“And he’s military,” Beth added, like she was listing crimes.
I let out a breath and leaned back on my hands, staring at the ceiling for a second. The mark on my neck pulsed faintly like it had its own heartbeat.
“He travels,” I repeated. “Yes. And I’m in Austin.”
Beth gestured wildly. “Is he moving? Are you moving? Is he going to, like, fly in and out like a secret boyfriend?”
I looked at both of them, my voice calm. “We’ll figure it out.”
Beth scoffed. “That’s not an answer.”
“It is,” I said. “Because there are a hundred versions of ‘figure it out’ that are possible. People do long-distance all the time. People relocate. People make hard changes when the thing they want is worth it.”
Natasha watched me closely. “And you think he thinks it’s worth it?”
I didn’t even have to think.
“Yes,” I said. “He’s panicking because he thinks he’s going to ruin it. Not because he doesn’t want it.”
Beth sat back, eyes narrowing like she was revising her mental file on Wyatt Dane. “So, his fear is going to look like distance.”
“Probably,” I said. “But I’m not going to interpret distance as rejection.”
Natasha’s expression softened. “That’s powerful.”
I swallowed, feeling something warm settle in my chest. “I just … know. I know what last night was. And I know what we are.”
Beth pointed at my neck again. “Also, your neck knows.”
“Stop.”
Beth laughed, then sobered a little. “Okay, but real talk. What do you want?”
The question landed like a gentle weight.
I stared at the window where the Charleston light fell across the curtains, thinking of the belt buckle in Wyatt’s pocket. Thinking of Jonesy’s grin in that photograph. Thinking of the way Wyatt had looked at me like home was a person.
“I want us,” I said quietly. “I want the version where we stop circling each other like we’re afraid to touch. I want him to let me be in his life without treating me like a liability. I want to build something that lasts longer than one perfect night.”
Natasha nodded slowly. “And you believe that’s possible.”
“Yes.”
Beth’s voice softened, almost careful. “Even if he tries to run?”
I turned and met her eyes. “Even then.”
Because here was the truth: loving Wyatt didn’t require me to become small.
I could love him and still stay steady in myself.
I could let him have his fear without letting it infect me.
I could give him space without abandoning myself.
Beth stared at me for a second, then made a sound like she was conceding a point she didn’t want to give. “Okay. Fine. You’re annoyingly emotionally healthy.”
Natasha smiled. “It’s not annoying. It’s rare.”
