Page 73 of The Hearts We Fumble
Hayes dropped a message in the group chat saying he and Beckham were grabbing dinner at The End Zone. Not wanting to sit around my place alone, counting down the hours until Wyatt got off work, I figured I’d meet up with them and kill some time before I picked her up.
Colter shows up later, sliding into the booth across from me. “Ava’s working late at the studio,” he says, answering the question I hadn’t asked.
A server stops by to grab our drink orders. Beckham and I go for wings with blue cheese, while Hayes and Colter decide to split a pizza.
“You never did tell me how the anniversary surprise went,” I say, shifting the conversation while the server walks away.
Colter leans back against the booth, dragging a hand through his hair, and lets out a low chuckle. “Dude, she lost it. Full-on waterworks. I wasn’t expecting it at all, but yeah, she loved the ring.” His lips pull into a grin. “We agreed previously to celebrate over spring break when we can get out of Braysen for a bit. I think I’m gonna rent us a place up north, just the two of us, get away from everything for a while.”
A flicker of something tugs in my chest—something I don’t want to name, but I know exactly what it is.
I think about Wyatt.
What it would be like to have that kind of time with her. No classes, no practice, no sneaking around. Just us.
The conversation shifts as the TVs overhead flash highlights of the Braysen men’s basketball game. They’re up against one of the top-ranked teams, and from the looks of it, they might actually pull off the win.
“Think they’ll hold on?” Hayes asks, nodding toward the screen.
Beckham shrugs. “They’re playing their asses off, but they need to hold their defense together. If they give up another three, they’re screwed.”
The discussion moves to play calls and season stats, but my mind keeps drifting—to Wyatt, to the fact that in a couple of hours, she’ll be off work, and I’ll finally get to see her again.
And for the first time in a long time, I’m already looking forward to going home.
Wyatt: Work is slow, so I let Tatum cut out early.
Wyatt: Now it’s just me.
Glancing up, I check to make sure the guys aren’t paying attention.
Zane: You got cameras in the backroom?
Wyatt: Yes, but not of all the kitchen. Whyyy?
Zane: Maybe I should show up a little early…
The message is marked read.
I can practically see her reaction—her cheeks turning pink and her lips pulling between her teeth as she fights back a smile.
A low exhale leaves my chest as I shift in my seat, forcing my attention back to the TV. But the images on the screen blur because my mind is stuck on her—on the way she looked when I had her pressed against me outside of her class.
Dammit.
I roll my shoulders, trying to shake it off, but the heat simmering under my skin refuses to cool.
I need to get myself under control—especially with Colter sitting two feet away, oblivious to the fact that I’m fighting a losing battle.
Wyatt: You gonna fuck me against the side of the freezer?
Fuck.
So much for not getting hard.
Zane: You do realize I’m out to dinner with your brother, right?
Wyatt: *devil emoji*
