Last night was incredible. After our talk and Wyatt’s little declaration, we reconnected and it was everything I could have wanted and more. Overnight, everything changed and sometimes it is easy to forget that we were ever apart but I know it is not always going to be that way. Right now, I’m happy and so fucking in love with my husband but I’m not foolish enough to think it will be this easy. There are still things we need to talk about and we need to learn to be with each other again, which will take time and patience.
I just hope I can handle it.
To be honest, I’m scared shitless. The last time Wyatt and I were together, I was so codependent that when he had to leave, I couldn’t even function without him and I don’t want to fall back into those same bad habits. He makes me feel so safe but I can’t rely on that anymore or I’ll be right back where I was before. We need to take things slow but that’s easier said than done… especially with Wyatt. He was never the guy to tread lightly or be cautious. He runs into things full-on with no plan and no fear at all. It’s so different from me that you have to wonder how we ever got together but even if I can’t explain it, it works. We work and I’m so fucking happy to have him back. Just the simple fact that I’m sitting next to him in his truck and we’re not yelling and screaming at each other and he doesn’t hate me anymore… I never thought this would happen. And when Eden forced us back into each other’s lives, I couldn’t even hope for this when the issues between us seemed so big and impossible to overcome.
“I think this is us,” Wyatt says as he slows down and pulls into the gravel driveway in front of little blue cottage with a bright pink door that might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Each window is framed by white shutters and it’s private… or as private as you can get right on the beach in Isle of Palms. There is an empty lot on both sides of the house and our closest neighbors only have one car in the driveway so we don’t have to worry about crazy parties going on all night. I grin as I peek over at him and slap my hand on his thigh.
“Damn, you did good, babe.”
He nods with a smirk on his face like he already knows he did good and reaches across the seat, unclipping my belt and pulling me toward him as hunger fills his eyes.
“Wait, you’re gonna crush the food!” I yell, placing my hand on his chest to stop him and he sighs, glancing down at the bag of chicken and sides we picked up on the way over here as he releases me.
“I’m not hungry.” His stomach growls, betraying him and I laugh as I back away from him and grab the food.
“Sure, but let’s go eat anyway.”
His smile widens and he flashes me a predatory look before he turns and opens his door. “Fine. I’ll eat dinner and then I’m eating you.”
“Wyatt,” I gasp and he laughs as he slams the door behind him and walks around to the back to grab our bags. I hop down with the bag of food in my hand and meet him at the front door as he punches a code into the little box attached to the door. It beeps and a secret compartment pops out, revealing a key.
“Fancy,” I mutter and he glances back at me with a smirk as he unlocks the door. It swings open to a bright, airy, all white color scheme that has a quintessential beauty feel to it and memories from our first trip here rush back to me. We stayed in a hotel that time but it was right on the beach and if we weren’t playing in the ocean, we were in bed or in the hot tub just trying to soak up as many moments together as we could. Hell, I don’t even think we showered separately that entire trip.
“Come on. Let’s take a tour,” he says, grabbing my hand and heat settles in my chest at the feeling of his touch and I nod, fighting back a smile as he leads me into the kitchen before turning down a hallway. At one end is a bedroom and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower and at the other end is a screened in back porch that leads out to a yard and a pool. I point to the little round table next to the pool.
“Let’s eat here.”
He nods and releases my hand. “Sure. I’ll go see if I can find some plates and stuff.”
As he turns and walks back into the house, I sit down and set the food on the table before looking out at the water and sighing. The sun is sinking into the ocean, fire red merging with cool blue as intense purples, pinks, and oranges streak across the sky. A light breeze ruffles my hair and the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach soothe my soul as I take a deep breath. I can’t remember the last time I was this relaxed. Then again, I also can’t remember the last time I took a vacation. When I called Eden this morning, she was ready to rip me a new one but when she found out who I was with she was all too happy to cover some of my shoots and reschedule the others for me. Her only stipulation was that I spill all the details as soon as I got home but I would expect nothing else. Honestly, it is a miracle she let me leave without a full rundown of events. Giggling, I imagine how much it has to be driving her crazy as I shake my head.
“What are you giggling about out here?” Wyatt asks, walking up behind me with two plates, silverware, and a couple beers. I shake my head again as he sets them down.
“I was just thinking about how crazy it has to be making Eden that I didn’t tell her everything that happened before we left.”
He scoffs as he sits down and passes me a plate. “She a good friend to you, baby? Or can I keep being mad at her?”
“You can do whatever you want but she is my best friend and she really did mean well.”
“Yeah,” he answers, meeting my gaze with a smile. “I suppose it worked out all right in the end but that girl has got boundary issues.”
I nod. Truthfully, I can’t argue with him but I know Eden and I know her heart was in the right place when she put this whole little plan into motion. “She’s working on it.”
“Mmhmm,” he hums, his gaze full of doubt as he peeks over at me and I laugh as he puts a big piece of fried chicken on my plate before holding up one of the sides. “Mashed potatoes or mac and cheese?”
I roll my eyes as I lift up my plate and hold it out to him. “Both. And a biscuit, please.”
He chuckles as he scoops some potatoes onto my plate and pours a little bit of gravy over the top before grabbing the mac and cheese. Once he plops the biscuit next to everything else, I set my plate back down and take one of the beers from him.
“Sorry it’s so small,” he says, glancing around as he finishes loading up his plate. “It was all I could find at the last minute. Apparently whoever originally rented this place out for the next five days cancelled last night.”
I shake my head as I look up at the little cottage. “I think it’s perfect. We have everything we need and if this trip is about us reconnecting, I wouldn’t want to be in a hotel or some big house with tons of neighbors around.”
“Yeah?” he asks, his lips twitching with a hidden grin as he arches a brow. “There something specific you need privacy for, Pip?”
“Maybe… I’ve kind of always wanted to have sex in a pool,” I say, my gaze flicking to the pool next to us and he sucks in a breath as his gaze drops down to my chest and he licks his lips. Goddamn, the man is going to kill me. He grabs his fork and nods to my plate.
“You better hurry up and eat.”