Beautiful (8 page)

Wyatt grabbed my hand again as we walked into the movie theater.

“Do you always hold hands with your friends?” I asked.

I was terrified of what his answer was going to be. I’d seen him talking to other girls before, but he didn’t look at them like he looked at me. At least, in my mind, I thought he looked at me differently. Michelle and Mitch had said he did.

Wyatt’s face lifted into a smirk as he answered, “No, never.”

My heart leaped to my throat, and I had no idea how to respond to that. My head was spinning, and I was beyond confused.

Does Wyatt want more than a friendship? What would people say if we started dating? He would be shunned. It’s bad enough that he risks social suicide by being my friend.

“Sky…are you okay tonight?”

Turning to look at him, I smiled. I needed to stop overthinking this and enjoy my time with him. “I’ve never been better.”

His smile took my breath away.

“Good. Wait until tomorrow night.”

With an inquisitive look, I asked, “Tomorrow night?”

The movie started, and all Wyatt did was wink. He turned and said something to Mitch, and then he focused on the previews.

Tomorrow night? What is he doing tomorrow night? Shit! He must have forgotten I said I would be watching the meteor shower.

Leaning over, I asked in a whisper, “What’s tomorrow night?”

“A surprise.”

Oh no, he forgot.

“Um…Wyatt, did you forget? I have a star date with my brother Skip.”

He looked at me and grinned from ear to ear. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m coming along.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “Oh…okay.”

The movie started, and I quickly found myself settling in. I hadn’t been to the movies in forever. Every time I came, I would think of Charlie and that horrible night.

My eyes started growing heavy as I fought to keep them open.

The next thing I knew, Wyatt was softly calling my name. “Skylar? Sky, wake up.”

Opening my eyes, I realized I had my head on his shoulder. Quickly pulling it away, I looked around at the people streaming out. “Oh no! I fell asleep.”

With a chuckle, he took my hand in his and pulled me up into a standing position. “I’m sure it’s from all the studying, right?”

I laughed and playfully hit him in the stomach. “Yeah, that’s why I’m so tired.”

Actually, it was because I’d lain awake half the night, thinking about Wyatt.

Sitting in the car, I leaned my head on Wyatt again.

Then, I heard my mother’s voice, and I woke up in Wyatt’s arms as he was carrying me up the stairs and into my room. I wanted to enjoy the feeling of being in his arms, so I kept my eyes closed.

“You are terribly sweet, carrying her up to her room like this.”

Wyatt’s laugh warmed my entire body. He gently placed me on the bed. “I don’t mind at all. I didn’t want to wake her. She’s clearly exhausted because she also fell asleep in the movie.”

I trembled when he pushed a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“She must be cold. Let me grab an extra blanket from the hall. I’ll be right back.”

“Sounds good,” Wyatt replied in a hushed voice.

That was when it happened.

Leaning over, Wyatt kissed my forehead and whispered, “Good night, my beautiful angel. Dream about me.”

I was pretty sure, in that moment, the walls around my heart collapsed.

I couldn’t stop thinking about my star date with Skip and Wyatt tonight. I was excited to talk to Skip and to spend time with Wyatt. His whispered words last night had me daring to believe there might be something more than friendship between us.

When I opened my locker, a note fell out. I could read it or walk over to the trash and throw it away. I chose the latter. Walking with my head held high, I dropped the note into the garbage and made my way back to my locker.

Goose bumps appeared across my skin before he even said a word.

“Hey,” Wyatt softly said. His green eyes danced with happiness.

I pressed my lips together and smiled. “Hey back.”

“You ready for tonight?”

My eyes drifted over his shoulder. Jenny was standing at her locker, glaring at us.

Focusing my attention back on Wyatt, I nodded. “I’m excited. What about you?”

His smile and that dimple made my knees weak.

“Oh, I plan to wish on some serious stars tonight.”

“Hey, Wyatt. I’m planning a little party at my house after the football game tomorrow night. Most of the football team will be there. I know I can count on you showing up, right?” Jenny said.

When she placed her hand on his arm, he glanced down and looked at it before taking a step away from her.

“Sorry, Jenny. Skylar and I have plans.”

I quickly looked at him. We didn’t have plans—at least that I knew of.

“I’m sure Skylar wouldn’t mind letting her new BFF spend some time with his teammates. You’re the leader of the team, Wyatt. You should be rallying with them.”

Wyatt let out a gruff laugh. “I do, Jenny—on the football field during every practice and every game. I don’t consider an after-party as something I need to rally up the troops for.”

Jacob walked by and looked between me and Wyatt. When our eyes met, he smiled slightly. He hadn’t spoken to me or even looked at me in months. Now, he was staring at me in class and smiling at me in the hall.

Where was he when I needed him?

“I see. Well, being a part of a team is more than just on the field, Wyatt.”

God, is this girl really that desperate?
I wanted to laugh, but if I did, I knew it would only bring me more heartache.

Clearing my voice, I grabbed my calculus and English books along with a few other things. “I’ve got to run.”

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Wyatt said with a dazzling smile.

Jenny stood there, stunned. “So, is that a yes or a no to the party, Wyatt?”

Lifting his hand, he called out, “That is a no, Jenny.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as Wyatt took my books from my arms and carried them while we walked out to my car.

For one brief moment, I wished he had laced his fingers with mine. For now though, I’d take him blowing off Jenny and carrying my books over anything.

Wyatt

We drove down Park Road toward Inks Lake State Park in silence while Skylar stared out the window. I wanted desperately to know what she was thinking about.

“So, is Inks Lake where you and Skip used to come for your star dates?”

Turning to face me, she gave me that beautiful smile I loved so much. “Yeah. Our family would come here all the time and camp when we were little.”

That piqued my interest. “Do you like to camp?”

“I love it. I actually wish we did it more often. What about you? Are you all into camping?”

“Hell yeah!”

Skylar chuckled and shook her head. “I’m not surprised. You seem like the outdoors type.”

“Hiking is one of my favorite things to do. My father and I used to go all the time when I was little. I swear, I would stop and ask him what every tree was. He ended up having to buy all these books on trees and birds.”

“I think that’s amazing. Your parents seem like they’re really cool.”

With a wide grin, I nodded. “They are. Super supportive as well.”

Pulling into the park, I stopped at the booth.

The lady stepped out and smiled. “The park will be open a bit later tonight for the stargazing event, but the gates will lock at midnight.”

“Got it,” I said while I handed her the entrance fee.

We started driving in, and Skylar gasped. “Is that Mitch?”

Shit.
I didn’t want to spoil her surprise.

“No, it couldn’t be. Why would he be here?” I replied, trying to throw her off.

She sat back and shook her head. “I swear, that was his truck.”

I had rented a campsite earlier today and asked Mitch to bring Skylar’s bike.

“Um…you’re going into one of the campground sites, Wyatt. We need to go to one of the open fields. You brought chairs, right?” she asked with a worried expression.

“I told you, I have it all under control. This is the surprise portion of your star date.”

“The star date you crashed.”

My heart dropped. Maybe Skylar was upset that I was here.
Damn it.
I hadn’t thought that maybe she would want to be alone.

Swallowing hard, I slowed down and pulled into the campsite. “Sky, if I had known you wanted to be alone, I wouldn’t have pushed myself into coming along. I’m so sorry. I should have asked you if it was okay that I tagged along with you tonight.”

Her eyes widened. “What? I don’t want to be alone. I’m always alone, and this last month, hanging out with you has been great. Really great. I didn’t mean anything by that at all, I swear.”

My heart slammed against my chest. “It has been really great. What time is Skip going to call?”

Her face relaxed. “He’s going to call around nine thirty.”

Glancing at the clock, I smiled. We still had an hour of sunlight left, so we could ride the bikes around the park.

“Perfect. Come on!” Jumping out of the truck, I ran around to her side and opened the door. Reaching for her hand, I helped her out and said, “Close your eyes.”

Giggling, Skylar closed her eyes while I led her over to where Mitch had dropped off her bike.

“Hold on. I need to grab something out of the back of my truck. Don’t open your eyes.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

I could hear the excitement in her voice.

Grabbing my bike, I brought it over and put it next to hers. “Open your eyes, Sky.”

When she saw the bikes, she looked between them and me. “What’s going on?”

“Well, I thought we could ride bikes along the path while the sun was still up. Then, we could head on over and get set up for your star date with your brother. Maybe later, we could ride the bikes under the shooting stars.”

Her eyes glazed over, and her chin trembled.

Oh no, what did I do?

“Sky? Did I do or say something wrong?”

She sank her teeth into her lip and shook her head. “No…this is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. I…I don’t know what to say.”

Walking up to her, I searched her face. The last thing I ever wanted to do was push her, but I needed to know what her lips felt like. Cupping her face with my hands, I gazed into those beautiful gray eyes. “Say I can kiss you, Sky. I want to kiss you so much.”

For once, I didn’t see sadness in those eyes. I saw something else that dared to let me believe that Skylar would finally let me in.

“Kiss me, Wyatt,” she whispered.

My stomach dropped as my heart pounded in my chest. Smiling, I leaned in closer, barely brushing my lips across hers. When I pressed my lips to hers, I gently urged her to open her mouth to me. When she did, I swore, I died on the spot.

Skylar moaned lightly as our tongues moved in perfect harmony. Her hands came up and held on to my arms as I deepened the kiss.

When I finally pulled my lips back, both of our chests were heaving. Resting my forehead against hers, I closed my eyes. I’d kissed plenty of girls before, but I’d never experienced anything like I had just now.

If I hadn’t been sure before, I certainly was now. Skylar Woods owned my heart—forever.

Neither one of us said anything at first.

Then, Skylar whispered, “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”

Pulling my head back, I narrowed my eyes. Surely, Skylar had kissed Jacob before.

With a sweet smile, she saw my confusion and giggled. “I’ve been kissed before, yes, but it’s never felt like that…like my body completely melted into yours.”

“Angel, do you have any idea how you make me feel?”

She shook her head.

“Then, maybe I should show you again.”

My hand slid behind her neck, pulling her lips back to mine. As much as I wanted to pour everything into that kiss, I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. Her arms came up and wrapped around my neck. Bringing her body to me, I was sure she could feel how much I wanted her, but I didn’t care, not at the moment.

I needed her to know I wanted more than sex from her. I desired her heart. I wanted to look in her eyes and see the sadness replaced by happiness.