“You and me both.”
Skeeter Bite – Two weeks later
Wyatt managed to do all the things he normally did in the wake of his breakup with Valene. He got up every morning as usual. He showered. He ate breakfast. He got ready for work. He went to his job, did the sheriff thing all day long with a fair amount of dispassion and returned home. Then he changed clothes, sat in front of his television and watched mindlessly, not really seeing anything as he considered what to do with the rest of his life without Valene. The pattern had continued for a couple of weeks. He didn’t expect it to change anytime soon.
Hunter was worried about him. He blamed himself for the useless texts he’d sent that pivotal night at the Smokin’ Hog Saloon, trying to warn Wyatt that Daphne Charlene had followed him there with her brother in tow. Wyatt said as few words as possible, but told his friend he appreciated the attempted warning and not to worry. He just needed time to adjust to his regular life without Valene. No one could help him with that.
His parents were also worried about him. They said he seemed like a ghost of his former self, a phrase Hunter also used. They continually asked him what was wrong and invited him over for dinner each and every night. He politely turned down their repeated requests. He didnotwant to see Daphne Charlene. However, she was a continual thorn in his side as his days and nights blew by in a blur of desolate contemplation.
Daphne Charlene had outdone herself by spreading rumors all over the county, and likely beyond, about his proposal to Valene Grey and her subsequent refusal to marry him, citing his relationship with Daphne Charlene as the reason for their breakup. It was a big, fat lie that he hadn’t bothered to dispute. He just hadn’t had the heart to set anyone straight over his personal life one way or the other. It was no one’s business. Let them all think what they wanted. It wouldn’t change anything.
It also didn’t stop the annoying woman from approaching him at seemingly every turn, especially during the day. Daphne Charlene had cornered him at the station this morning, bearing a foil-covered baked sweet something special from her café, quietly imploring him to meet her at an out of the way place, or at dinner with his parents or to just simply meet with her anywhere. He turned her down and told her in as dispassionate a tone as possible to stop spreading tales about his proposal to Valene or he’d make her sorry.
Truthfully, he wasn’t certain what would make Daphne Charlene sorry for anything she ever did, but if she pushed him any further, he’d do his best to find out.
Two seconds after his promise of retaliation, he found out one thing she definitely didn’t like. Daphne Charlene, apparently unused to being spoken to in such a sharp manner, showed her true personality in the heated moment. She huffed, she puffed, she threatened to blow his house down if he didn’t cheer up and take advantage of what she offered.
In an overloud tone, she said, “Don’t you understand, Wyatt? Now that Valvoline has turned down your marriage proposal, I want to be your girlfriend, then your fiancée! I plan to marry you one day very soon. We will be the perfect power couple in this town if you would just cooperate!”
Wyatt, highly aware that his staff had just gotten an earful about the reason he’d been so unhappy, said nothing, but he may have rolled his eyes.
Unfortunately, Daphne Charlene decided this was his way of issuing her a challenge.
“I will not be thwarted. Valvoline doesn’t want you, I heard her myself. I don’t understand why you won’t at least meet with me. It’s been two weeks! Get over it! Get on with your life…with me! Lots of people have told me what a catch I am. So catch me already!”
There was not a single sound in the sheriff’s office after her loud declaration regarding his failed love life with Valene and Daphne Charlene’s plans for his future.
Wyatt frowned, letting her know he was unhappy with her declaration.
She didn’t seem to care. “Eventually youwillsee things my way, Wyatt Campbell. Just see if you don’t.” She stormed out of the sheriff’s station, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the panes of glass. It was a miracle it didn’t shatter into a thousand pieces. Like his heart.
After his failed love life was broadcast to his staff with as much delicacy as the cover story in this week’s gossip news tabloid, Wyatt retreated to his office, expecting that no one would dare bother him unless the place was on fire. He was right. They left him alone all day.
At the end of a long, quiet workday, Wyatt still didn’t care about any repercussions that might come from his lack of interest in a relationship with Daphne Charlene or her threats. He was numb through and through. He saw his life as a lonely tableau of endless, isolated and joyless days until he died, alone and miserable at long last.
As the staff had after Daphne Charlene’s shocking announcement, Hunter had left Wyatt alone for a time, too, but called to guilt him into joining a few of their buddies for the monthly poker night in a few days.
Wyatt said he’d think about it, but he had no intention of going. He wasn’t ready to face the world without the possibility of Valene being part of his life. At least not yet.
He watched his television, torturing himself with memories of each and every moment he’d spent with Valvoline Ethyl Grey set on a repeating loop in his mind.
The sharp knock at his door startled him out of his funk. He almost ignored it, but then a series of speedy blows on the solid wood came again, along with a muffled voice that sounded like Valene’s brother, Diesel.
Wyatt peeked out the front window to see Diesel’s truck parked behind his vehicle.
“Wyatt! Are you in there?”
Wyatt snatched open the door. “What’s up?”
“I need your help.”
Wyatt was about to say, “Of course, whatever you need.” Then he noticed Valene standing behind Diesel. He spoke without thinking. “What’sshedoing here?”
Diesel’s expression remained civil even as disapproval flashed across his face. “She was the one who told me where you live so that we could come get you.”
Wyatt glanced at Valene’s beautiful face. She looked as miserable as he felt. “Valene,” he said curtly.
