"It’s fucking amazing. We’re gonna win this thing."
"That's awesome, man. I'm proud of you both." He yawns. "Now, can I go back to sleep, or do you have more confessions to make?"
"One more thing."
"What?"
"If I screw this up, you'll kick my ass, right?"
"Absolutely. If you break my little sister's heart, I will personally fly out there and end you. But I don't think you will."His voice softens slightly. "You're a good guy, Wyatt. Just don't be an idiot about this."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask. Now seriously, I'm going back to sleep. Text me with updates." The call ends, and I stare at my phone, processing what just happened.
Danny knows and approves. Somehow, that makes this feel more real and so much easier.
Whatever happens with this competition, I'm all in with Merri.
Chapter 12
Merri
One week later
I'm wiping down the bar at The Sassy Siren on a Wednesday afternoon when Heather and Julie walk in looking like they're on a mission.
"Uh oh," I say, setting aside my towel. "This looks serious."
"It is," Heather says, sliding onto a barstool. "We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Don't play dumb with us, Merri Gallagher," Julie adds, sitting next to Heather. "You know exactly what."
I pour them each a beer. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
"Wyatt Dalton," they say in unison.
Heat creeps up my neck. "What about him?"
"Oh, come on!" Heather leans forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "The whole town is talking about you two. It's time to fess up."
"There's nothing to tell that the town doesn’t already know. We're collaborating on a competition entry. That’s it."
"Right. And that's why you two were holding hands on the beach in Hibiscus Harbor last week?" Julie pulls out her phoneand shows me a photo. It’s slightly blurry, but unmistakably me and Wyatt, walking barefoot on the sand with our fingers intertwined.
My jaw drops. "Where did you get that?"
"The Pelican Point Morning Crew group chat," Heather says smugly. "Which, by the way, has been blowing up with Merriatt content."
"Merriatt?"
"Your couple name. Merri plus Wyatt equals Merriatt. It's very cute. I’m almost jealous they didn’t give me and Logan one."
I drop my face into my hands, groaning. "This cannot be happening."
"Oh, it's happening," Julie says. "There are at least thirty photos in the group chat. See? You having dinner at Sal's. Wyatt walking into the brewery, a smile on his face. The two of you at The Silver Willow. Someone even got a picture of him picking you up at your house with flowers in his hand. Flowers!"
