Wyatt
After we get home I decide I want to visit Katie.

I look at the time and realized if I hurry I might make it to her lesson before its over.

When I get to the barn I walk to the big arena and see Izzy, Katie, and two other girls on horses.

It looks like they're jumping a course and it's Katie's turn.

Watching Katie ride is mesmerizing. I said it once and I'll say it again. She has a gift.

She makes it look so easy. With each jump, she points Ripley at he flys over. If I had to jump those jumps I would pee my pants.

They were almost as tall as me. (I'm around 6/2)

Izzy walks over. "She's good isn't she?"

I stare at Katie blissfully. "Yeah, she is."

"How did it go today?" Izzy asks tilting her head slightly.

I smile. "It went well."

Izzys glazes slides to Katie. She smirks. "Damn, Katie is the first person today to go clear."

Katie
"Alright Rip, we got this," I say under my breath for Ripley's ears only.

I'm coming to the last two jumps in the course. So far no one could get the distance right and would knock the first or second jump.

I turn the corner and pull on Ripley's mouth to shorten his stride.

He throws his head in agitation. I remember what Stef told me in my last lesson.

I release my reins slightly and Ripley takes three long strides and clears the first jump.

I gently pull on my reins to pull his head up and he clears the last jump by a mile.

Everyone claps and I slow Ripley to a walk then join Stef in the middle.

"That was perfect Katie! You took my advice and trusted him."

Stef pets his nose. "Something's different about you and I can't place a finger on it. Either way, keep this up because once you learn to trust Ripley y'all will be unstoppable."

Stef claps her hands. "I expect the rest of you to be able to clear that distance as Katie did by our next lesson. Good riding and I'll see y'all in two weeks."

Izzy rides beside me. "I think your change has to do with a certain quarterback with wavy brown hair and hazel eyes."

I teasingly roll my eyes.

Izzy points to her left and I see Wyatt leaning against the fence.

My stomach flutters at the sight of Wyatt being here.

"I'll be right back," I mumble to Izzy.

Izzy laughs and I ride Ripley over to Wyatt.

"Hey, I want to tell you something," Wyatt says smiling.

"Give me like four minutes because I have to cool Ripley down."

Wyatt smirks and climbs the fence. "I'll just walk with you."

I dramatically sigh and Wyatt walks beside me.

"You looked amazing, baby."

I feel my face heat. "Thanks, but it was all Ripley."

Wyatt looks at me with that smile that turns my insides to mush. "You should accept a compliment, I know it's not easy to do what you just did."

At this point, my stomach is showing off how many front flips it can do without me throwing up.

I change the subject before my face can be any more red. "How did it go today?"

Wyatt sighs, knowing why I changed the subject. "It went well. They offered me a scholarship and the starting quarterback position."

I smile. "Just Wyatt, that's great!"

"What did you think about the campus?"

"I loved it. Their football field is amazing and there are so many restaurants."

I laugh. "That is the main reason I applied there."

We continue to talk back and forth about college till I have Ripley un-tacked and put away.

"Do you have any plans?" Wyatt asks me casually.

I grin. "Derek and Ava are having a virtual cooking class. I told them I wouldn't be home till after seven."

"I'll probably hang out at Izzy's."

Wyatt gives me a weird look. "Would you like to do something with me?"

I give Wyatt a knowing look. "Just Wyatt, what would you like to do?"

"That part is a secret. I'll follow you to your house so you can ride with me."

Wyatt turns and walks to his Jeep before I have a chance to protest.

I drive home and Wyatt picks me up.

We're both starving so he stops and gets us each a large fry from McDonald's.

I try to pay but he won't let me.

Typical.

Wyatt turns onto a familiar street. I glance at him to try to read the expression on his face.

He notices me staring and takes a deep breath.
"Kate, I want you to meet my dad."

I stare at him with my lips parted.

Gosh, that was unexpected. It also stirs up feelings I haven't felt in a while.

"If it's too weird I understand," Wyatt says quickly.

I place my hand on his arm. Which causes my hand to tingle. "It's not weird at all. I'm just surprised because this is the same place my mom is buried."

Wyatt's mouth morphs into an O shape.

I give him a reassuring smile. "Hey, you can meet my mom as well."

Wyatt chuckles and shakes his head.

He parks the car and we both hop out. Wyatt looks at me over the hood of the car. "I was going to open your door."

I grin. "Why do you think I jumped out before you got over here."

Wyatt grabs a blanket and I follow him around the cemetery. I should be nervous, you know being in an empty cemetery with a guy I've known for two weeks. But I wasn't, for once I fully trusted someone who wasn't family or Izzy.

That's new. Being with Wyatt felt easy.

After a few minutes, we stop in front of a headstone that reads,

Alan Kurt Kent

We stand there in silence.

I glance at Wyatt's side profile to decipher his emotions.

I get nothing. Wyatt's face is as blank as a piece of paper.

"Where the hell did the name Muriel come from?" I ask breaking the silence.

I hate silence even if it's not awkward.

Wyatt laughs and looks down at me. "It was my grandfather's middle name. He died before I was born."

I must have cracked Wyatt's shell because when he looked into my eyes I saw ten different emotions flicker through.

He looked pained but also guilty.

Wyatt lays the blanket down under a tree and we sit down.

"Dad this is Katie my, uh friend/fake girlfriend."

I giggle. "It's nice to meet you Alan I've heard a lot about you. All good things."

You might think it would be awkward to talk to a headstone but it isn't.

Maybe it's because I talk to my mom the same way or maybe because I feel comfortable with Wyatt.

Wyatt tells his dad about the past few weeks and I chime in here and there.

"How did he die?" I ask quietly.

Wyatt sighs while running a hand down his face. "He was coming home from work and rain was coming down in sheets. You could barely see through it. A car ran a red light slamming into his car. It rolled down a hill and crashed into a tree. He was dead when the paramedics arrived."

I move closer to him and wrap my arm around his shoulders. "The worst part was the guy that hit him just left. If he would have stayed and called for help my dad would probably be alive."

My eyes burn from tears wanting to fall. "I'm so sorry Wyatt. I can't believe someone would be that horrible."

At least when I lost my mom it wasn't sudden. We knew she was going to die.

Wyatt leans back against the tree and rests his head on my shoulder.

A warmth floods my insides.

"I used to come here at least four times a week but the last two weeks I haven't been once."

Wyatt leans his head to the side to look me in the eyes.

"I feel like I forgot about him."

I give him a small smile. "Wyatt, you didn't forget about him. You talk about him all the time."

"You're moving on and that's okay, but no matter what you will never forget him." Wyatt's eyes never leave mine.

Wyatt sighs snuggling into my shoulder. "How do you always know the right things to say?"

I laugh. "Izzy would disagree."

We sit like that for a long time, talking about everything.

"You want to meet my mom?" I ask nervously.

Wyatt grins. "Of course I do."

We stand up and Wyatt folds up the blanket.

Wyatt
"I have to say, Alan, lovely place you have here. You're not too close to the road and you're beside a beautiful willow tree."

Katie looks around quickly.

"Oh and look there's a statue of Jesus and some sheep. You really lucked out, my mom is stuck beside a fence and has to look at the ass of a naked angel." Katie says grinning.

I burst out in laughter to the point I can't see from tears.

Once I calm myself I notice Katie staring at me with a confused look. "What? I was being serious and sentimental."

I sling my arm around her and we both giggle.

I was nervous about bringing her because I didn't know what she would think. I don't know any guys that bring a girl they have a major crush on to see their dead dad.

But Katie being Katie acted as if it was a normal thing; not once did it feel awkward.

She finally stops in front of a headstone that reads,

Katherine Ann Fleming

"Hello, Mama I've got someone for you to meet."

Katie points at me. "This is Wyatt Muriel Kent, my fake boyfriend and a huge pain in the ass."

I laugh. "It's a pleasure to meet you. For the record, your daughter is exaggerating I have done everything in my power not to come off as a ' huge pain in the ass'."

Katie giggles and then takes a deep breath to calm her face. "I'm sorry about the flowers Mama I'll bring you some better ones."

I notice the light fade in her eyes and get replaced by sadness.

I wrap my arms around her from behind. She stiffens at first and then relaxes.

Katie always makes people feel better when they are down so now it's my turn to return the favor.

"Mrs. Fleming I had the great pleasure of
meeting your husband and let me tell you he is scary!" I say making my tone light.

"Do you ever get tired of looking at that angel's ass all day? I know I would. Don't worry the front isn't any prettier."

Katie finally laughs. "You're probably wondering how everyone is doing. Well, Derek is out of his permanent chair and Dad is always busy with something. Izzy is still dating Tyler and Tyler won the last football game by kicking the ball all the way down the field. I know shocking Ty saved the day. Unfortunately, he's still an annoying jackass."

We stay like that for a while. My arms around Katie and her leaning against me.

Even though we're in a cemetery talking to our dead parents I wouldn't change a thing.

It felt nice to have someone who understands me and makes me feel comfortable.

For the first time since my father died, it felt normal. The pain from his loss was still there but not nearly as unbearable.

Katie's phone vibrates and she steps away from me to check it. I internally shiver from the loss of her warmth.

"Geez, it's already 8:30," Katie says.

I widen my eyes. "Good gosh, we've been here for three hours. My mom is probably freaking out."

We say bye to her mom and I take Katie home.

Before she gets out of my car I grab her hand. "Thanks for everything."

Katie grins. "That's what fake girlfriends are for."

I give Katie a look that said, 'Be serious'.

"Your welcome Just Wyatt. You're not going to believe me but these past two weeks have been amazing."

"I wish we were friends before now," Katie adds looking away from my eyes.

I force a smile.

Friends.

I wanted to be a hell of a lot more than friends.

Thoughts on this chapter?

I know this is a little different than the rest of the book.

Hopefully, this pulled at your heartstrings as it did mine. 🥰