“Wyatt is your daddy,” I said.
Even though we were in the middle of a park filled with people, everything seemed to go completely silently as both Wyatt and I watch Noah carefully for his reaction.
He seemed to be mulling it over in his mind then final said, “Is that why we have the same last name?”
I wasn’t surprised that he noticed the fact. He was a very smart child.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “That is why.”
His fist pumped the air then he nearly shouted, “Yes, I knew it!”
His smile could light up the world in that moment. He turned it first on me. Then on Wyatt. Wyatt’s smile was just as bright and the happiness from the two of them brought tears to my eyes. Wyatt stood and came around to Noah’s side of the table. He knelt so that their eyes were level.
“Hey buddy, I promise to be the best dad I can be to you if you will have me,” Wyatt said, his voice husky with emotion. “What do you say? Do you want to have me for a dad?”
“Oh yeah,” Noah said, then threw himself into Wyatt’s arms. When he pulled back he threw me – and Wyatt given the way his eyes widened –for a loop.
“Are you and Mommy going to get married now? Like Casey’s mom and dad,” Noah asked.
Casey was a girl who attended his daycare.
Wyatt sent me a look and I immediately rushed to answer, not wanting to put him on the spot or have him feel pressured.
“Oh no, Noah. We’re not getting married. Sometimes mommies and daddies don’t get married but that doesn’t mean that they don’t love their little boys and girls with all their heart. Do you understand what I am saying to you?”
I took a moment to think it over then said, “I think so.”
The rest of the day was filled with a happy Noah and Wyatt getting to know each other better.
It filled my heart with joy to watch them together even though I now believed that any hope of a relationship between Wyatt and I had died.
I had ruined it. Last time it
was Wyatt leaving me, this time it was me pulling away from him.
Chapter Twenty-One: Hailey
The last few weeks had been life-changing.
Wyatt and I had settled to co-parenting and managed our scheduled so that Noah had plenty of time with both of us. Wyatt and I had resumed being study partners. Our bio final was coming up soon and we were hitting the books at his place.
For once Noah wasn’t around. He and Wyatt seemed attached at the hip for the most part but he was spending the night with my parents.
I was looking down at the text book but was seeing none of the words printed there. All of my senses were wrapped up around Wyatt and it was killing me to have him so close yet be unable to touch him.
We were sitting out our customary study place at his kitchen table. He was next to me and his cologne created a heavy fog around my brain. I could feel the heat coming off his body
Our relationship now was that of friends. Co parents. Study partners. We hadn’t screwed around at all in the weeks that had gone by. While Wyatt’s flirtatious nature was back in full swing, I didn’t allow myself to place hope in it since I thought that flirting was just part of his personality. It didn’t mean anything. Not to him.
But I meant so much to me.
I was in love with Wyatt.
It had been a long hard road but I was finally able to admit to myself.
It hurt every second of every day to keep the knowledge to myself. Having him close all the time and seeing what a great dad he was to Noah had me tied up in knots.
The silence in the room caught my attention and I looked up from my books to find him watching me.