Wyatt leans back in the sand, punching his elbows down deep and then bending his legs.
“Let me ask you something,” he starts out. “Could you have fixed it? Were you ever going to pull that application? Were you going to stunt your FBI career and agree to live out said career in Pittsburgh?”
I don’t even have to give serious thought to those questions. “No. I was not going to pull that application. It’s been my dream to work in the BRIU since I was a little girl.”
Wyatt jerks up from his position and turns to me with a shocked look. “Really? I don’t know many little girls that aspire to be in a particular unit of the FBI.”
I smile at him and push up from the sand until I’m standing. As I look down at him, I say, “Well, my dad was a member of the BRIU. He was killed in the line of duty when I was six months old, so I didn’t even remember him, but I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Became obsessed with it actually.”
Wyatt stands up from the sand, brushing his jeans off. He holds his hand out to me, and I take it.
As we stroll down toward the water, and then angle south, he says, “That’s tough about losing your dad so young. At any age really. But I can see how that would totally drive your goals.”
“Or maybe it was a silly pipe dream for me to be chasing after a career my father had. I mean… he’s virtually unknown to me. Maybe I sacrificed a relationship over something that shouldn’t have been important to me to begin with.”
Wyatt squeezes my hand. “And yet… it seems to me that the fact you didn’t know your father at all makes you getting in with the BRIU all that more important. It’s the only way you can connect with him.”
I turn to look at him… surprised that he would make that leap. I mean… I know deep down inside that’s what’s driving me, but I didn’t expect Wyatt to get it because David clearly didn’t. I had started doubting myself, figuring my reasoning was stupid.
“Thank you,” I say as I stop our walk and turn to him. “For validating my feelings.”
Wyatt’s hands go to my waist… With a tug, I’m pressed up against him. I wrap my arms around his back and hold him tight.
“Listen,” he says with his chin resting on the top of my head. “There is nothing your ex can say that will explain his actions away. He had his reasoning. You had yours. He disrespected you by not giving you the chance to talk about it… to at least see if it could be worked out. You following me?”
I nod against him and press in closer, because he feels so good to me.
“He knows he fucked up. I suspect the reason he wants to talk to you is not to check in on you and give you an explanation. I suspect he’s back in touch with you because he’s missing you. I’d bet my last dollar that if you were to call him right now, he’d want to get back together. I’m even betting that he will be more than willing to move away with you.”
Pulling back, I arch a skeptical eyebrow at Wyatt. “No way. You don’t know David. He was adamant about not leaving Pittsburgh. That’s his home. He loves it a lot… clearly more than me.”
“Maybe that was his initial reaction to your refusal to pull the application, but Andrea… I’ve only spent a few days with you, and I sure as hell don’t want you to leave. That’s because I’ve come to understand what an amazing, beautiful, and talented woman you are. Trust me… this dude is seeing the error of his ways. I can almost guarantee you that he’s wanting back in with you.”
My hands drop away from Wyatt’s waist and I turn away from him, rubbing my finger against my chin in thought. Could that be it? Does David want to just forget about what happened and try to start over?
Turning back to Wyatt, my face flushes red with anger and I grit my teeth hard.
“Um… I’m guessing by that look on your face, that’s not something you’re interested in?” he says with a smirk.
“That really pisses me off,” I say indignantly. “If that’s what he’s thinking… that he could just break my heart… dump me… cast me aside, and then when he’s a bit lonely or probably not getting any pussy, he comes crawling back to me.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows raise sky high, and he starts laughing about the time the word “pussy” comes out of my mouth. He reaches out and pulls me back into his arms, his shoulders shaking with humor.
“My girl has a dirty mouth when she gets mad,” he observes.
“You’re fucking right I do,” I grouse, and because that makes Wyatt laugh even harder, I can’t stop the chuckles that come out.