More time alone with Wyatt made her a glutton for punishment, as just his presence caused her body to tremble with long-forgotten muscles. Sandy gulped and wished the sea air didn't all carry the almond flavor that was clearly Wyatt as she said, "I was hoping we could clear the air in order to help Penny."
The spa door closed behind them. He nodded, though she swore his tanned cheeks were flushed. "Fair enough. Come, let's get coffee and talk."
Years ago, they met every single day for coffee. Penny, Jay, her brother Michael, dramatic Eva, and Wyatt. They had been her squad that helped her survive high school. A few years ago, when her own father had chosen death over going to prison for a Ponzi scheme, it was a relief to live on her trust fund—the federal government did not take that from her—as she started her business. Friendships had grounded her. Her father wanted to be richer than Mitch Morgan so much that he'd ended up doing highly illegal moves to top him, and failed. Her and her brother's trust fund came from her mother, who died when she was a girl. "Sounds great."
They walked into the small café and ordered their coffee. Wyatt turned toward her. "Do you still take the white mocha with whip?"
Her heart fluttered. He remembered. "Yes."
He nodded and turned toward the cashier to order for them. "One white mocha with whip and one regular coffee."
They stood in silence as they waited for the barista to make their drinks. Sandy wasn't sure how to bring up their past, and that wasn't what she needed to speak to him about anyhow. She was here for Penny and Jay, but she had so much to say to Wyatt. Despite everything, she missed him. Their order showed up at the bar.
Once they both had their drinks, he led them to a table. She sat and pushed her shoulders backward. "I miss our old coffee hangout."
A smile crossed his face. "Where you adopted Penny, like a school project?"
The same teasing as years ago. Her lips twitched to match his smile, but then she narrowed her eyes. This wasn't the past, and she wasn't the girl who worshipped him. "She was—is—my friend."
"Sandy, you were my entire world once."
He was her universe and stars in the night sky, but life hadn't worked out for them. Perhaps if he felt that, then he could at least tell her what had happened and why he'd stomped on her heart. "Then what happened?"
"Then Jessica."
The mention of her name wasn't enough. If she knew why he chose another woman over her, perhaps she could forget about him. She sipped her drink and stared at him. "So she became your world?"
He sat straighter. "I became involved."
She wanted more than three words from him. To move on meant she could ask without getting her hopes and heart involved. This was all ancient history. "Wyatt, I thought we were clearing the air."
He slumped his shoulders, drank some of his coffee, and then set it on the table. His hands were close to hers. "That was a long time ago now."
Not really. Her life slowed down and became boring. No other man ever stirred her heart. Closure was necessary if she was to never dream about what might have been. It was time to ask and be done with Wyatt forever. The whisper in her heart shouldn't matter. "I'd still like to hear what happened. How did you get involved so fast that you didn't find time to call me and break up before moving in with her?"
"That's not true."
Why deny this now? He married Jessica a week after Sandy walked in and right out. Her hands curled around her coffee cup and gripped it harder. "I met Jessica in your apartment."
"We didn't live together then."
Semantics. It was days, but clearly she'd walked into a major life changer without any notice. "Then why didn't you tell me that day and tell me that she was lying?"
Wyatt didn't move at all except to look down to the ground. "Because she was pregnant. She just told me, less than five minutes before you showed up."
"With your daughter." She had walked into a heavy conversation.
Wyatt looked at her again and nodded. "Yes."
Good. Admission meant she could ask questions, forgive, and then move on with her own life. She leaned forward. "If you were so in love with me, why did you have sex with Jessica?"
"I waited for you."
A laugh escaped her lips. "Clearly not."
His face went white. "No, the night it happened, I was waiting to drive to the airport to get you, but at the last second, you canceled your flight for a test."
She had explained why, and changed the dates. "But I rebooked for the next weekend."
He sat straighter, looked at her, and nodded like he'd been given the green light. "That night, October twenty-third, I remember drinking, a lot. I don't remember doing more than lifting my hands and Jessica climbing in my lap. Then a few weeks later, Jessica was pregnant, and I had to protect her. I will be sorry my entire life for how I hurt you."
His words were like fireworks that made her entire body come alive. So much for forgetting. It sounded like Wyatt was pulled into a trap, much like Penny's mother had done to his own father. She pushed her hair off her shoulders. "I wish you had told me this years ago."
His cheeks reddened. "I hated that I hurt you. If you want me to keep my distance for the next few days, I will."
"No." She reached across the table and placed her hands on his. Her heart whispered to give him another chance, but she wasn't going to decide that right now. She smiled at him. "Look, we're adults now, and Penny needs both of us. I'm glad we talked about this. I needed to hear your side of the story."
His hands jerked, but he didn't move them away. "Me too."
For a moment, neither of them moved a muscle. Then the screech of his chair echoed in the room as he scooted out like they were done, and left her in her seat. She wasn't ready for this to be over. "Wait."
He put his hands on hers and settled again. "What?"
This wasn't how she'd intended this conversation to go. They were here for the wedding and Penny. She had also promised her cousin Jay, the groom. She tilted her head and stared at Wyatt. He looked like a marine still, with that short brown hair and neatly pressed clothes. His brown eyes pierced through her heart and made her body weak. "You make Kate nervous. I'd like for you to join me for a few minutes at the bar—all you have to do is pretend to be absolutely interested in me."
He narrowed his eyes. "Why do I make Kate nervous?"
At least he hadn't asked how he could possibly still be interested in her, not that Wyatt ever would be. He was the standard most men could never meet, and her last boyfriend Charles would have said exactly the same thing. She shook off the thought. "Your father is a retired general. You're fresh out of the Marines."
"I was a lieutenant colonel, and that rank only lasted a few weeks. I didn't want to work my way up to general. There is more to life—at least, I think there is."
There was more to life. Perhaps she'd remind him. Or she'd forget about him easier if she spent time with him. It wasn't like she had anything to lose. "Yes, but your love of your country, it's something Kate doesn't understand. I want to see her reaction near you. Your eyes alone remind me of Superman and his whole truth and justice stance."
A real blush grew on his face. "I don't really know Jay's mother."
Marines took orders, didn't they? She kept her hand on his as she scooted out of the chair. "Just think of this as a recon mission. This way we're helping Jay and Penny like we promised."
"Then consider me yours."
Hers? She kept his hand and directed him in the direction of the main courtyard of the ship as she said, "For fifteen minutes, I'm sure you'll make my heart swoon there, Optimus Prime."
His nickname in high school football had slipped out of her lips. He stopped moving and tugged her hand to stop. She turned to him to see how serious his face became. "I haven't played football in years, Sandy."
Good. She winked. "I know. I saw every game. Now let's go."
This wedding might turn out to be the best medicine she could ask for. She had a second chance at finding out if all that longing was simply because she'd imagined her life a certain way and was upset someone had stolen her plans, or if she had she truly lost out on a real love. As long as she kept her head clear, she'd be fine. This time she wasn't a little girl who'd lost her favorite toy.
Walking down the hall holding Wyatt's hand, hope gushed through her veins.