Page 97 of Saving Wyatt

“Now what?” I asked.

Ash put the van in park and he turned around too, his expression all business.

“Now we go underground,” he said.

My chest tightened even more as I looked out the windshield, full to the brim with cars. The whole team, family, and friends, had come here where we had safety in numbers. Where the whole team could protect us if Wilson came for us.

I knew it was only for a night, but it was going to be the longest night ever, and I didn’t know if any of us would sleep.

“This is the endgame, folks. Let’s go,” Slade said and got out of the car.

Ash got out too, and Wyatt and I were left alone in the van, and for a minute I felt safe, but then the whole world and our situation came crashing down in my mind and I forgot how to even breathe.

“If this doesn’t work…” I said and had to stop to refill my lungs.

Wyatt put his hand under my chin and lifted my head so I could meet his gaze, and even though he looked bloodied and swollen already, I couldn’t look away.

“It will work,” he said with a confidence I didn’t feel.

“What if it doesn’t?” I whispered.

“You’re forgetting something.” He smirked.

“What is that?”

“This was your idea. It’s going to work, and you know why?”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you’re the smartest person I know.”

I shook my head and sighed. “I think tech-whiz Slade would beg to differ.”

Wyatt cupped my face again, and his expression steeled as we looked at each other. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“What for?” I frowned.

“I know it must have been hell not knowing if I was okay. I’m sorry I put you through that after…after what happened to Evan. I…I promise I won’t ever do it again.”

I swallowed a knot that formed in my throat at the mention of my husband’s name and covered his hand with mine over the side of my face.

“I love you,” I said.

It felt right. It felt like it had to be said. I should have said it to him before he went on this suicide mission, and it had been circling my mind all the time I was sitting in this van holding my breath and waiting for the signal. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Wyatt leaned forward and touched his forehead to mine. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he kissed me between the eyes and said, “I love you too, Ari. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before.”

His words were almost electric around me. They charged my skin and gave me goosebumps, but it was his kiss, the one on the mouth that set me on fire. A fire that had to be put out because we were about to share a house with twenty-odd people and there could be no slip-ups, when all I wanted to do was kiss him and hug him and make love to him.

“Maybe we shouldn’t sleep here tonight,” I said.

Wyatt chuckled, but it turned into a cough, and I apologized.

“I think that’d be more suspicious than holding hands in front of them,” he said.

“Maybe.” I shrugged.

He held my gaze for a moment longer then said, “Come on. Let’s go. Before I do something we’ll regret.”