Page 41 of Despite It All
I can feel Jett’s eyes on me, but I can’t turn to him. “Yeah, I’ll be here,” he says, then takes a step closer. “Wy, I want you to know I heard what you said about us being her parents first. I respect that and really, I agree, but I’m not going to stop trying for you either. So, can you please stop avoiding me because that’s making things a lot harder to win you over.”
I can feel my blood pressure rising and I know my cheeks are turning red. “It’s a bad idea, Jett. And I know deep down you know it is too.” There are way too many obstacles in our way. Distance being a pretty big factor, not to mention that stupid devil on my shoulder telling me I’m an obligation. A right to a wrong. The consequences of our actions…my actions.
Jett sighs. “Baby, you have never been a bad idea. Not five years ago and not now.”
Am I still breathing? I think I stopped.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Wy. Go get some sleep.” Jett kisses my temple then walks to his car.
Frozen in place, I watch as he pulls out of the driveway. It’s already heaven and hell and he’s not even shirtless yet.
Chapter 12
Anna and I knock on Wyla’s door a little before ten-thirty and wait on the porch for her to answer. I thought of last night nonstop. It was really fucking hard to walk away from her. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into me and kiss all those doubts she has tumbling around in her head away.
But I think the best thing is to play the long game here. I’m not entirely sure what’s holding her back. She says we need to focus on being parents first, which I get, but there's something else too, I know there is. I want to do what’s right for Stevie, but I want Wyla. I’ve wanted her for years. At this point my only option is to show her that and hope something changes.
A moment goes by and the front door swings open. “Daddy! Anna!” Stevie squeals. “We’re going to the beach today!”
My smile is immediate. “There’s my girl.” I scoop her up as we step inside. “Can we come with you to the beach?”
“Yeahhh.” Stevie drags it out as if she was saying, “duh.”
“Stevie Rose, did you answer the door after I told you to wait?” Wyla hollers from back down in one of their rooms I’m assuming.
I glance at Stevie, and she winces.
“Uh oh, kid,” Anna says, and I shoot her a look that says not helpful.
I set her down as Wyla walks into the living room. She’s wearing some blue jean cut offs with a thin white button up so the orange of her swimsuit shows through. Her hair is pulled up halfway with a clip, and her face is fresh with no makeup. She’s so devastatingly beautiful.
She crosses her arms and focuses her attention on Stevie. “Little girl, what did I say about opening the door?”
Stevie fiddles with her cover up. “Um, I don’t know,” she mumbles.
“Try again, Stevie,” I say when Wyla’s nostrils flare at her response.
“To not open the door without you,” Stevie whines. “But it was just Daddy and Anna, Mommy.”
“But you didn’t know that, Stevie. Do I need your uncles to give you the stranger danger speech again?” It hurts a little that Wyla’s first go-to was Stevie’s uncles for thespeech, but I let it go. Up until this week, they’ve been all she’s really had, but not anymore.
Stevie fiddles with her cover up again and looks down at the ground, pouting. I kneel down next to her. “Your mom’s right, Little Bee. You always need to wait for an adult to open the door, okay? It’s to keep you safe, that's all.”
Stevie turns her solemn look on me. Ugh, don’t cave, stay strong.
“Understand?” I ask, and she nods. “Okay, good. Now, what do you need to say to your mom for not listening?”
“Sorry, Mommy,” Stevie says in the sweetest voice.
Wyla deflates. “Thank you, baby. Now, why don’t you go grab your beach bag and we’ll head out.”
And just like that, Stevie bounces back. “Okie!”
Wyla chuckles as Stevie buzzes past her. “Thanks for the backup. I’ve been fighting her on this since she figured out how to turn the doorknob.”
“Of course, that's what I’m here for.”
Wyla bites back a smile. “I’m going to get my shoes.”
