“No. We’re having it now. If you’d like me to follow you to your Zumba class, just say the word.”
Violet sneered at him. She glanced around and ushered him to the café area and an empty corner table. She always had been afraid of what others might think of her, and apparently the people milling about the gym were no exception.
Wyatt leaned into the back of his chair. “What exactly did you say to Chrissy that night at the bonfire?”
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and opened her mouth to respond. Wyatt held up a hand to stop her.
“I want the truth. If I find out you lied to me, so help me…” He forced himself to unclench his fists. “Spill.”
Her shoulders fell along with the corners of her mouth. “I told her that you and Ashley used to be engaged. Imayhave insinuated that she was the one who called it off and that she’d never gotten over you.”
“You what?! And I suppose you made sure she saw Ashley talking to me, too, didn’t you?”
Violet shrugged.
Ugh! First Chrissy had to hear about the engagement from Violet when she should have heard it from him. Then add in the lies and seeing Ashley there with him, and it was no wonder Chrissy was so upset. It bothered him that she hadn’t given him the chance to explain. He glanced at his sister and the way she was avoiding his gaze. “What else?”
She sighed. “I may have insinuated that the only reason you were marrying Ashley was because you wanted our parents to hand over your inheritance.” At least she had the good sense to look a little embarrassed.
“What is wrong with you? Seriously, Violet, what have I ever done to you that would make you think I deserve this kind of treatment?” She looked more shocked by his words than he’d seen her look in years. “What difference does it make to you if I fall in love with a woman who serves coffee to make a living? What is it to you if I want to help other people by opening Joyful Hope?”
Violet opened and closed her mouth several times, but no sounds came out.
Wyatt wasn’t nearly done yet. “You think having money is all that’s important. I’ll tell you what, big sister. You got your inheritance, remember? And I don’t see that it did you a lot of good.” He pushed his chair back and stood, placing his hands on the table so he could lean closer to Violet. “If I so much as catch you talking to Chrissy without my being there again, this conversation will be a party in comparison to the one we’re going to have.”
He turned and started to walk away when Violet’s voice caught up with him.
“Wyatt?”
He took a steadying breath then pivoted to face her again.
“Are you really falling in love with her?”
“I never got the chance to find out, did I?” The initial adrenaline rush at hearing what Violet told Chrissy faded and was replaced by a sadness that penetrated his heart.
He normally would’ve scoffed at the idea of falling for a woman after only knowing her in passing for six months and then spending only a few days together. But there was something about Chrissy that drew him to her. All he’d wanted to do since dropping her off at her house on Sunday was hear her voice and be near her.
The possibility that she might be feeling even half as miserable as he was made him want to go and cheer her up.
Maybe their connection had been all him, but he didn’t think so. She felt something for him, too. He could feel it in her touch and the way she kissed him back. More than anything, he knew the more time he spent with her, the more he realized it would never be enough.
One way or another, he’d get her to talk to him. To listen to his side of the story. At least then, if she walked away, she’d be doing it with all the right information.
~*~
Chrissy’s heart skipped a beat every time she heard the bell ring above the coffee shop door. Her head would lift, and her eyes would immediately go to the customer coming inside. She tried to tell herself she was just doing her job, making sure she helped people in a timely manner.
In reality, when she saw the customer wasn’t Wyatt, it felt like an invisible vice tightened around her heart just a little bit more. It’d been a ridiculously long week, and it was only Tuesday.
He’d sent her a text. She hadn’t responded. What made her think he would just waltz into the coffee shop now? It didn’t matter how much she rationalized it all in her head, there was a little part of her that clung to hope. Hope that took a hard hit every time it wasn’t Wyatt who walked through that door.
She managed to make it through another day at work and didn’t relax until she got home. The moment she stepped into the living room, she found Emma with her hands clasped in front of her and a pleased look on her face.
“Guess what?”
“You won a lifetime supply of chocolate.” Chrissy wanted to stay grumpy, but there was no keeping back the smile when her sister looked so happy.
“No. Though that would be something to celebrate.” She paused for effect. “I got a job!”
