A Wright Christmas - K.A. Linde Page 0,39
the window to look at the clouds rolling in on the horizon. Katherine appeared a minute later, looking gorgeous with her long, flowing brown hair and somehow so out of place. She belonged on runways and in boutiques on Fifth Avenue and strolling through Central Park. She hardly looked like the type to come to a quaint college coffee shop in Lubbock. But here she was, in pencil skinny jeans, a tucked-in white button-up, and a red peacoat that matched her lush red lips.
I waved at her, and she came to sit down after she had some kind of skinny iced mocha concoction in her hand.
“Iced?” I asked with a laugh. “You realize that the weather is only getting colder as the day goes on.”
She shrugged. “When I was pregnant with Helene, all I wanted was iced coffee, but I gave it up entirely. I still can’t get enough of it.”
“That makes more sense.” I blew on my coffee, which was still too hot to drink. “I’m so glad you messaged. I was just dealing with the worst parents. Their daughter walked out of my class, and now, they think they’re going to come after me.”
Katherine practically cackled. “Yeah, good luck with that. Don’t they know who you are?”
“They’re small town, small-minded, and they don’t seem to care.”
“Well, thank God you and I will be back in New York City in a week then.” Katherine held her drink out to cheers, and I knocked mine against hers with a wince. But she was too perceptive and latched on to the twitch. “What is it? Aren’t you ready to go back? Don’t you miss the city streets and the crisp smell and shopping and food and excitement on every block?”
She was projecting. That was for sure. She clearly missed New York, which made sense since she’d grown up there. But I’d grown up here with wide-open spaces and cotton fields and family. It wasn’t as easy to go back to that life even if it was my life.
“I am. I do miss the city.”
“But…” Katherine offered.
I shrugged, not sure how to even begin to explain.
“Let me guess…a boy?”
“Am I that transparent?” I asked with a laugh.
Katherine grinned wickedly. “I can read people.” She leaned forward. “Now, tell me about this boy.”
“Isaac. You met him at the charity event a couple weeks ago.”
“Oh, right,” Katherine said, tapping her lip. “He was good-looking, quiet type, body of secrets.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Well, yes. You can read people, can’t you?”
“That’s my superpower.”
“We dated for three years in high school and broke up when I left for New York. Now, I’m back and he has a daughter and we…kind of hooked up last night.”
Katherine arched an eyebrow. “That is a lot. But…what do you think is going to happen in a week? He has a daughter? That’s serious, Peyton.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“We’re going back in a week.”
“I know.”
“So…it’s just a fling?”
My wince must have told her otherwise.
Katherine reached out and touched my hand. “Your life is in New York. You’re at the top of your game. You’re a principal dancer.” Her voice held more awe than I’d heard from her before. “Are you really considering giving all that up for some high school ex?”
I didn’t know. Was I? Was I even considering that? I’d had to make the choice once before. I didn’t want to have to make it again. But I knew the day was coming up quickly, where I would have to choose…and I had no idea what I would do.
18
Isaac
My mom kissed me on the cheek when I came home late and only managed to cock an eyebrow but not ask any questions. “I’m glad you had a good night.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
She grinned at me again and then hopped in her car.
“Aly Cat, are you ready to go to school?”
“I don’t want to go, Daddy,” she said, coming out of her bedroom with her arms crossed. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater with no shoes or jacket or gloves or anything.
I sighed. “I know you don’t want to go, but it’s only a half-day. And when I pick you up, I’ll have a surprise waiting.”
Her eyes lit up. “What is it?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“But, Daddy, how will I know what to wait for?”
I laughed. “You’re too smart. How about this? If we get your shoes on and finish getting you ready to get to school, then I will tell you.”
“Okay!” she said and ran