Both men turn toward me.
“I was wondering if you wanted to spend the morning with me,” Wyatt says.
“And before you say no, I’m wide awake right now and can hang out with Dad for a bit. I don’t have to work tonight, so I can sleep a bit later.”
“But days are my thing, and I just had my respite night,” I protest weakly.
Will rolls his eyes. “Do you want to go with your boyfriend?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation, and I don’t miss the way my answer makes him smile.
“That’s what I thought. So go. Come back by one, though, okay?” Will says.
I look over at Wyatt. “What do you want to do?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to run home and take a quick shower. Then we can make some plans,” Wyatt says as he rubs the back of his neck.
“Sounds good.”
Wyatt turns to Will, and they do one of those guy handshakes.
“Thanks, man. I appreciate you doing this,” Wyatt says to him.
Will shakes his head. “No thanks needed, just take care of my sister.”
“Always,” Wyatt says as he takes my hand in his.
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I believe him.
We leave my house and head toward his place. On the sidewalk, though, Wyatt trades places with me, making it so he’s the one walking closest to the road.
“Why do you do that?” I ask as he takes my hand.
“Do what?”
“Anytime I’m walking closest to the road, you switch spots with me.”
Wyatt shrugs. “Promise you won’t think I’m some sexist pig when I tell you?”
“Wyatt, you couldn’t be a sexist pig if you tried. Now tell me.”
“It’s a safety thing. Any real man wouldn’t be okay with a woman walking closest to the road. Instead, we take that spot, that way if some asshole loses control and drives up the sidewalk, we can push you out of the way. Then we are the ones who are hurt, but you would be fine.”
“Seriously?” I say incredulously.
“Seriously.”
“Huh. Will does it, and my dad did it before he got sick, but I never asked why.”
He shrugs. “It’s because we care. Just one of those little things that we do to try and keep you safe.”
I don’t know why, but it gives me butterflies.
It’s sweet. In a non-sexy way.
We get to his house, and we head inside.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he says as he heads into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
