Wyatt chuckled. “It’s okay. I probably deserve it.”
Beth arched a brow. “You disappeared on her.”
“I know,” he said evenly. “And I’m sorry.”
Natasha studied him for a moment longer, then nodded once, like she’d reached a preliminary conclusion. “All right.”
Beth leaned closer to me, stage-whispering. “He’s charming.”
I rolled my eyes, but my pulse betrayed me.
“Are you headed somewhere?” Wyatt asked.
“We were,” I said. “But … not urgently.”
He hesitated, then said, “I just got into town. I was actually going to grab a drink. Nothing fancy.”
Beth perked up immediately. “We love unfancy.”
Natasha gave me a look. The kind that said:your call.
I took a breath, surprised by how much I wanted to say yes.
“There’s a place just around the corner,” I said. “Low-key. We were going to walk.”
Wyatt smiled. “Lead the way.”
We set off together, the four of us falling into an easy rhythm. Wyatt walked on my outside, instinctively shielding me from passing pedestrians, his hand briefly brushing my back as we navigated a tight corner.
The touch sent a small shock through me.
I told myself it was just surprise. Nostalgia. Residual adrenaline.
I didn’t consider it further. Not yet.
The bar was tucked into a narrow street, warm light spilling out onto the sidewalk, jazz humming softly from inside. We claimed a small table near the back, the atmosphere relaxed and intimate without trying too hard.
Drinks were ordered. Glasses clinked.
Beth kicked off her heels with a sigh. “I don’t know how you survived growing up together without this turning into something dramatic.”
Wyatt laughed. “Trust me, it was dramatic.”
I shot him a look. “It was not.”
“Oh, it was,” he said, amused. “You just didn’t know it.”
My stomach flipped.
Natasha leaned back in her chair. “Okay. Childhood best friends. Years apart. Reunite in a different city. One of you saves a life in public.”
Beth nodded. “I’m invested.”
Wyatt’s eyes flicked back to me. “You saved a life.”
I winced. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“No,” he said simply. “I’m not.”
