Page 92 of Wildcat
I toss the tiny pee tents at her, and she laughs. That laughter dies, and my heart stops at the sound of a sports car outside. I know it’s him, even before I spot the shiny red Ferrari.
“Are you going to be okay?” Cadence asks.
“Yeah. I’m happy with Leo.” Saying it out loud, I realize how true it is, and I straighten my shoulders. “Maybe it’ll be good to get closure.”
“Good. I really like having you home. We should do this more often.”
I don’t point out that the reason we don’t has more to do with her workaholic schedule than anything else. I have a feeling that when the baby comes she’ll get a dose of the work-life balance she’s been missing.
My phone lights up with a text from Rhyse saying he’s here. I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“I won’t be long.”
She squeezes my arm. “Okay. I’m here if you need me.”
I text him back and walk outside. It’s windy and cold, but the sun is out, offering a little warmth as I sit on the metal bench in front of the store.
My leg bounces with nerves as I watch him cross the street. I focus on breathing and keeping my heart rate under control.
He’s as handsome as the last time I saw him. His hair is dark and thick. Curly strands have been wrangled under a hat, boasting his team and sponsor.
His clothing—jeans and a long-sleeved white T-shirt covered with a black leather jacket—are simple, but every eye on the block follows him. He has that something about him that makes people stop and look.
I stand when he approaches. Do I hug him? Do we shake hands? This is so weird. While I’m still deciding, he steps into me with a broad smile and wraps his arms around me.
“Scarlett.” He breathes me in as he says my name.
I always liked the way my name sounded with his accent, and his scent is still familiar, as is the way the top of my head rests comfortably under his chin.
I pull back first and take a seat on the bench. He sits close and rests an arm behind me. “You look fantastic. It’s so good to see you.”
I still haven’t quite figured out how to feel, let alone act, but there’s no sense in denying it, he looks good too, and I tell him as much.
He nods toward my camera bag. “Are you working as a photographer now?”
“Oh, uh. No. Not yet. I thought I might take a few photos of Cadence buying things for the baby.”
“Cadence is pregnant?”
I nod.
He beams at the news. “When is she due?”
“Next April.”
“That’s exciting. I bet your mom is over the moon.”
My stomach is in knots, and my palms are sweaty. I can’t make small talk with this man like he didn’t crush me just months ago.
“What are you doing here, Rhyse?”
“I miss you.”
Three words that I dreamt of coming from his lips so many times.
“Do you miss me?” he asks.
“No.” I can tell my response, as well as the hard edge in my tone, catches him off-guard. “I did at first, but I moved on.”
