Page 84 of Fool for You
I went to settle in Charming, making sure to give Hook some attention before finding the nearest drive-thru with the worst food I could possibly eat, then promptly went back to the hotel. I walked into my dark room, tossed the bag of food on the bed, and stripped down to my underwear. I didn’t need a ten-minute shower tonight, knowing that Wyatt wasn’t going to be coming into my room—hell, I could take a bath. So, after I ate the disgusting taco, that’s exactly what I did.
And the silence was getting to me.
I slunk down into the tub, the tips of my hair dipping under the water, and closed my eyes. I could just see myself from an outsider’s point of view. All I needed was bubbles and a glass of wine, and I was the girl who had just been dumped by her boyfriend. Except that was the furthest thing from the truth. I was the girl who chickened out a few weeks ago, pushing the man she was falling for to arm’s length. I told myself it was because he had become too close a friend to screw things up with. I wanted to get closer to him, not find myself hurt later down the line because he wasthatguy. The guy who had more numbers for booty calls than friends to talk to on his phone. I didn’t want someone who had slept with a lot of women. Wyatt was friend material—the fact that I wanted to kiss him today was just a lapse of judgment. Just a lapse of judgement…
I’d eventually find a guy who was everything that I wanted. Someone who would put me first. Who would show me they cared for and loved me without even trying. I wanted someone who made my knees weak when they smiled, and whose eyes I could get lost in. I wanted someone I could trust, someone I could talk to without any fear of what they would think. I wanted to be chased. I wanted to be teased. I wanted to be told I was gorgeous. I wanted…
Wyatt.
I wanted to hear him out.
I desperately wanted him.
And I wanted to tell him all these realizations.
Ineededto tell him all these realizations.
Standing from the bathtub, I dried myself, did a fast braid to hide the wet ends of my hair, and dressed in the cutest outfit I could find in less than five minutes. I grabbed my hat, slipped on my boots, and rushed out of the hotel.
The bar was loud, crowded, and smelled like stale beer, and I spotted him the second I walked through the door. Abi and Kylaalways had this look on them when they saw their husbands. Their eyes would glaze over; their cheeks would blush, and that stupid smile that proved that they were in love would spread across their faces. Me—right now—in this exact moment…I’d bet one million dollars that’s exactly how I looked because every person in the bar faded as Wyatt was the only one who came into my view.
My feet moved on their own, going directly to the pool table where he watched as Hawkins took his shot. Hawkins missed, and Wyatt began to study the table, and right before he bent, I stepped in between him and the table. His smile grew, and his eyes widened with surprise.
“Quinn—” he whispered.
I swallowed and quickly cupped his face in my palms, the pads of my thumbs rubbing his jaw lightly.
“Wyatt,” I whispered back. “I…” I stumbled, taking a shaky breath before looking into his eyes, and suddenly every word I had conjured up on the drive over was gone. All I could think to say was, “I want you to chase me.”
Then, I pulled his mouth to mine and finally…finally…kissed Wyatt Hartwell.
Twenty-Eight
Wyatt
Quinntastedlikehoney.And smelled like coconut.
I dropped the pool cue, hearing it hit with a smack on the bar’s concrete floors, and threaded my fingers through her hair, most likely pulling her braid looser than it already was. She hummed, and I tried to take the moment deeper; the shock of Quinn kissing me was gone, and the urge to lift her over my shoulder and take her away was growing. But I slowed and let her control the pace.
She broke the kiss and locked my gaze, letting out a soft gasp, and blinked. Then—I wasn’t sure if it was shock or regret that flashed through her eyes—but she quickly covered her face with her palms and buried her face in my chest.
Hawkins and Sam stared at me; the same stunned look splashed across their faces, with their eyes wide as their goofy smiles grew wider. I wrapped my arms around Quinn’s shoulders, holding her gently as her breathing picked up. I shook my head at Hawkins, dropping my jaw and raising my brow—hoping to convey that I had no idea this was in the cards for tonight—but also that he and Sam were no longer a part of my plans. They both waved a hand in a ‘shoo shoo’ gesture, having my back as the best wingmen in the world.
I cleared my throat and trailed my hands down Quinn’s back. “Quinn,” I rasped, “Do you want to—”
“Dance?” Her head flew up. “Yes. Please.”
“I was gonna suggest we—”
Quinn grabbed my hand, grasping it tight, yanking—literallyyanking—me to the small dance floor where, of course, the band stopped their fun country song and replaced it with a slow romantic ballad. Without looking at me, Quinn spun, her arms flying over my head to rest on my shoulders. I gently put my hands on her waist, but didn’t move. We didn’t dance.
“Hey, uh…” I whispered, my cheek resting against her temple. “I think we’re supposed to be moving. Swaying at least?”
She trembled. “I had thought of so many things that I wanted to tell you.” She swayed her body lightly. “But the moment I saw you, every thought was gone.”
“Do you want to tell me now?”
Her breath shook her entire body, and I pulled her closer, feeling her start to calm. “I don’t remember, but—I can try to.” Her hands ran down my chest, the pulse of her palms vibrating through me.
