Page 15 of Not Your Romeo
“I knew I had something that didn’t smell like men’s soap, I just had to dig. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but Sammy used it when she was on leaves,” he explained while he got the water going for me.
“If you want, I could straighten that storage room up for you sometime.” I tested the water on the room, and as I suspected, he visibly tensed.
“Uh– n– we can talk about that. After your bath.” He nodded and stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans and flipping his lips up toward a smile, “I’ll leave you to it and get us set up downstairs for an evening in.”
“Great.” I watched him go and quietly moved to the cabinet.
I don’t know why, but I looked in everything before I stripped and got around to my bath. He didn’t have any bodies hidden anywhere or anything I didn’t figure belonged in a bathroom. The bath felt good, and though I wished I had underwear, the shirt was long enough no one could tell I was lacking them, when I came back downstairs.
“Have a seat,” Wyatt invited, gesturing toward a sofa.
He joined me on it with drinks, but gave me a heavy looking over rather than handing mine to me.
“You sure you’re old enough to drink?” he teased again.
“I’m gonna kick your ass,” I laughed.
“Woman, you just got busted up by a middle schooler. Are you really still talkin’ shit?”
“Til the day I die,” I sang.
He laughed, and handed the drink over, “I reckon you might be alright, then.”
“How old are your kids?” I asked, before bringing the drink up to my lips.
“Stop talkin, girl.” Wyatt reached over and tipped the glass, making me hush and swallow. “Just stop talkin’ and drink.”
When I finished, he immediately refilled it and asked, “What the fuck are you studying that’s so goddamn expensive, anyhow?”
He nodded to my drink, and I sipped it slowly, but enough to appease him.
“I was studying Horticulture, but I don’t know, after the way Sean’s men busted in there I may not be allowed back.” I sighed, having tried my best not to think too much about it.
“They came to your college?” He looked appalled.
“Fuck yeah, they did. They busted that door in and hurled me from campus, straight down the aisle. You saw me arrive.”
“I didn’t realize they took you by force. Damn. I’m sorry you went through that, darlin’.”
I shrugged, getting irritated by the topic, “You ask like you’re going to let me keep going.”
He snorted and stared at me until I bugged my eyes, not sharing his joke.
“Honey, I didn’t realize I was your lord and master. You’re a free fuckin’ woman. If you want to be educated and they’re willing to let your ass grace their classroom, who in the fuck am I to tell you that you can’t attend?”
I had to catch the laugh in my throat, for fear it would provoke him. These conversations were always such a tight dance with Keefe and Sean. Yes, I could go to college, until I was married or until I broke their rules.
I wanted to believe Wyatt, I just wasn’t sure I did. I quickly downed the rest of my shot and when he came in to refill, I held it away.
“Damn, you’re a lightweight like that?” he teased.
Chapter Nine
Glistening Snitch
Ziggy
She leaned toward me, stretching across my lap to sit her glass on the table to my left.
