“He did not?—”
Natasha stepped closer, unbothered, and examined it with the calm of a woman assessing a bruise like it was a weather report. “It’s not too bad.”
Beth grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest like she was containing herself. “This is a man who has been thinking about you for twelve years. Of course, it’s not too bad. He’s been practicing restraint on a spiritual level.”
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “Please, stop talking.”
Beth plopped onto her bed, eyes gleaming. “I’m not stopping. I’ve waited for this. Tell us everything.”
Natasha sat on her bed with her legs crossed, patient. “Only what you want to share.”
I dropped onto the edge of my bed, exhaling. “Wyatt left this morning.”
Beth’s grin dimmed. Not vanished—just sharpened into something more serious. “Okay. How are you feeling about that?”
“Not … spiraling,” I said, and I could hear the pride in my own voice. “I woke up and he was gone, and yes, I had a moment ofwhat the hell, but I don’t think it’s about me.”
Natasha nodded slowly, like that confirmed something she’d already guessed. “That’s a healthy interpretation.”
Beth leaned forward. “Did he leave, like, leave? Or did he go for coffee and come back?”
“He took his stuff,” I said. “But he also took the belt buckle I gave him.”
Beth’s eyes widened. “Oh.”
Natasha’s brows lifted slightly. “That’s significant.”
“It felt significant,” I agreed. “Like he didn’t walk out trying to erase it. He walked out trying to … process it.”
Beth made a face. “Men. Why are they like that?”
“Because feelings terrify them,” I said simply. “And Wyatt’s feelings terrify him more than most.”
Natasha studied me. “And you’re okay giving him space?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
Beth blinked. “Who are you and what have you done with Sophie?”
I smiled, small but sure. “I’m just … done trying to shrink myself into something easy. He knows how I feel. I’m not going to punish him for needing time to catch up to it.”
Beth’s expression softened into something almost proud. “Okay. Damn.”
Natasha tilted her head. “Do you think he’ll call you today?”
“I think he will,” I said.
Not because I needed to believe it.
Because I did.
Beth kicked off her sandals, suddenly energized like we’d moved into planning mode. “Okay, so. Let’s talk logistics.”
“Beth,” I warned.
“No, listen.” She pointed at me. “You said you belong together. Great. Love that. But practical questions still exist. Like: Where does he live? Where do you live? How does that work?”
Natasha nodded. “He said he travels.”
