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Therefore, Wells kept coming back, not wanting to disappoint her. His last remaining fan. His last remaining . . . anything. Josephine.
“We’re getting lunch, Josephine,” Wells shouted on the way to the shower. “Dammit, we’re getting lunch.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, belle. You will never wonder where you stand with me or if I’m bullshitting you. You get exactly what you see. I don’t mess around with people, but especially you.”
“You’re saying I can’t be an avid spectator and have a boyfriend?” He gave a brief headshake. “Not if I was your boyfriend.”
“Your impenetrable darkness just comes naturally.” “Sort of like your brightness.” That caught her off guard. “You think I’m . . . that I have brightness?” “Better . . . better . . . ,” murmured the barber.
Last night, while in the shower, he’d had an imaginary conversation with her. Out loud. Defending his backswing. When he thought of the tournament, she was the first thing that popped up in his mind.
“I thought you said you could take a little trash talk. The vein in your forehead leaves me skeptical.”
She’d been teasing him about cheering for another golfer. And he’d swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker.
“You told me trash talk doesn’t hurt your feelings. What does?” A thought seemed to occur. “And please say something besides ‘bitter assholes who rip my signs in half’ because I just stopped seeing it every time I blink.” He really just let that roll off his tongue. Like it wasn’t a big deal that he’d been dwelling.
“You don’t have to look so smug.” “I’m sorry, I have no control over my face right now.”
“I won’t give up on you as long as you don’t give up on yourself again.”
“Could you tell me what I need to know to help her take care of herself? Please.”
Oh Wells! 😍
“You don’t want games? Fine. I wasn’t visiting anyone in Palm Beach. I came for you.”
“Good night, Josephine.” He turned and swaggered down the hall. “Enjoy watching me go. You earned it.” “I take it back. I quit.”
I am so here for this banter!
“You’re wearing a uniform with my name on it, belle. There is nothing hotter.”
He kissed her like she was a meal and he wanted to memorize every single flavor on his palate.
“You need me to be nice? I’ll be the nicest person you ever met. Just to you. Only you. Jesus Christ, you’re so beautiful.”
He’d just never been in a romantic dilemma before. And nothing had ever seemed to count this much. This woman . . . she counted. Big-time.
“There are so many twists and turns in this story, my neck is going to be sore. Tell me you didn’t get arrested for that.” “Not in New Orleans, no. I just got beads.” “From the officer?” “No, the horse. But that could have been the weed talking.”
😂😂 I love Josephine so damn much!
Ask me to walk on broken glass next. Watch me not even hesitate.
🥹
“You’re not just playing well because of my . . .” “Sex-centive?” Wells deadpanned.
“I just . . . have this pretty intense need to make sure everyone knows you’re very fucking important. Okay? Could you kindly just go along with it?”
“Golf fans are mean as sin, Josephine. I once had a child in a Callaway hat give me the finger. And he was with his grandma. Who told me to shove a club up my ass.” She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
“Let me be careful with you, belle. Let me worry without asking a bunch of questions, okay?” “You hate questions,” she whispered. “Yeah. But I really, really don’t hate you.” Eyes closed, he rolled his forehead against hers. “Deal with it.”
“But I want to look you in the eye while I’m coming and know I fucking earned it. And I’m not talking about money, I’m talking about . . . you being proud. Of me.” She could only stare at him, shaken. In fact, he seemed a little caught off guard himself. “I’m already proud of you.”
If Wells could have taken over the condition from her in that moment, he wouldn’t have hesitated. Not for a single second. In fact, fuck his working pancreas. It had a lot of nerve.
She was strong because of her struggle, not in spite of it,
“You’re a smug motherfucker, Nate.” “We’re back, baby!”
“Because you’re . . . you, Josephine. And for the record, you’re worth a hell of a lot more. I just have to prove myself before that’s possible—and I will. For you. For . . . us.”
Oh yes, they did end up in matching outfits.
“Hang on to that one,” he said. “And give ’em hell out there.”
“It’s just you and me.”
“You. Are not. A fraud. Don’t you dare. You can’t control hurricanes and a fucked-up health-care system, Josephine. You are the furthest thing from a fraud I’ve ever met in my life.”
“That pales in comparison to what you’ve already done for me, Josephine. You make anything feel possible. You woke me up again.”
Wells made her feel like she belonged. Like she was vitally necessary. Treasured. Important. Even when they were arguing.
“Please, God, let her be okay.”
“I’ll be a nicer person. I’ll sell this car and give all the money to charity. I’ll never break another club. I’ll donate both of my kidneys. Yes, both. Take my soul, while you’re at it. Take everything. Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Please.”
“Because I don’t wear matching outfits for just anyone, Josephine. I don’t wear them for anyone but . . .” He jerked a shoulder. “You know who.” “Me.”
At the same time, she knew if she needed to lean on him, he’d hold her up without making a big deal out of it.
Being around her again was like waking up after a lung transplant and remembering what it’s like to breathe. He just wanted to get drunk on her oxygen.
“I was very happy being alone until you showed up. You’ve ruined me.”
I’m in love. I’m in love with Wells.
I’m in love with you, Josephine.
“Do you eat? Food?” “No, she eats tree bark,” Burgess deadpanned.
Lmao oh I can’t wait for Burgess’s book!
She was right there, smiling through tears. Holding her wells’s belle sign. The original. She’d taped it together.
“I’ll take you, Wells Whitaker. I’ll just take you.”
