14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Gunnar
Fuck .
Willow is pissed at me. I don’t blame her. I hear a slam coming from the kitchen in the bar.
Damn, she must have snuck in while I was showering. I run down the stairs to try and catch her.
When I reach the bottom though, instead of Willow, I’m met by Mack.
“Boss, you messed up,” she says walking back into the kitchen.
“Is she here?” I ask, following her.
“Nope,” she says flatly, staring at me.
“Mack. Say it.” I cross my arms, standing next to her. Mack isn’t one to keep quiet when she has something on her mind so I know she has something to say about the situation.
“What are you doing with that girl, boss?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
Admitting it to Mack is worse than Willow. I think she has a soft spot for her.
“Well. You need to figure it out. She’s broken, boss. She needs someone that’s going to put her together, not break her down more. So you better figure your shit out before you even think of touching her again.” She goes back to cooking and ignores me. She’s right.
I’ve made a fucking mess out of everything. There’s only a few people who understand my situation.
Me: Hey, you available for a beer?
Colton: Yea man, Porter and Preston too?
Me: Why not. You all have experience with the Harper women.
Colton: Oh it’s that kind of beer, huh? See you in ten. I’ll rally the troops.
I check in with all my employees while I wait for the guys. The patio is closed right now so I grab a bucket of beers and head out there. I gave Bennett instructions to send the guys out when they get here. And told him by no means is a waitress to come out here and serve us. I would do all the work. I can’t risk anyone hearing about Willow and I.
“Hey Gunnar! Open up.” Colton, Porter and Preston stand at the gate to the patio. They must have seen me when they came up .
I get up and walk over to open the door for them before locking it back up.
“So, you got Harper lady trouble, huh?” Porter says.
“Did you gossip as soon as I text you? Lacey’s really getting to you.” I whip my head to Colton, my eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“Nah, this guy has always been a gossip. He’s the perfect match for those Harper women.” Preston laughs at his brother.
“Shut up. I don’t hear any of you complaining when I have the latest gossip from Mrs. Smith before any of the girls. In fact, I think you all run home to tell them.” He says defending himself.
“Whatever. What’s going on? Since I know it’s not any of our women, I’m going to guess your roommate is giving you some trouble?” Preston asks.
“You could say that.” I roll my eyes.
“Is she drinking again?” Porter asks, concerned. His sister just completed rehab in Florida, so he’s sensitive to these things.
“No, no she’s abided by my rule. It’s just -”
“You want her?” Colton interrupts.
“I don’t know. I mean yes I do, but she’s Baby Harper. She’s got a lot of stuff going on in her life, and I don’t know. You saw how Lorelei acted when she found out that she was moving in. What would she say if she knew I wanted to date Willow?” I ramble off my concerns. “Plus I’m her goddamn boss! ”
“Listen man, I get more than anyone having a million doubts and bullshit reasons. But Willow would be lucky to have you in her corner. Lorelei will be happy as long as her daughter is happy, and taken care of. Talk to her. I guarantee she’ll respect that and give you her blessing if it’s what you want. But make sure you’re not just in this for a fuck and run.”
Porter dated Addy in high school and they recently reconnected. I know that getting Lorelei’s blessing was a huge deal for him.
“I’m her boss.”
“Are you going to fuck her over?” Colton asks.
“Of course not! How could you think that I would do that?” I ask him.
“I know you wouldn’t. I just want you to see that all your reasons are bullshit. Excuses are like assholes, man. Everyone’s got one.” Colton smiles at his own bad joke.
“Listen, all of this sounds like something happened. So want to tell us why all our women got called out right before we got called out.” Preston levels me with a stare.
“She threw herself at me. And I told her I couldn’t do it.” I rub my hand over my face, I know I fucked up. "After I kissed her."
“Oh, bad move, my man, bad move.” Porter leans back in his chair and grabs a beer out of the bucket.
“I know, hence why I called you dumbasses.” I grab my Coke from the bucket next to their beers. If ever a situation tempted me to crack open a cold one, it’s this one.
“Well, she called in the cavalry so Lorelei most likely knows the whole situation. I’d say the fact she isn’t here now, is a good sign for you.” Preston shrugs.
A car door shuts from the back lot and I see a flash of red hair running past the gates.
“Shit. I gotta go guys, enjoy your beers on the house, if you want food just tell Bennett, he’s inside and was told to not let anyone else out here.” I don’t listen to their response and I run inside to find Willow.
When I walk in, Willow is setting her stuff down on the counter. Then I see the red splotches all down the front of her dress.
“What the hell happened to your dress, Willow? Why do you smell like alcohol?” I go from needing to fix things to pissed that she blatantly went behind my back to drink as soon as things got tough.
“It’s wine, not that you have any right to say shit.” She spits out before turning her back to me and walking to her room and slamming the door.
I walk to her door and knock on it. “Willow, you promised you wouldn’t drink!”
“Fuck you, Gunnar. You aren’t my keeper. You don’t even want me!” She yells through the walls.
She rips the door open dressed for work and storms by me. Again slamming the door .
“New fucking rule! No slamming the goddamn doors!” Fuck. That went worse than I could have even imagined!
I lean against the wall in the hallway, rubbing my face with my hands. I need to get dressed for work myself. I know I totally fucked up my chance when she got home, but she didn’t need to go out drinking!
When I get into the kitchen, Mack steps into my path.
“I told you to figure your shit out.” She crosses her arms and doesn’t let me pass.
“I did!” I continue, “I just didn’t get the chance to tell her that.”
“Obviously, you idiot, she’s crying in my walk-in.”
“Thanks Mack!” I take off around her to the walk-in cooler and rip the door open to find Willow crying.
“Why the fuck are you in here? Can’t I have a minute to myself? Isn’t it bad enough that I live with you too?” she says through tears.
“I just want to make sure you’re alright.”
“Right,” she scoffs. “You don’t even fucking like me, why do you give a shit?” I stalk toward her because she’s so fucking wrong.
I take her into my arms, and wipe her tears away.
“I do like you. More than I should. I do want you. More than I should. And I do care. Again, more than I should.” I crash my lips onto hers .
At first, she seems hellbent on being stubborn and ignoring me. But after a moment she gives in and kisses me back.
“Why did you reject me?” she asks in a whisper.
“Because I needed to figure my shit out, and I’m an idiot. Trust me, Mack can confirm.”
She giggles and I’ve never been so happy to hear her giggle.
“Can you forgive me?” I ask her.
“Why should I?” Fuck, she’s feisty.
“Because I want to take you on a date. And I don’t want to fight this anymore. I can’t fight it anymore.” I trail kisses down her neck onto her collarbone.
She moans and her hands roam my abs. “Sorry darling, date first. And forgiveness.” I nip her earlobe and leave the walk-in to start my shift.