I slam the door shut before pulling her away.
Kellan takes off, making Lyla frown.
“I’m not your real girlfriend. You don’t have to do all these sweet things,” she murmurs.
“No, but I want to. So how about I walk you to your door and bid you good night?”
She rolls her eyes before she allows me to walk with her up to the door.
“I had a good time tonight. I’m glad you and Cora hit it off,” I tell her.
“Me too. I feel bad that we are faking this, though. She seems so invested in our relationship now. She is going to be devastated when we fake break up.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that we won’t fake break up then. We can stay together for real.
Before I can, the door opens and a guy a little older than me steps outside. Instantly, I know they have to be related by the similarities they share.
“Sorry. I need to get going. I’m Will, by the way.”
I hold my hand out to shake his. “Wyatt.”
“Nice to meet you. Thanks for making my sister smile.” He kisses Lyla on the head. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Will rushes down the sidewalk and into the car. I look back to Lyla.
“Why is he in such a rush?”
She looks into the now open door of the house, then at me. “He has to get to work.”
I look into the house.
Does she have a kid? Would it bother me if she had one? I surely would have remembered seeing her pregnant, right? Or maybe it’s his kid? Could I be off the mark and it’s something else? What is she hiding?
“That’s why you needed to be home. To stay here and care for…” I trail off.
Come on, open up. Trust me with whatever you’re hiding.
She sighs. “Come on in.”
Somehow that one phrase has me wondering what could make her look this sad.
seven
Blowing out a deep breath, I open the door.
“Come on in,” I tell him quietly as I step inside.
My eyes instantly find my dad, who’s leaned back in his chair, staring at the TV.
“Hi, Dad,” I say softly.
He looks over at me and smiles as the front door clicks shut. “There’s my girl,” he says, making tears come to my eyes.
Of course he has a moment of clarity when Wyatt is here. While I’m thankful, it’s a little bittersweet. I almost wish I could have this moment to myself.
“I want to introduce you to someone.” I look over my shoulder and wave Wyatt over.
“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Wyatt. Wyatt, this is my dad,” I tell him, not bothering to hide the shakiness in my voice.
