Page 166 of On the Breakaway

Wyatt’s loyalty has always been ruthless. If he loves you, he’ll walk through a wall for you. If he thinks someone might hurt you, he’ll become the wall.

He’s wrong, though.

“Avery isn’t–”

“I didn’t say she was, but she’s still keeping you a secret.”

I let out a slow breath. “She has reasons.”

“I’m sure she does.”

My ears burn, and I swallow hard.

Wyatt notices immediately.

“Look, man,” he starts, voice softening. “I’m just trying to look out for you. I like Avery. I do. But you can’t be her secret forever.”

“She’s just scared. You should understand that better than anyone.”

He should understand why it’s taking her longer to open up. Sure, he doesn’t know what she’s been through, but he’s been through shit. And because of that, he should know that it takes time to get over it.

He lifts both hands. “I do understand it, but that’s why I don’t get into secret relationships.”

I groan. “You’re not helping.”

“Don’t corner me into talking about your feelings next time, then.”

We both stare at each other, chuckling as the tension finally breaks.

“So, Katie’s coming this weekend, right?” He asks, shifting topics to safer ground.

“Yeah, to both games.”

His face immediately softens, which is always funny to watch because Wyatt turns into a completely different person whenever my family comes up.

“How’d she manage to get time away from the rugrats?” He asks.

“You know you love them.” I chuckle. “She said, and I quote, ‘Jace can hold down the fort so that I can live for three days without having food thrown at me.’”

“I don’t blame her.”

I laugh. “She’s excited.”

“If I didn’t know it, I would never have expected Mia and her to be twins. They couldn’t be more different.”

We spend the rest of the flight catching up about my family while my mind drifts to Avery every time there’s a lag. And by the time the plane starts descending into Boston, I’ve decided there’s no way I can sleep tonight without seeing her.

Because, for all Wyatt’s warnings, none of it changes the one thing I know for sure.

She’s it for me. And I don’t want to go home and be alone.

When the wheels hit the runway, I check my phone, standing up before the plane’s even stopped.

His eyes narrow. “You’re going to her place.”

I don’t even bother denying it.

He sighs dramatically. “Hopeless.”