Page 63 of Rain Delay

Walking towards the guys, I see Callie standing next to him, holding his hand. She’s absolutely stunning; her dark brown hair came to a bob just above her shoulders, and she looked about my height. Luka had himself a beautiful girl.

“Cal, this is Eliana, she’s Wyatt’s….social media manager? But also ex-girlfriend that he’s hooking up with?” He looks at me, laughing as he tries to explain.

That’s probably the most accurate description someone could give about me and who I was to Wyatt. I didn’t even know what I was to him. Social media manager, sure. But after everything that’s happened in the last few weeks? I think there was another title floating around somewhere.

“I can’t even imagine how you felt when you first saw him..” Callie starts.

“Oh, you have no idea.” I tell her, letting out a laugh as I sat down with her on one of the outdoor couches. “I think we’ve worked past the quirks, though.”

“I’ve known Wyatt since he came here, and in that time, he never mentioned an ex or anything in that sort. I just thought he was always a single guy.”

“Interesting,” I note. “How long have you been with Luka?”

“It’ll be seven years in December,” she tells me, and I glance down at her hands to see she wasn’t sporting a ring. “And before you say it, I’m still waiting on his ass to propose too.” She laughs.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but the fact that you’ve been going seven years strong is admirable,” I replied.

She shrugs, taking a sip of her drink. “Wyatt’s mentioned a little about you recently, but I never pried for more information. I didn’t feel like it was my place to try and get answers. I wanted to wait until I met the woman of the hour.”

Hearing Callie say that he’s talked about me recently with his friends makes my stomach feel all sorts of things. What was he telling them about me? How much did they actually know about us? Liam knew a good chunk of our history, and knowing that Miles and Luka knew about me, and now Callie? It made me curious to find out what he’s been saying.

I nod slowly, leaning back against my chair, feeling a little uneasy.

“Don’t worry, he hasn’t said anything bad about you,” Callie assures me. “I don’t think he could. Just telling by how he’s been since we’ve gotten here? His eyes always look for you. He’s smitten.”

I smile at that comment. “I would hope, otherwise I’d kick his ass.”

Being around Wyatt’s friends felt normal again. I felt like we were back home, spending time at his house with his teammates from high school and we were just having another get-together.

It made me happy to see him smiling like this with friends. Seeing him genuinely laugh, having a good time; that made my heart happy. This is the Wyatt I’d been waiting for. This was the Wyatt I knew and loved.

As we’re sitting outside by the fire, I find myself leaning against Wyatt a couple of times before catching myself and sitting upright. I knew his friends caught it – Especially Liam – He wouldn’t stop giving me looks.

“Y’know, Ells,” Liam looks over at me. “You don’t have to by shy about wanting to give your man a little PDA, I promise it won’t repulse me…Yet.”

My cheeks flush, and I look at Wyatt, who wraps his arm around my middle, pulling me close to him. “I’m not being shy, I’m being respectful.”

Liam nods slowly. “Sure, we can call it that,” he chuckles. “I never did get the chance to shake your hand and thank you for a couple of games ago when Wyatt was on fucking fire. Please continue doing what you’re doing.”

Wyatt sets his beer down on the table in front of us. “I told you that day I had just had a great night of sleep, that’s all.”

“Right, and I hit three home runs; who’s telling the truth?” He raised an eyebrow at Wyatt. “Neither one of us. I know you got laid the night before, my friend. You had that post-sex glow.”

“Post-sex glow? I never see you with that, so I guess your nights aren’t amazing like mine.” Wyatt shrugs, moving his arm around my shoulder. “Sorry you don’t get to experience that.”

“It loses its factor when it’s not with the same girl,” Liam takes a swig of his drink. “Yours was rejuvenated. I don’t think I can ever remember a time in the years of knowing you where you’d gotten with a girl. So, of course I was going to notice. I notice everything.”

I look at Wyatt, who’s just shaking his head. I could tell he was starting to get a little flustered based on the way he was fidgeting in his seat. I put my hand on his thigh, immediately sensing him calm down just a bit.

Throughout the night, I find myself mingling with Callie and the guys before I retreat to my room for the night. I could only be social for so long before the battery starts to drain and I have to call it quits.

I laid on my back, scrolling through my phone when I heard the door open. In a startled reaction, I drop my phone on my face and wince at the impact.

“Ouch,” I say quietly as I move my phone and see Wyatt walking in. “You scared me.”

“Is your face broken?” he asks, trying to hold back a laugh. “I was coming in here to see if you wanted to come lay with me. All the guys went home.”

I sit up in my bed, looking at him as I set my phone to the side. “What’s in it for me?”