Chapter 20 #2
“Willow, looks can be deceiving,” Aspen reassures me.
“It doesn’t matter either way, I’m not going to do anything about it.
” I can’t. My time here will be up soon anyway.
“Doesn’t mean he won’t.” It’s her turn to sing-song to me, and I realize just how annoying it is. We take a few steps forward in line.
“What does that mean?”
My question is interrupted by us being next in line. I don’t order five beers, but I do order two.
I want to re-ask my question, but I fear that it is too far on the pathetic side even for me.
I shouldn’t be hopeful that he wants me.
It can’t happen for a multitude of reasons, one of them being that I know how it ends.
We’ve done it before, and it ended with my heart broken.
But that doesn’t keep me from wanting it, even just a little bit.
When we rejoin the group, a few more people have joined. Some I recognize from school, some I don’t.
“Willow! It’s great to see you. I heard you were in town!” Holly says. She was always so nice in school. It’s good to see that time hasn’t changed some things.
“Same. Yeah, I’m here until the end of summer. How have you been?” She gives me a little rundown of her life, and I feel a bit relieved that she doesn’t ask any questions about mine. In fact, this almost feels nice. Catching up with old friends, having people who know you, and you know them.
When she turns away from me, I muster up the courage to hand off my extra beer, “Here. Got you this.” I hand the extra beer in my hand to Weston, and his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
“Thanks, that was nice of you.” He smiles at me, and I don’t miss the glare I get from Goldilocks.
It might be time to introduce myself to her. “Hi, I’m Willow. I don’t think we’ve met.” I shoot out my free hand for her to shake.
“Brittany. We haven’t.” She gives my hand the most pitiful shake, and I have to fight rolling my eyes. My grandpa always said you can tell a man by his handshake, and while we aren’t men, the concept still stands.
Aspen hides her laugh behind a sip of her beer. I meet her eyes and find myself doing the same. At least I know she’s in my corner.
“Weston, what do you say we get out of here?” Brittany runs her finger up Weston's bicep, and I think the world stops spinning.
The sensation running through me is so visceral that it knocks the wind out of me.
The moment of joy I was having leaves just as quickly as it came.
Suddenly, the thoughts of him with her in bed makes tears spring to my eyes.
The thoughts of him with anyone feels like a shard of glass slowly shredding my heart.
“Excuse me,” I quietly murmur and back away, quickly turning on my heels. I want to get as much space between me and them as possible. The thought of having to be in the same house as him and another woman? Now that just might be enough to make me quit, corporate ladder be damned.
“Willow, wait.” Weston's voice comes from behind me. I keep my head down and pick up my pace. I have no clue where I’m going or even what direction leads to the exit, but I can’t let him see me, not like this.
I feel a hand come around my bicep. I quickly bat the tears that have been threatening to fall away.
“Willow, stop. Please. Talk to me.” His voice is a desperate plea.
I stop, but I don’t turn because I know he will see it, my eyes red and tears staining my cheeks. Not to mention the fact that I haven’t come up with a believable excuse for why I’m upset yet.
Taking a deep breath, I swallow the emotion down before turning to face him. “What?” I ask, my voice cracking at the end.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he says, hitching his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the group.
“It doesn’t matter, you can do what you want,” I assure him, doing my best to sound as unaffected as possible. I cross my arms, hoping it will help shield my heart.
His eyes snag on my ringless finger. It’s felt wrong lately putting it on, even if it’s to protect myself from the man standing in front of me.
“If I could do what I want, it wouldn’t be that,” he replies with conviction, staring me in the eyes so reverently.
It feels like he can see directly into the depths of my soul.
It doesn’t matter that I want to close him out; he’s had the key to my heart all along.
“Then what would it be? Because you looked pretty cozy back there.” A touch of anger laces my voice.
“I don’t think you’re ready to hear that quite yet.” He brushes a piece of my hair behind my ear, the movement so soft and so gentle that I have to fight the urge to turn my face into his palm.
I look away from his gaze and nod my head because he might just be right. I’ve been running from this feeling since the second I got to town, and it doesn't seem like I can run fast enough. It’s constantly nipping at my heels. My heart still beats for him.
Weston grabs one of my arms and pulls me into his chest. We haven’t really touched outside the horse ride since I’ve been to town.
His strong arms come around me, and my head perfectly tucks under his chin.
My arms uncross and I grip his shirt. It’s not quite hugging him back, but it is holding on for dear life.
Because for this one second, it feels so good and so right.
My heart feels at peace and so does everything else.
I sink my weight against him, and I feel his lips touch my forehead.
“How about you and I go on a ride? Like old times?” he murmurs into the top of my head.
“Okay,” I whisper.
He places his hand on my lower back, and we walk toward the rides, the lights leading our way. I might regret this tomorrow. But for right now, I don’t want to fight this fire between us.