7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Willow
I tried to sneak into Mom’s house. I went up the backstairs to avoid the kitchen where she and Scott were drinking coffee. But I forgot about that damn fifth step that squeaks louder than my first boyfriend’s rusty truck door.
I cringe instantly.
“Willow, is that you?”
Her chair pushes back on the old wood floor so I know I’m not getting out of this unseen. I go back down the stairs and head toward the kitchen.
“Yea, I’m home. Hey Scott.” I give him a weak wave and get one back in return.
“Willow, if you aren’t coming home at night, I’d like to at least know you’re still alive.” She stands with her hands on her hip.
“Ok, I guess we’re doing this. Listen Mom, first off I’m a grown adult. I know this is your house, but you never gave Scarlett or Lacey grief when they spent the night with Preston or Colton.”
“I knew where they were,” she levels .
“Right, well. I’m just going to rip the bandaid off. I’m moving out. I’m going to work for Gunnar at The Bar, and he offered me a room in his condo. So I’m going to move in there today.” I wring my hands in front of me.
“Today? You’re going to go work at The Bar when you can’t even stay sober for one night?”
I flinch at the accusation. I have been drinking a lot. And lashing out at everyone. Maybe Gunnar is right, it’s time I change that.
“This is good for me, Mom. I’m not a person I like right now.” I try to reason.
She doesn’t answer. She simply grabs her purse and heads out the door. I look at Scott who is trying and failing to be wholly interested in his coffee cup.
“I’m sorry, Scott.” I stand at the edge of the kitchen.
“Not my fight, sweetheart, but if you need to talk, I’m here. I’ve got two boys who went through their own fair share of troubles.” He doesn’t push me to talk and I’m grateful for that. He’s a quiet support, I see it with Mom too.
“Thanks. I’m going to go pack, I guess.” I turn quietly on my heel and head back up the stairs.
It doesn’t take me long to pack up the couple of bags I had in my room. With three tote bags slung over my arm, I head down to my car and put them in the passenger’s seat. I’m grateful for being lazy and not unpacking the rest of my car when I first got to Mom’s.
I pull up behind The Bar, and see Colton and Gunnar cleaning up. They must have finished installing the new bar. Lacey told me Colton had built a new one for Gunnar after some kind of deal for helping him win Lace over. She sent us pictures, bragging about her man and his skills, before he loaded it up and it is gorgeous.
Both guys are shirtless, but the sight of Gunnar catches my eye like it has each time he stands in his kitchen in those damn sweatpants. But tight jeans without his shirt, that’s a new favorite sight.
I take my time admiring the way his muscles flex and ripple. But I also notice his scars. They mar his skin all over one side of his back, with a few less noticeable ones on the other side. He’s always angled his body so I see his abs, something I never found strange until now. I wonder if they’re the result of the reason he knows my pain.
He notices me sitting here, staring, and smirks at me. Not once does he break eye contact with me as he walks over to my car. I wait until he's standing outside my driver's side door to roll down the window, taking the moment of making him wait to take him in up close and personal.
“See something you like, darling?” he cockily asks.
“You’d be all too happy if I did, wouldn’t you?” I retort .
“You're not exactly denying it.” He smirks and walks back to Colton.
I get out and open the trunk of my car to start pulling boxes out to pile next to the door, sneaking peeks at shirtless Gunnar as I go. His muscles ripple as he hoists the old wood up over his head and into the dumpster. I am too busy watching Gunnar that I miss Colton coming up behind me.
“You can wipe the drool now, Baby Harper.”
I strike my elbow backwards making contact with his ribs. Perfect.
“I told you not to call me that.” I narrow my eyes at him, “And I’m not drooling.”
He laughs before grabbing some of the boxes next to the door for me. “Don’t worry I won’t tell Lace you want your new roomie.”
I yell up the stairs after him, “You know, there’s a reason I never wanted brothers!”
His only response is his deep cackling echoing down the stairs.
I haven’t talked to my sisters much lately, but I do call Lacey to talk to Oliver more, so I’ve gotten to know Colton better than Preston and Porter. Colton dubbed me baby Harper since I’m the youngest. I hate the name, but he won’t stop just to get under my skin. I like to joke with Lacey that she has two children, not one.
“You know, it’s okay to stare. I’d stare if I were you too.” Gunnar runs his hands down his abs .
I shove his shoulder. “You’re disgusting and sweaty. I was only admiring the way you just don’t care how you look.”
I grab a few of the remaining bags and head upstairs, leaving Gunnar with the heavier of the items. We drop them in the living room with the stuff Colton brought up. Gunnar shows me both rooms and I pick the same one I was in the other night, across from his room. I refuse to think about why that was my choice.
I am going to use the back room for my guitars and, one day start filming videos again. When I can get back to it. I’m not ready yet, but I can’t give up. I’ll get there one day, and when I do, I don’t want to lose my following. For now, posting old covers is still working. I need to get myself back on the horse soon though, if I don’t, I’m letting Jake win and that won't happen.
“Colton just left, I’m going to hop in the shower and make some food before The Bar opens. If you need anything just let me know.”
I jump, forgetting that other people were here.
“Also, he said to tell Baby Harper goodbye.” An ear to ear smile spreads across his face.
I scowl in return without answering him and go back to unpacking.
The tee Gunnar gave me needs a bit of alterations to look good on my body. I may not have ever bartended before, but I have been in bars and know that skin sells. Finding the tightest pair of jeans I own, I pull them up my legs as I jumpy and shimmy to get into them. They will pair nicely with what I'm about to do to this tee. Gunnar never said I couldn’t make alterations. His only rule is that I can't wear leggings.
Smiling to myself, knowing I'm about to push Gunnar's buttons, I cut the men’s tee into a crop top and then slice the bottom hem into fringe. I cut off a majority of the sleeve, and open the neckline into an off the shoulder cut.
I put the scissors back into the drawer where I found them, and slip the tee over my head.
I twist my body in front of the mirror in my room, admiring the work I've managed in just a few minutes. I look fucking amazing if I say so myself. Now to see how far I can push him before the night starts.
“What the fuck is that?” he roars when he comes into the kitchen.
“See something you like, darling?” I coo just as he did earlier.
“No I fucking don’t. Do you know how guys are going to be looking at you tonight? What they’re going to be thinking? Jesus, Willow. I just told Colton I’d take care of you!” He scrubs a hand over his face, clearly in distress about my outfit choice.
I walk over to him and run my finger up his abs. “What are they going to be thinking, boss man?” I say in a sultry voice. I feel his muscles contracting under my touch.
“Fucking hell, Willow.” He stomps off back to his room, returning with another tee for me. “Put this on.”
“Sorry. You didn’t tell me I couldn’t alter it.” I put the new tee on the kitchen counter and flit downstairs for my first shift before he can respond.