Careless and Reckless — Chapter 44

When I woke up the next morning Wyatt was nowhere in sight but I didn't let the thought trouble me and decided to, instead, go back to sleep until he showed up. I mean, it's a Saturday, I deserve a lie in every once in a while.

A little while later, the door slamming open jolted me awake from my peaceful slumber. "Wyatt?" I question in a hoarse voice, rubbing my eyes to help adjust to the light.

I don't get a reply but instead he flops onto the bed with an annoyed groan, his posture rigid and tense.

I softly nudge his shoulder to gain his attention. I could feel his muscles from under his shirt but I ignored the butterflies in my stomach, needing to pay attention to the task at hand. "Wyatt, what's wrong?" I ask gently.

He doesn't answer but I know he heard me because he tensed further at my question. I take in a deep breath before trying again, now fully awake. "Wyatt don't shut yourself off from me and don't hide things, please. That worked out really shitty last time and I don't want it to happen again."

It's true, although I've had a blast the last few months by doing all these stupid reckless things I have missed Wyatt, a lot if I'm honest.

I missed the way he smiles; how he always knows exactly what to say; his carefree attitude; his constant care for me; our playful banter; they way he looks at me and so much more. Every interaction we've had big and small meant more to me than I ever realised and our time apart showed me that.

I just hope that he feels the same because I don't want to loose this friendship, it's much too precious for that.

He rolls onto his side so he can face me. When he does, I can see the vulnerability in his eyes. Usually, he's pretty good at hiding his emotions or just putting on a confident front but right now he's being real with me; he's being himself without any barriers.

He sits up slowly, dragging his hand through his hair and biting his lip in a way that gives me goosebumps. He doesn't look at me as he opens his mouth, his eyes concentrated on his lap. "It's mum."

I can immediately feel a sense of dread wash over my body. "Did something happen to her?" I croak out, fear clear in my tone.

He shakes his head and laughs bitterly. "Not in the way you're thinking of," he says with a twisted and sarcastic smile. "Remember a while back when I told you not everyone is who they seem to be?"

—flashback—"Your mother seems nice," I say to Wyatt.

He jaw clenches. "There's more to people than meets the eye," he tells me stiffly.

I frown at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

He shakes his head and runs his hand through his dark brown locks. "Don't worry about it, green eyes. I'll tell you another time," he says dismissively.

I want to know what he's going on about but I don't pry, knowing it's not my place.—over—

I nod in confusion. What the hell is he going on about?

"Well, let's just say mum hides a lot of things."

Okay now I'm really confused. "Wyatt, what the fuck are you talking about? What's with these cryptic riddles?"

His fists clench the soft sheets tightly as he replies, his knuckles white. "Look, mum has been cheating on my father for years. I think since before I was born if you can believe it. He found out about it a while back and was heartbroken, he loved her a lot and still does for some fucked up reason even though she still does this.

He was always a busy man, not home as often as you'd want and that's what mum blames it on. Says he's never home so she had to find comfort in other people. Bullshit if you ask me. She's away almost just as often and they usually went on trips together so I don't get how she expects anyone to believe that crap.

Anyway, my father threw himself even further into his work once he found out. Now he's almost never home and after a few years he took a leaf out of mum's book and did the same. Now they both cheat on each other but still stay together because of some bullshit reason.

I know this is normal now and I shouldn't get mad anymore but I do. Every single fucking time I find out one of them has done it I get so angry — I — I — I saw mum with a hickey on her neck in the kitchen that wasn't from my father because he's been in Malaysia for the last two weeks and I lost it. I started shouting at her which I know I shouldn't have done. At the end of the day, she's my mum and although I don't agree with her, she can make her own decisions." He's shaking in anger as he finishes his story, clearly on the edge of losing it again.

I instinctively reach over to his lap and clasp his hands in my own, rubbing comforting circles with the pad of my thumb.

I'm having trouble comprehending what he has just told me. I'd never guess that his family had so many issues, they seem so perfect from the outside but I guess everyone has their secrets.

"Wyatt, it's alright to be angry sometimes, you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. What your parents do doesn't sound great, I won't lie, but at the end of the day no matter what you say they'll still do it," I say softly, trying my best to calm him down.

He takes a few deep breaths before nuzzling his head into the crook of my neck. "I just can't deal with it, green eyes," he says but his words come out muffled due to him talking into my skin.

I gently rub his back with my palm. "You shouldn't have to, Wyatt, but the world isn't fair. So all I can say is don't let it get to you. I know that's hard but it's going to keep on happening so if you choose not to react to it and come to terms with it it'll be so much easier in the long run, I promise you that," I tell him with conviction in my voice.

His breaths are ragged and I can tell that he's desperately trying to calm down. He squeezes my hands tightly in his own in attempt to comfort himself and I think it works as bit by bit his breathing becomes more even and his body trembles less and less.

Wyatt slowly lifts his head from my neck and brings his eyes to meet mine. Our faces are inches apart and I can feel his breath tickle my skin as he reaches to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips brushing against my skin, sending tingles up my spine.

I suck in a sharp breath as he moves even closer so our noses are practically touching and our legs are a tangled mess. "Thank you," he whispers in a low husky tone, his eyes darting to my lips and mine do the same, they look so warm and inviting.

I close my eyes instinctively as I feel him leaning in but the moment is shattered by Wyatt's door slamming open. Fucking hell.

We both jump apart and I can feel the blush warming my cheeks; I'm probably bright red right now. I swear I can see the faintest flush to his cheeks as Wyatt scratches the back of his neck, not making eye contact with me and instead turning to the cause of our embarrassment: Nathan and Olivia.

Luckily, he seems oblivious to what he just ruined, instead focused on the squirming baby in his arms. He looks up, rocking her gently and seems startled by my presence. "Ari? How's it going? Haven't seen you in a while. I thought Wyatt had fucked it up or something considering that you've not been around and he's been so grumpy recently. If you ask me I think his dick is in need of some real loving from—"

"What do you want?" Wyatt sighs, interrupting his brother, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Well, mum has just left for Milan even though she was supposed to be getting Harper from the airport and wasn't supposed to be leaving for a couple of more days. She seemed pretty upset too so I decided not to push it with her," he says and from the corner of my eye I can see a fleeting guilty look pass across Wyatt's face before he masks it with one of vague interest. "Anyway, because mum wanted to get her personally no one arranged for a limo driver so I've got to go get her but since Anna has taken the triplets to the park there's no one to look after Olivia so I need you to do it."

If I remember correctly, Harper is Wyatt's older sister but she's hardly ever home. I pretty sure she travels around the world modelling for her mum as well as other very well known brands like Victoria Secret and Louis Vuitton.

Wyatt groans loudly, a frown on his face. "What about Zack?"

Nathan sends him a pointed look. "Really? He still thinks zucchini is a made up vegetable. You'd trust that idiot with a baby, your niece nonetheless?"

"Okay, I guess not."

"To be honest, I didn't really want to leave her with you either but I feel a lot better about it now I know that Ari is here," Nathan says with a smirk much to Wyatt's annoyance.

I let out a light laugh as I take Olivia from Nathan and cradle her to my chest, bobbing her up and down as I walk around the room to get her to fall asleep. Thankfully, she seems to like me a lot as she doesn't cry about being separated from her dad.

"Why don't you ever leave her with her mum anymore?" Wyatt grumbles, grabbing the milk bottle that was tucked into the crook of Nathan's elbow.

His expression turns slightly uncomfortable as he replies. "Well, a couple of weeks back she decided that she didn't want to deal with having a baby anymore and left Olivia solely to me. So I'm just filling out the final papers and in a few weeks time I'm going to have full custody of her," he tells us, upset and first but brightening up towards the end.

I feel really bad for Nathan, he's a single parent now. Even though they weren't ever technically dating at least he wasn't alone, now he is. Well, I guess he's not completely alone, he's got his family to help him which is pretty good but it's never going to be the same for Olivia. It must be horrible that she'll have to grow up without a mum but she's got a great family who I know already love her unconditionally.

Wyatt sighs from beside me, patting Nathan on the back. "It's alright, don't worry about her, Nathan, just go get Harper, she's in good hands," he smiles looking at me.

"Thanks," he grins, dashing out of the room when he looks at his watch, realising the time.

~*~*~

After Nathan has left, Wyatt feeds Olivia and I get her to sleep a little while later, pretty good teamwork if you ask me.

"Wyatt, what's Harper like?" I ask quietly, lying Olivia down in her cot.

He gets up from the bed he was sitting on and strides towards me, a look of thought on his face. "Um, I don't really know how to describe her. I barely see her anymore so I'm not sure how much she will have changed. We still talk on the phone and things but it's not the same but from what I know she's always been kind and caring, albeit more daring than most. She became a lot more quiet the year before she finished school though and since then has been more reserved and cautious than she used to be. Regardless, she's still great company. I miss her a lot," he finishes with a fond smile and I can tell that he loves her a lot which makes me smile as well.

A few hours later, I can hear the front door open and the sound of distant voices. Wyatt hears this too, dashing down the large staircase, desperate to see his sister. I let out a light laugh as I follow him but at a much more leisurely pace.

By the time I reach them, Wyatt has already engulfed her in a hug and I hear her let out an elated laugh as she returns the gesture.

When they pull apart I can finally get a look at her and put a face to the name I've been hearing about. She's stunning to say the least. Like all the Kings (well, except for Aria and Hunter) she has gorgeous blue eyes which compliment her complexion beautifully. Her hair is an auburn-red colour and is styled casually into a messy bun. I don't think she's wearing any makeup, probably because she was travelling, yet she still somehow looks flawless. She's on the shorter side, like a lot of the King women, but is still a good two maybe three inches taller than me. Her figure is also perfect and I'm pretty sure she's worked hard for it but I guess that's one of the necessities when being a model.

"Hi, Harper, it's nice to finally meet you," I say, grabbing her attention and causing her to face me.

She smiles as she turns around and I can tell it's genuine. "Wyatt has told me so much about you. You must be—" she cuts herself off mid sentence as she fully takes in my appearance, her eyes wide in shock.

Is there something wrong with how I'm dressed? Am I not what she was expecting? Shit, what did I do?

"Belle?" She chokes out before she suddenly faints.

~*~*~