Must Be Wright (The Wrights 3)

“I was working with Paisley on our duet, and we were in her home studio, and it’s in the basement. I guess the soundproofing killed my cell service…”

The more he explained, the angrier she got. Gypsy ripped the plastic straw from the outside of the juice box, pulled off the plastic, and jabbed it into the hole, then handed it to Cooper.

His diatribe then turned to Cooper. “Man, I’m so sorry about camp, buddy, I’ll—”

Gypsy leaned in and covered Cooper’s ears with her hands, meeting Wyatt’s gaze directly. “Don’t you dare make him any promises.”

“But I can get him in. I’ll call the camp. I don’t care if I have to donate a new building, I’ll get him back into that fucking camp.”

She uncovered Cooper’s ears, and he rested his head against Wyatt’s chest, sucking on his juice. The sight broke Gypsy’s heart. This could have been so good—for Gypsy, for Cooper, for Belle, for Wyatt. But fate had her own ideas. At least she’d shown her hand before Gypsy was in even deeper with Wyatt. As it was, she felt like there was a hole where her heart usually lived.

“I’ve told you before that you can’t fix everything by throwing money at it.”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen—”

“I realize that.” She cut him off, unwilling to hear everything she’d heard so many times before. “This situation is as much my fault as it is yours. I knew better than to get involved with you, but I didn’t listen to my instincts.”

“Wait, what?”

“Getting involved with someone automatically changes your priorities. I knew that, but somehow, I guess I hoped… It doesn’t matter. All that matters to me right now is being there for Cooper. And I failed today, in a big way.”

“I don’t understand. What are you saying?”

She released a frustrated breath and took Cooper from Wyatt’s arms. “If I hadn’t gotten involved with you, you wouldn’t have put me on Belle’s emergency contact list. And if I wasn’t on her list, I would have gotten to Cooper’s doctor’s appointment. Not only would I have a happy kid now, I could have trained my new manager myself instead of calling in Miranda—who I already depend on too much.”

Wyatt rubbed his face with both hands. “Don’t do this, Gypsy. It was a mistake. An innocent mistake. I messed up and I feel horrible about it—”

“I believe you. And I agree, it was an innocent mistake. But it was a mistake that reminded me why I stopped dating. I can’t do this with you. You’re a good friend and a good guy, but we can’t be involved. I’m sorry.”

She reached out and pulled open the glass door.

Wyatt put a hand on her arm. “Come on, Gypsy. There’s got to be some middle ground here. Let’s talk it out.”

She shook her head. “No. The kids are too young to be complicating priorities with a relationship. They need us on our best game, and this isn't our best game. We’re both better than this.” She glanced at Belle, and tears stung Gypsy’s eyes, but she still met Wyatt’s gaze directly. “She’s a brave little girl, and she deserves better. So do I, and so does Cooper." She laid her hand on the papers sitting on a silver bed tray. "These are your discharge instructions."

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9

Wyatt was about to reach for her again, but she stepped away, exiting the emergency room without looking back.

His heart dropped to his stomach, but frustration still tightened his shoulders. She was acting like he’d been out partying, purposely abandoning Belle.

“Uncle Wyatt?” Belle’s weak, tear filled voice dragged a razor down his spine.

He spun toward her and stepped up beside the bed, running his hand over her forehead and into her hair. It was all tangled, with knots that would be hell to get out. Her face was pale, her cheeks tearstained.

“Hey. You had a pretty rough day, huh?”

Sniffles and tears started up. “Where were you?”

There was no accusation in her tone, just honest bewilderment, but the fact that she had to ask almost took his legs out from under him. He leaned on the gurney. “I was working, honey. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

She looked at her cast, and the tears started to pour. “I don’t like this. I want it off.”

“I know, honey. How did you hurt yourself?”

“On the swings.” She pushed her tears off her cheek with her good hand. “I fell off.” She started crying harder. “I want Mommy. When is M-Mommy coming h-home?”