Page 40 of I Wish He Would

“You don’t owe me anything.” He shrugs. “Sometimes people just aren’t a good match. It’s no sweat.”

I smile at him. “Mallory and I will find your unicorn.”

“If you say so.” He runs a hand through his hair again. “You mentioned it was your cousin’s wedding you have coming up, right?” I nod. “You should have Austin go with you. The beach sounds like the perfect setting to see if romance is there. If he doesn’t make a move, then you have your answer.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“That’s because it is. You can tell me all about it one day. Sounds like the makings of a great love song.”

“Deal.”

Rhett turns and hisses. “Shoot, I’ve gotta run. But hey, if it means anything, I hope things work out between you two.”

“Thanks, Rhett.” I smile, knowing he means it.

He shoots me his lopsided grin again. “Later.”

I sit and stare at my phone screen long after it goes black, reeling from Rhett seeing my thoughts so clearly when I’ve been trying to fight them. Thinking about how I feel nothing right now. No spark. No sadness that this thing with Rhett ended…because the connection I felt with Rhett is how a friend feels.

And what I feel for Austin is entirely different. If we were to stop talking and hanging out, it would feel like a piece of me was missing. No matter what we call it, Rhett is right. Austin and I are more than friends, at least in my mind.

When I finally move, Winston jumps onto the couch and licks my cheek.

“Yeah, that didn’t go how I expected either, buddy.”

I unlock my phone and pull up my chat with Austin, trying to decide if I should actually follow Rhett’s advice and take him to the wedding. I know I told him he could be my backup plan, but if I follow through with this and he doesn’t make a move, I’ll be crushed.

Winston plops down on my lap as if he’s a tiny dog and not seventy pounds. I shift under his weight so that his elbow—or knee bone…whatever bone dogs have in their legs is called—is no longer digging into my gut. I wrap my arms around his neck and plant a kiss on the top of his head. And he chooses that moment to tap his paw on my phone screen. I look down and realize he somehow opened Austin’s contact info. I go to change the screen, but now Winston thinks we’re playing a game. He jumps up before falling back down on me, landing right on my stomach.

“Oof.” I grimace and push him off my lap. He looks up at me, offended. “Hey, you’re the one who just body-slammed me.”

“Lyssa?”

I hear the familiar voice and gasp. A quick glance down at the phone reveals that I am indeed on a phone call with Austin. I press the mute button and turn to Winston. “Look at what you did now.”

Winston has the audacity to smile like Kelsey taught him to for pictures.

“Hello?” Austin’s voice sounds through my phone again, tired and scratchy.

I unmute myself and put the call on speaker. “Hey, Austin. Sorry, did I wake you?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I needed to get up soon anyway.”

I cringe, knowing he likes to sleep in after game days when he can to allow his body to get the rest it needs.

“What’s up?” he asks.

Now that I have him on the phone, maybe it’s a sign that I’m supposed to finally make this plus-one business official. “Will you go to the wedding with me?”

Austin’s laughter floats through the speaker. The sound feels like being wrapped in a warm, familiar hug. “Of course.”

“Okay, great. I’ll send you more details later. Gotta go, bye!” I hang up before he has a chance to respond, then turn my gaze to Winston. “What did you make me do?”

I swear the dog smiles bigger, his tongue lolling like he’s the goodest boy in the world because he knows exactly what he just did.

I fall back onto my bed, exhausted. We’ve been traveling all week for away games. I miss my giant couch and my memory foam mattress. But, most of all, I miss looking up into the stands and seeing Alyssa.

I haven’t had a chance to talk to her since she randomly called me and asked me to go to the wedding, aside from a quick text with the details for our flights. I plan on reimbursing her for the tickets and any other expenses for this trip—anything I can to help, to show her she’s not in this alone.