Page 111 of Interference
It still hurts to know that I didn’t get to go for the gold this year, but I watched the Olympics with pride as I cheered on the USA in all of the events, especially figure skating. A pang of hurt hits me when I realize that one of our girls from our school could have had a shot to be there if Ashley hadn’t done what she did.
She’s now behind bars waiting for her trial, and our school came up empty-handed on the girls’ side. There wasn’t enough time to prepare anyone else for the spot. Thankfully, one of our guys made it, though, and even ended up winning bronze. It made me happy even though Brett was worried it would make me sad.
Making my way downstairs, I’m shocked when I find Wyatt sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands.
“Hey. Don’t you have class?” I ask him.
He looks up and gives me a small smile. “Yeah, but I couldn’t stomach it today.”
“Want me to make you some tea?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “You sit. I’ll make the tea. It helps calm me. You know, before I met you, I never had tea, and now I find myself drinking more and more of it.”
I laugh. “Yeah, it’s an acquired taste, but once you have it and realize all the benefits of drinking it? It becomes an obsession.”
“I can see that. It does give me something to drink that isn’t water or sports drinks, so I appreciate that,” he says, messing with the kettle.
We continue to chat as he makes me tea along with scrambled eggs and some buttered toast. When he settles back at the table with me, I take a long look at his face.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “Not really.”
“Okay. Well, whatever it is, I’m here for you.”
He sighs. “I’ve liked this girl since freshman year. She’s dating a real tool, though. He treats her like shit, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
I hum for a second before asking, “Does she know you exist?”
“Everyone here knows I exist, Em. I’m the star goalie,” he deadpans.
“Not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Yes. We met once freshman year before she started dating this guy. Now I see her from time to time. I say hi or talk to her about school sometimes, but we aren’t close. Both she and he are in the class I’m ditching right now.”
“Oh,” I murmur. “Is it a class you need for your degree?”
“No. It’s an elective I took because I knew she was taking it. I didn’t know he was otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered. I can’t stand watching them together,” he admits.
“So you are lightly stalking this chick?”
“What? No. Shit. I guess. Kinda. I’m not trying to be a creeper about it. I just wanted a chance to shoot my shot, you know?Maybe get to know her a little bit better. Doesn’t matter. It’s done now. I won’t do it again next year. I won’t take that risk,” he mutters bitterly.
“Hey.” I reach across the table and grab his hand lightly. “Things have a funny way of working themselves out. Look at Brett and me. We messed around for years without really being together. I couldn’t see what was right under my nose because of notions I had in my head. If it’s meant to be with this girl, she will open her eyes and see the man you are. If not, then she wasn’t worth your time in the first place, and there’s another girl out there for you. Don’t let it bring you down.”
He laughs. “I know. I don’t want to see her hurt, though, and I know he is going to hurt her. I don’t have proof, but I’m pretty sure he’s cheating on her, and I hate that for her. I wish I could tell her, but she’d never believe me. Why would she?”
“Don’t get involved. Especially without proof. She will figure it out herself eventually. Hopefully before it’s too late. Do I get the name of this girl?” I ask him.
He shakes his head with a small smile on his face. “No one knows. Not even the guys.”
“I won’t tell a soul. Not even Brett. He has a big mouth anyway.”
He’s quiet a moment before he finally speaks. “Yeah. She has a name. Lyla Wayne.”
The way his face lights up by her name alone tells me Wyatt is already gone on this chick. I make a mental note to look her up. I won’t meddle, but Wyatt has been good to me. I want to know if this girl is good enough for him.
“She sounds lovely. You need to stop skipping class, though. This little cantaloupe needs his Uncle Wyatt to be smart. Unless you plan to draft…” I trail off.
