Page 101 of Almost Perfect
Wyatt hit play on the videoagain.
“Seriously, man? I know she’s your woman officially now and everything, and it is a great song, I fully agree, but I could go for some variety.”
“Shut it,” Wyatt said, and hunched over the phone more completely, like curving his shoulders might keep Warrick’s complaint out.
A few weeks after what I like to think of as our “I love youconfessional,” we were sitting in the living room of his house, his mom next to him, and Warrick in the kitchen banging around fixing something for dessert.
“Have mercy on the poor man, Wyatt. You’ve played it four times in a row.” I pressed a kiss to his shoulder, then stood to help Warrick.
“I haven’t seen this shot of the performance before. I’m not going to apologize for watching you sing a song you wroteabout meon repeat.” His eyes never lifted from the screen.
“You saw it in real life.” He’d been at every one of my little shows, and I wasn’t sure who was happier to be watching me. For a man who claimed he hadn’t been much of a Mayhem fan in the past, he seemed to have converted fully now.
He shot me a glare, but continued watching. “I don’t care.”
In the last few weeks, videos of live performances I’d done at the Silver Ridge Resort’s bar, and several other mini shows I’d played around the area, had gone viral. Like, insane views, and enough that Kristoffer called and said he’d been fending off my label and they were practically rabid to have my self-penned album if those songs were on them. I’d told him to set up a negotiation meeting and basked in the triumph of going for something I wanted and not having it blow up in my face.
The first of two things that, so far, were going amazingly well.
Sweet Jane sat snuggled up close to Wyatt, watching the recording with almost as much attention as he did. The day after theI love youconfessional, she’d hugged me and cried when she walked in, clearly already calculating how soon we might have a wedding and babies around here. Wyatt had warned her not to get ahead of herself, but I was with Jane on this one.
Now that I’d accepted there was no one like Wyatt and life would be dimmer without him, I was ready to get this party started.
“All right, dessert is served, courtesy of Rise and Shine.”
Jane flipped around to eye him upon hearing those words.
“Oh? Sadie made these?” She bustled to the table and sat at her place. “Wyatt, get a move on, son.”
He grumbled something and closed the app just as the final strains of the song played, then found his seat next to me.
Goodness, he was adorable. He grabbed my hand and kissed it, his cheeks still a little flushed. Apparently, he liked the song, and me singing the song. I looked forward to hearing more about all that later, when we were alone and he could tell me just exactly what he thought.
“Yes, Sadie made these,” Warrick confirmed, then shoved a mini-éclair into his mouth and closed his eyes. His shoulders deflated like the taste of the tiny dessert brought him something far more than simple pleasure.
“Pretty sure I haven’t seen you eat dessert in years, if not over a decade.” Wyatt eyed him like his enjoyment of the admittedly delicious little treat was something criminal.
“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase, ‘treat yourself’? I’m hitting goals and just set up a once in a lifetime meeting, so tonight, I’m doing just that.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes and chuckled. “All right then. Treat yourself, baby brother, and I will too.”
His blue gaze hit mine as he popped a pastry into his mouth and chewed it, his eyes drooping in pleasure just a bit when he noticed my gaze drop to his full lips. Without breaking eye contact, he asked, “War, when are you taking Mom home?”
I couldn’t help my laugh, and the chuckles around us confirmed everyone found the humor in his comment, though I could see he meant it.
“We’ll leave you two be here in just a few minutes. But first, tell me your travel plans so I can put it on my calendar.” Jane whipped out her phone and tapped to her calendar app.
And then, we filled her in. Wyatt would come with me to LA for the next few weeks. And once we’d finished negotiations with my label and wrapped up other business, we’d be back here in Utah. Warrick would help with the house, and Wyatt’s usual staff would make sure Sheridan was well-loved. We’d jump back and forth a few times, but our plan was to be here as much as we could.
I wanted it with everything I had. And I couldn’t wait to enjoy it.
* * *
Wyatt – Eight Months Later
Calla had an odd look on her face.
In the months since we’d gotten engaged, she’d never once had that look until the last two days. Even since I’d known her, now inching up on a year. I couldn’t figure out why, or what it meant. Maybe pre-wedding jitters?
