”

I swallow my nerves and breathe in some courage. “How about the truth?”

He forces out a chuckle. “I don’t know what that is.”

“You do. It might be hard to find, but it’s in you somewhere. You merely have to have the strength to say it.”

---