“Yes, I’m also doing it because I enjoy it, and mostly because I am still not comfortable with it. But my love for you, Helen, is greater than that. If he loves you, if he truly loves you, he will do whatever the hell he needs to get me to accept him. If he can’t even handle me, how can I trust him to protect you from the rest of the world? You two don’t even have it half as bad as your mother and I did.”
“Didn’t you train me not to need protection?”
“No, I trained you not to need protection while you were alone,” he replied. “So, don’t get in the middle of it.” He had an answer and reply for everything…but so did I.
“When old man Sedric was giving your mom hell, did you just stand on the sidelines?”
“No, I fought him every step of the way,” he replied and smiled. “But you’re smarter than me, aren’t you?”
Wow. I really lost this one.
“Fine, be difficult,” I muttered, looking away from him and out the window as the city went by.
And of course, he mocked me, his voice getting higher as he said, “Fine, I will.” He laughed to himself before adding, “Love you, peanut.”
I said nothing.
“Love you, peanut!” he yelled into my ear and elbowed me a little bit, and dammit, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ugh, you and Darcy both! Just Ugh… Love you, too! Okay, happy?” I yelled at him.
I also wanted to ask him how long it was going to take, but I decided just to let it go. When my dad made up his mind, there was only one person who could change it—my mom. Which was probably what Wyatt was trying to do.
I couldn’t help but smile…somewhere, deep down, I enjoyed having him work for me, and I really wanted to see how far he’d go. “God, Love is so damn complicated.”
“You’re preaching to the pastor,” he muttered back, and I looked at him. He just nodded like he understood because he did.
Leaning on his shoulder, I sighed. “We’ll name our first son after you—”
“Nice try! But no dice. You’re not slick. He hasn’t even gotten my blessing to date you, let alone have children with you!” he shot back quickly.
Yep, total loss.
Wyatt, I hope you are having an easier time.
WYATT
“Aunty Cora—”
“Before you start,” she lifted her hands to stop me as they opened the front gate for us, her brown eyes staring at me in amusement, “I promised Declan I wouldn’t get in the middle of him and his issue with you.”
“What? You can’t be—”
“Dead serious. Can’t do it. Whatever you have to say, you’ll have to say to him. I won’t hear anything that has to deal with your relationship with Helen or your uncle.”
“Not even—”
“Nope.”
“But it could be—”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t look very sorry.” I frowned, and she boldly smiled back.
“You’re right.”
“Aunty Cora, I don’t want to—”