Good for You: A Novel (51)

She’d need to make sure she never made the same mistakes with Meagan ever again.

Aly hit the “Delete” button, then listened to her computer make the satisfying crumpled-paper sound that confirmed Meagan’s email had gone to the trash (where it belonged, she thought to herself).

She heard Wyatt’s footsteps behind her before she even saw him. “Hey. You ready to head out?”

“Hey yourself,” she said, smiling back at him. He’d changed into a fresh but worn T-shirt and had trimmed his beard so that it was close cropped, which turned out to be just how she liked it. “I was just going through some work emails.”

Wyatt leaned against the counter. “Oh yeah? You tell them to shove off?”

“I did nothing of the sort,” she said, laughing. “And this time, I’m pretty sure I would’ve remembered if I had.”

“Progress.” He ran a hand through his hair, and her stomach flipped. “Want to head out?”

“Let’s go,” she said. Aly wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt nervous. They were already sleeping together and had dined out before, the time when they’d run into Mari. This didn’t have to be any different.

It felt like it was, though.

It was just Wyatt, she reminded herself, and then without thinking, she put her hand out. He took it and laced his fingers with hers like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I am holding hands with Wyatt Goldstein, she thought as they walked to his car. That doesn’t mean that we’re in a relationship. It’s just two friends-with-benefits having a meal together in a public place.

But when he opened her car door for her, it struck her that it was as significant as the first time they slept together.

And Aly wasn’t sure what to think about that.



Half an hour later, her nerves had barely settled.

Wyatt must have noticed, because he took her hand from across the table and said, “You sure this is okay?”

“Of course,” she said with a terse smile.

“We could ask to be seated inside if you want,” he said.

She shook her head. They were at another riverside restaurant and had snagged a table at the end of the long patio overlooking the water. “I don’t mind that at all,” she said. “I just have a lot on my mind. You know, with the situation with Meagan and everything.” She’d rambled about the email in the car ride over.

“Got it,” he said, smiling at her. It was almost hard to believe he was the same grunting caveman who’d scared the living daylights out of her the day she’d arrived. He looked . . . really happy. “Well, try not to think about it too much.”

This was easier said than done. As Aly regarded him, she realized she knew only the big-picture details of his life. But the finer points, and the memories that he wanted to remember—those remained a mystery.

“Tell me about Ruby. If you want,” she added quickly.

“No, I do.” His face lit up again. “She was really funny, even when she was tiny—my mom says she was born with a huge smile on her face. She used to play practical jokes on me all the time, and even though I almost always figured it out in advance, I would go along with it anyway because I loved to see her laugh.”

Aly couldn’t help but grin back at him. “Did she ever fool you?”

He nodded. “This one time she put frosting all over an old kitchen sponge and said she’d made me a tiny cake. I never saw it coming and bit right into it. It was absolutely disgusting, but Ruby was cracking up so hard I couldn’t even be mad at her.” He sighed deeply and met Aly’s gaze. “Man. I haven’t thought about that in ages. Thank you.”

“For what?” she asked.

“Asking,” he said. “Most people don’t. They think it’ll be too sad or strange or whatever, so they just act like I never had a sister. Do you ever get that?”

“Sort of?” She bit her lip. “I guess it’s kind of my fault that they don’t—I barely told anyone after Luke died. I didn’t want everyone bringing it up all the time.” She hesitated, then admitted, “I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t do my job, either. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s true.”

“Oh, Aly,” said Wyatt. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks,” she said quietly. “I probably should be more open about it.”

“Maybe, or maybe not. It’s still pretty new for you.”

“Yeah.”

They sat wordlessly for a few minutes, staring at the water as boats drifted by.

After their server brought them drinks and bread, Wyatt cleared his throat. “Hey. I was thinking . . .”

On instinct, she steadied herself. What good ever followed that phrase?

For once, he looked like the nervous one. “Why don’t you stay for the summer, Aly?”

Her eyes bulged. What was he even saying? “You know I can’t.”

“Says who?” he asked, cocking his head.

Why not suggest she tour Antarctica on an ice floe while he was at it, or start applying Rogaine to her chin so she could join the circus? She’d never heard of anything so impractical in her entire life. “Says my employer,” she said firmly.

Wyatt frowned. “You haven’t actually asked if you could extend your leave. And you don’t really want the job they just offered you.”