Page 55 of Playing for Keeps
He chuckles. “Yeah, they’re everywhere. Come on. Let’s explore.”
We start down the path, surrounded by greenery and the quiet flutter of wings, and it takes me a second to realize how quiet everything is. There’s no crowd, no chatter. No nothing.
“Wait… are we the only ones here?” I ask, looking around in disbelief.
Wyatt nods. “Yeah. I booked a private tour slot. It’s just us.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” he says, his voice low. “There’s no way we could’ve walked through here without people stopping me for autographs or photos. I didn’t want that for today. Today’s about you, not me.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “Sometimes I forget I’m hanging out with football royalty.”
He lets out a quiet scoff. “Hardly. I love the fans… but not today. I didn’t want any distractions.”
I hold his gaze. “You’ve always just been Wyatt to me,” I say. “I forget half the time that you’re some big-name athlete.”
His expression softens. “I like that. That you see me, not the guy on the field. Most people can’t separate the two.”
I frown, my chest tightening a little. “That must be exhausting.”
He gives a small shrug, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Comes with the territory.”
There’s more he’s not saying, and I want to ask, but I can tell he’s not ready to go there, so I nod, letting it go.
We spend the next hour slowly wandering through the conservatory. It’s like stepping into another world, and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. The butterflies land on us sometimes, and each time, it feels like a little bit of magic. I catch myself smiling more than I have in a long time.
When we finally make our way to the small gift shop, Wyatt slips his hand into mine and gives it a gentle tug.
“Pick something out,” he says. “A souvenir. To remember the day.”
I shake my head, my fingers brushing the necklace around my neck. “You already gave me a gift.”
“And now I’m giving you another,” he says with a grin. “Pick something, or I’m getting the biggest plush butterfly they sell.”
I laugh. “Okay, okay!”
I wander through the shop, scanning the shelves lined with pens, postcards, and soft toys. Everything feels too much because he’s already given me so much. I reach for a pen with a ridiculous glittery butterfly charm dangling from the top.
“What about this?” Wyatt asks, holding up a beautifully carved wooden butterfly house. “It’d look perfect in your garden.”
I hesitate. “That’s too much. I’ll just get the pen.”
“It’s not too much,” he says, already heading to the counter. “We’ll get the pen too.”
“I don’t need both…”
“But you’re getting both. Final decision.” His grin is teasing but warm.
I sigh, smiling. “Thank you.”
Once he’s paid, we step outside. The warmth of the Phoenix sun greets us, but compared to the humidity inside, the air feels cool and fresh. I take a deep breath, feeling a little lighter, though I’m still not sure what to make of this thing between us.
We head to Wyatt’s car, and he holds the door open for me as he helps me climb inside.
“Lunch first, then the stadium?” Wyatt asks as he starts the engine, the deep rumble vibrating through the seat.
I nod, buckling in. “Sounds perfect. I’m definitely ready for food.”
