Page 36 of I Found You (Wilder #1)

It was only five o’clock, and Charlie had agreed to watch Jane as long as I needed him, so after a quick check-in text, Scarlett and I decided to head to Harpoon’s for an early dinner and a drink.

As we walked into the bar, my eyes needed a moment to adjust to the lack of light.

The sun wasn’t going to set for a few more hours, but inside the bar and restaurant, it looked like night had already descended.

A waitress with short blonde hair cut into a shaggy bob came to our high-top table quickly, which made sense, considering we were early enough that it was still pretty empty here.

Scarlett ordered a beer on tap while I opted for a margarita, and we agreed to share a plate of nachos as an appetizer.

The drinks came out first, followed closely by the food, which Scarlett and I both attacked.

There was just something about a plate of bar nachos and a margarita that couldn’t be beat.

On top of that, Scarlett was great company.

She was actually a little shy, which surprised me, considering how quickly we clicked.

We talked about books, movies, and work.

I even told her about Josie coming back around.

How we’d met up a couple of times now, always in short increments and never with Jane around.

But I was careful not to bring up the Wilder men.

I was still unsure where or what Wyatt and I were.

And as curious as I was about her potential crush on Luke, it was none of my business, and more than that, I couldn’t imagine it would be a fun topic of conversation. Unrequited crushes rarely were.

Apparently, Scarlett didn’t share that same hesitation. After dancing around the question for a while, she finally just spit it out, “Okay, so what’s the deal with you and Wyatt?”

“Ha. Beats me. He’s great. The best, honestly. But I still have a hard time imagining a world where he sees something in me, even after he says all the right things.”

“ What ? Why?” she asked. “You’re beautiful. Obviously caring and compassionate, taking in a baby in need. You’re smart, fun to be around. I literally can’t think of a single bad thing to say about you.”

A nervous laugh escaped me. Compliments were always a struggle for me to accept, but it was something I was working on.

When someone said, “Hey, I like your dress,” I could respond with a simple thank-you without having to elaborate.

But big compliments, personal ones that were about me, that was still pretty foreign.

Wyatt had told me those same things just yesterday, but I had been so far removed from romance, or even solid friendships, for too long for it to be something that I felt accustomed to.

“What about you? Anyone special in your life?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“No. I was seeing some guy for a few months, but then I found out… get this…” She paused and met my eyes with an icy stare. “He was married.”

My stomach dipped. I knew I should have stayed clear of this conversation. Sweat coated my skin as I tried to figure out how to respond. “What? Really? You didn’t know that at the beginning?”

“God, no. He told me he was divorced.” Her head lowered to her chest, her fingers slicing through the condensation collecting under our drinks.

“Honestly, it was humiliating when I found out. I was at the market when I ran into him and his wife. They were shopping together. I didn’t even say anything to him I was so shocked.

That night, he texted me to see if he could come by, like nothing happened.

I know he saw me. We made full eye contact.

And then he just pretends like it’s nothing. I blocked his number.”

I reached out and put my hand on hers. “There is absolutely nothing in that story that you should feel humiliated about. He sounds like a real jerk.”

“Yeah. I just can’t believe I bought it. All his stories. All his lies. I’m just so mad at myself. I really can pick ’em,” she sighed. “It’s like I have an unnatural attraction to unattainable men.”

“Well, screw him!” I yelled.

She let out a small laugh and picked up her drink to a toast. “Yeah, screw you, Jeff. I hope every shoe you own eats your socks while you walk.”

I brought my drink to clink against hers in a cheer.

We were still laughing when I felt a familiar tug to look up.

Luke and Wes were walking into the bar area, oblivious to us, but Wyatt’s attention was solely on me.

A sly smile pulled at his lips before he gave in and let his full smile out.

He walked toward our table, ignoring the other two.

“This looks like a good time,” he said as he came up to us, gesturing at the number of glasses. I was on my second margarita, and Scarlett had just started her third beer. “Is this just a ladies’ night, or are us fellas allowed to join you? ”

Just then, Luke and Wes walked up. Our two-person table wasn’t going to work for all of us.

“Of course you guys can join us,” Scarlett said, brushing her curly hair away from her face.

Wyatt’s eyes met mine, and the fluttering in my chest was back.

“Yeah. Stay.” Stay and hang out with us. Stay a part of my life. Stay with me.

We moved one of the larger high-tops that fit four people and pulled up an extra seat. Wes handed Wyatt a beer as they all took their seats, but he passed it to Luke. “I’m sticking with water tonight,” he said, his eyes trained on mine. “Can I get anyone another drink while I’m up there?”

“Didn’t you want one more margarita, Maeve?” Scarlett asked.

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

When no one else needed anything, Wyatt went to fetch his water from the bar. He came back, margarita in one hand and water in the other. Setting it down in front of me, he shot me a dirty wink.