4. willow
CHAPTER 4
WILLOW
NOT EVEN CLOSE
Unbraiding my hair, I raced around the hotel room. The pink wig was situated back in its bag and Tattoos was about to get the braid-out experience, the real Willow, not the stage persona, with a washed face, my round glasses, and not a sequin to be seen.
I kicked some of the towels into the bathroom, cleaning as fast as I could as my phone buzzed in the corner.
Mom
so excited to see you
The groan started before I read the last word. Not an upset groan or an angry groan, but a groan full of all the complicated feelings swirling every time I thought about my mom who kind of—sort of—broke the entire family. Or, at least, her new husband did.
For two years I’d been putting on a nice face but that was easier three hours away from each other, while my mom worked in Houston and visited on the weekends.
Now, it was complicated.
Right below hers, I could see my dad’s messages replying to the license plate photo.
Papa Pruitt
Thanks, Willie Low
Let me know if you have a problem
You’re loved
My dad, the only family member who knew about my double life. The only one who really understood.
Also, someone who had nothing to do with the sexy, tattooed, flustered guy coming over. I didn’t want to focus on family drama. I wanted to focus on Tattoos, the man who was about to get a fantastic handjob, even if I had to improvise because it was my very first one. I slipped on my cute short shorts, stuffing the last of my items in my suitcase.
A knock echoed from the door.
I hurried to the mirror. No flyaways sticking out, no lip gloss on my teeth, done, done, done.
Here we go.
With the most seductive smirk I could manage, I pulled open the front door to find…not Tattoos. Not even close. The man was my height and about twenty years older, with huge tufts of ear hair.
My eyes flickered to the big bouquet in his arms. The huge bouquet. Some of the flowers stretched way past the wrapping and were forced to lean towards the left together, an array of brilliant orange and pink and yellow flowers.
"Willow?"
"Um…yes?"
"Do you mind? I need to take a picture."
Wordlessly, I stepped to the side, staring. Tattoos asked for my room number to send me flowers? I never had the after-the-bar experience before, but flowers weren't supposed to be part of it. Right?
My heart softened like butter. I gingerly took the bouquet and struggled with it back into the room.
"There’s a card," the delivery man threw over his shoulder before walking away.
"Thank you!" I called after him and searched among the flowers. There were so many of them, I had to dig deep in the petals to find it.
Can’t wait to see you, Angel
Tattoos
This definitely wasn’t part of the hookup experience, which was all I’d been looking for, but it was hard to think about that when he sent me flowers . I propped my phone against one of the pillows and used the timer to flash a picture with them.
Instantly, the photo was replayed twice.
"Ugh, you are so cute," I murmured.
Tattoos
Gorgeous
Me
Thank you for the flowers 3
Tattoos
They also look good
"Oh my god," I whispered.
Me
I’m not going to lie I thought you were coming over :S
Tattoos
Me too
A photo popped up. K was unamused, sitting next to a hospital bed where a guy with reddish-brown hair had a bandage on his face.
Wait— hospital?
Me
Oh my god, what happened?
Tattoos
My friends a dumbass
He tried a drunk cartwheel
Me
Sorry about your friend :(
Tattoos
Youre the only one
I didnt think id send the flowers solo
New fact about K uncovered. The moment he could text, he had more words at his disposal. Good to know.
Me
You know, if you’re out of the hospital in an hour…:)
Tattoos
If i can tape him up i will
But its not looking like the case which sucks
Sorry angel
There it was again - angel.
Me
Angel?
Tattoos
Yeah you came up with tattoos for me i need something for you
Me
Why Angel?
I couldn’t keep back the giggle as he typed, deleted, and typed again. A giggle . Oh my god, Tattoos was adorable.
Tattoos
You sound like one
You look like one