Page 35 of Rain Delay

He was changed into a cut-off tee with a pair of shorts. He was just…staring. His eyes were locked on me like he forgot how to blink.

“Well, fuck,” he mutters. “This is new.”

I push my sunglasses back up and focus on my book. “You’re home early.”

“Um, yeah,” Wyatt clears his throat. “Got done a little earlier than I thought I would…Not that I’m complaining though.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“I would’ve missed this view.”

“It’s beautiful outside, for sure.” I play dumb.

“Mm,” he hums, dropping into the chair across from me, his eyes never leaving me. “Wasn’t really talking about that.”

“You act as if you’ve never seen a girl in a bikini before.”

He leans back in his chair. “I have,” he says. “It’s just…”

He cuts himself off a little too late, but I knew what he was getting at.

I glance at him. “Should I put on a turtleneck or something? Someone getting a little hot and bothered?”

He takes a deep breath, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m fine,” he says through gritted teeth.

I set my Kindle down, pulling my knees to my chest. “How was practice?”

“Alright,” he tells me. “Could’ve been better.”

I shake my head. “You probably did good…”

He shrugs. “Eh, you know how I am. I’m always hard on myself.” He looks at me. “But glad I’m back…I think this is way better than being at practice…” Wyatt pauses for a second, glancing at my Kindle, then back at me.

“Do you still read the last page first in your books?” He asks, trying to switch the subject.

I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, I learned my lesson when I did that with a book and basically ruined the entire thing for me.”

“Do you still read those mushy romance books?” He asks, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

“They’re mushy because they tell a cute story,” I give him a half-smirk. “You used to love hearing about the books I was reading.”

He leans back more in his chair, putting his arm behind his head. “You always got super happy when you got to tell me about your books, and I liked seeing how excited you got talking about them.”

That comment alone makes my heart thump against my chest. It took me by surprise hearing him talk about this. The way he was just able to spit off all of these little details he remembered about us. About me.

The switch-up from the other night is crazy to me. It was as if he completely forgot how he acted in front of me. Like none of it mattered.

I watched as he studied me for a moment, his eyes getting this darker hue to them as things started clicking in his brain, and he realized exactly who he was sitting next to.

“You decided to do this on my day off?” His gaze flicks over me again, slower this time. “Just…Dress like that?”

I let out a short laugh. “Would you rather I sit outside in the heat wearing a Parka? I didn’t realize I needed to clear my outfit choices with you.”

“You don’t,” he says. “I just…wasn’t prepared.”

I sit up more. “Well, you’ll survive.”

He watches me for a second longer. “Yeah, don’t know if I will…” he mutters.