Page 60 of Breathing Wisteria
Wyatt
Iclose my eyes and try to sleep, but all I see is his face. The pain that emanated off him as my words crushed him.
I know I have done the right thing, the only thing I could do, but it doesn’t make it any less painful.
Today has been the most difficult day yet. I woke up this morning in Skye’s spare bedroom, to find my face plastered all over the internet again. It’s just as jarring as it was the first time. I immediately turned my phone off and hid away, taking refuge in the company of Summer and Poppy and insisting Skye and Ben take advantage of my presence to have a day date.
It took some convincing, but once they were sure I wasn’t about to collapse in a heap of emotional despair, they took off for a movie. Babysitting offered a great distraction, and I found myself watching the girls curiously, listening to Poppy’s evolving language and marveling at Summer’s confidence. As always, I found myself considering what Carys would have been like at that age. If she would have looked like Flynn or taken after me.
I don’t think I will ever stop wondering.
But now, in the quiet of the night, I can’t stop my brain from going into overdrive as I turn over yesterday’s events.
As hard as this is, I have to have faith in my judgment and trust that I am doing the right thing.
It’s the only choice I have.
“Get your butt over here, Reeses.”
I drop my carry-on at my feet and let Charlie wrap me up in a hug.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
I sigh and sink into her arms. “I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Meh, I’ll take you whichever way I can get you. Is this all you brought?” She picks up my bag and I nod. “Alright, let’s get out of here.”
I pull my cap down low over my head, feeling completely ridiculous but not enough to risk getting recognized.
We walk to the parking lot in silence. I’m lost in my thoughts and, if I know Charlie, her mind is already off planning her next fancy lawyer move so she can dominate law the way she dominates everything in her life.
“I’m just up here.” She points up ahead and to the left and I do a straight-up double take, laughing for the first time in too long.
“A Prius? Girls from Texas don’t drive Prius.”
She glares at me and pokes her tongue out. “Shut it.” She huffs before mumbling something under her breath.
“What was that?” I giggle.
“Isaid, it gets excellent gas mileage, okay? Now get in the damn car.”
The drive to Charlie’s apartment is a quiet one. Old school Backstreet Boys plays softly in the background and I lose myself in the scenery as the streets of Chicago rush by.
“How long do you think you’ll be staying?” Her voice startles me.
I sigh softly. “I’m not sure. This wasn’t in the plan.”
“There was a plan?” She snorts, and I smile wryly.
“I’m kind of making it up as I go now.”
“Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”
“I didn’t have a choice, Charlie.” My voice is slightly too insistent, because only forty-eight hours later, I’m not entirely sure that’s true.
“Did he get the papers?”
“He did.”
