Page 13 of The Hearts We Fumble
Another barrier. Another line drawn.
Message received.
If I have any hope of breaking through, I’ll have to tear it down, piece by piece.
And something tells me Wyatt’s not going to let me through without a fight.
Chapter Four
Wyatt
“You’re coming to the parade and the after-party out at Greencastle, right?” Tatum asks as we wrap up our shift at Sweet Tooth.
The bakery is quiet now, the scent of vanilla and warm sugar lingering in the air. I grab a rag, wiping down the counters while Tate leans against the register, watching me.
I started working here when I was sixteen, back when I was desperate to make money—not for myself, but for my mom.
She was already stretched thin as a single parent, trying to juggle my brother’s football expenses and raising a growing daughter on a tight budget. Every extra dollar counted.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I murmur, moving on to clean the espresso machines.
Tate crosses her arms, eyeing me closely.
“What do you mean you haven’t decided? We’ve been talking about homecoming for weeks.”
I shrug, avoiding her gaze. “I’m just not sure if I’m in the mood, ya know?”
The parade kicks off soon, and we’re closing early since the whole town will be lining the streets to watch. Honestly, I’m surprised Michelle doesn’t keep the bakery open. With all the foot traffic downtown, we could probably make good money.
But since the rest of the town shuts down to celebrate the Bulldogs, she follows suit.
I’d rather stay here, keep busy, and make money—anything but go home, plant myself on the couch, and sit with my own thoughts for another night.
“I guess I’m just not really feeling the school spirit.” I flick my wrist dismissively, hoping she drops it.
Tate gets it, though. She grew up in East Tennessee and is a lifelong fan of the Rixton Wolves, so she’s never been all-in on Braysen pride—except when it comes to supporting her boyfriend, Reed.
She doesn’t push, but I know her well enough to tell she’s already plotting a way to drag me out tonight anyway.
“When am I ever?” She giggles, nudging me with her elbow. “Even if you skip the parade, you could at least hit up the after-party, right?”
I toss the washcloth and our aprons into the dirty laundry bin, turning away as I busy myself with changing out the garbage.
She’s not going to let this go—I already know that much. One way or another, I’m going to Greencastle tonight. Even if she has to drag me there, kicking and screaming.
Tate doesn’t push any further, which I appreciate. The idea of being smothered by the crowd downtown is already making my skin itch.
Once we finish closing up, I head home, hoping a hot shower will help me muster up the energy for tonight.
It’s not that I don’t want to go.
I love a good party. Love getting lost in the music, dancing like no one’s watching.
That’s not the problem.
The problem is Greencastle is Colter and Zane’s territory.
And the last place I want to be? Anywhere near Zane Kinnick.
