Chapter 35
“Mmm. This is exactly what I needed after the week I had.” Willow cradled her mug of apple cider-caramel latte and nodded down at the bag full of books next to their table. “Books and coffee—best combination ever.”
They had browsed Powell’s City of Books for hours, and Scottie had to admit it was the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.
She had followed Willow through the aisles, arms full of the books Willow kept handing her, and watched as Willow brushed her fingers along the spines with a happy smile on her face.
It was the first time she’d seen Willow fully relax all week.
Neither of them was in a hurry to leave the bookstore or the cozy café tucked into one corner of its first floor.
Bleacher-style elevated seating stretched along one end of the space, but they had managed to snag one of the small wooden tables.
Bookshelves surrounded them, and a mural along one wall and the central column depicted scenes from The Princess Bride but in a Portland setting, like a pirate ship sailing beneath the Steel Bridge.
A tiny Pride flag stuck out of one of the potted plants on a shelf behind the coffee counter, making Scottie feel even more at home.
She took a sip of her own beverage—a s’mores mocha—and hummed at the chocolatey taste. “I thought you didn’t like coffee, or at least preferred tea?”
“I like both, but I usually drink tea at home because…” Willow picked a few flakes of the almond croissant they had shared off her sweater. “Well, the coffee machine and I aren’t exactly friends.”
“Ah.” Now that they spent more time together, Scottie was starting to realize how many small—and not so small—things in Willow’s life were influenced by the effect she had on tech. “They can be temperamental little divas.”
Willow laughed. “Right.” A bit of powdered sugar dusted the corner of her mouth.
Scottie reached over and wiped it off with her thumb, just to have an excuse to touch her. Luckily, there hadn’t been a single zap all afternoon. “So, how are you spending Christmas? Are you and your sister hosting a big dinner for half of Portland’s singles again?”
Willow shook her head. “We were supposed to have a few of Fiona’s friends over, but Fi woke up with a sore throat earlier this week.
She took a COVID test.” She grimaced. “It was positive. Sorry I forgot to tell you. I was in survival mode all week after finding out Mr. Sorensen wants me to do the tech setup for the presentation.”
“Totally understandable,” Scottie replied. “How’s Fiona holding up?”
“She’s fine, just exhausted, achy, and grumpy about being quarantined in her room. We had to uninvite everyone. She’s really bummed out.”
“And you?” Scottie asked.
Willow shrugged. “I’ve kept my distance, constantly spray the house down with Lysol, and tested myself twice, just to be safe. Both tests came back negative, or I never would have met up with you.”
“No, I meant…are you bummed out too about having to cancel your Christmas plans?”
“You know me and parties. I’ll be fine by myself. I’ll just stay in my room and read. Maybe do some work on the presentation and format the slides for Mr. Sorensen.” Willow snorted into the foam of her latte. “They looked like a fifth grader made them using PowerPoint 2010—including clip art.”
Scottie studied her across the table. “You’re not going to see your parents over the holidays, especially now that you won’t get to spend it with your sister?”
Willow toyed with the handle of her mug. “No, not this year.”
“Why not?” Scottie asked, raising her voice a little to be heard over the hiss of the espresso machine. “Where do they live?”
“My mom is still in Sacramento, and my dad just moved to Eugene. But I don’t see them much these days.”
Scottie sent her a questioning look. Eugene was barely two hours away, and there were direct flights from Portland to Sacramento.
Willow gave an awkward shrug. “After they divorced last year, they each got their own place and had to buy everything new—TVs, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, the whole lot. So they aren’t exactly eager to invite me over.”
Scottie stared at her. For a moment, she struggled to grasp what Willow was telling her.
Then it hit her, sharper than a jolt to the heart.
A stinging burn shot up her chest. Her pulse spiked so fast, she had to grip the edge of the table with one hand to keep her balance—or maybe to keep herself from jumping up and hurling curses.
“What?” She spat out the word. “They’re putting the toaster oven over their own daughter? That’s awful!”
“No, it’s fine. I get it. Appliances are expensive.” Willow’s tone was calm, as if this wasn’t new to her. She swiped a few crumbs off the table, eyes downcast, her long, dark lashes standing out against pale cheeks.
How often had she brushed off things like this, acting as if it didn’t bother her? No wonder Willow had never trusted anyone with her secret if this was how even her own parents reacted to it!
Her heart ached for Willow. She reached across the table and cupped her hands around Willow’s, which clutched her mug as if it were a lifeline.
A strong zap stung Scottie’s fingers and raced up her arms, but she didn’t flinch back. Softly, she squeezed Willow’s hands. “They’re your parents. They should care about you, not about the price tag on their appliances. I’m sorry.”
Willow looked up and gave her a smile before lowering her gaze to their hands. “It’s okay,” she said. “Really.”
But Scottie’s fingertips were still smarting, proving that her parents’ behavior upset Willow more than she wanted to admit. She hoped that one day, Willow wouldn’t feel the need to hide or downplay her emotions in front of her anymore.
“Come home with me.”
Willow’s head snapped up. She stared at Scottie. “What?”
The words had burst out of Scottie before she had thought them through, but she had meant them.
No one should have to sit alone with just a messy PowerPoint presentation for company on Christmas—especially not Willow.
She squared her shoulders and repeated: “Come home with me for Christmas. My mom cooks too much food anyway, and I know everyone would love to meet you.”
A hint of uncertainty crossed Willow’s face. “I, um, don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t have to introduce you as my girlfriend if you’re not ready for that. You can be just Willow. Whatever makes you most comfortable.” She caressed Willow’s knuckles with her thumb.
“No, that’s not it.” Willow set the mug down and took Scottie’s hands in both of hers. “I wouldn’t mind being introduced as your girlfriend. I like being just Willow—but I like being your girlfriend even more.”
When usually reserved Willow said romantic things like that, it short-circuited Scottie’s brain until she had no words. All she could do was give her a happy smile. “What is it, then?” she asked when she could speak again.
Willow licked her lips. “The thought of meeting your family makes me really nervous. And whenever I get nervous…”
It finally dawned on Scottie. Willow wasn’t just having meeting-the-family jitters. “You’re scared to cause any tech glitches.”
Willow hung her head and nodded. “What if…?” She swallowed audibly. “What if I break something important?” Her whisper was so quiet that Scottie could barely hear her.
The agony in her voice made Scottie wonder if something like that had happened in the past. She squeezed Willow’s hands. “Nothing in my parents’ house is more important than having you there.”
Willow looked up and into her eyes as if searching for the truth there.
Scottie held her gaze, showing her how much she meant every word.
“I’m not sure your parents will see it the same way,” Willow finally said.
“They will,” Scottie said firmly. “They’ve been asking to meet you ever since I first mentioned you.”
“But how would we explain it if the TV suddenly turns off or the Christmas lights start to flicker?” Willow asked.
Scottie shrugged. “We never turn on the TV on Christmas. And if anything else glitches, we’ll just roll with it. Laugh it off or something.” She paused, then added gently, “Or we could tell them the truth. My family would never make fun of you or—”
“No!” Willow cut her off, then stroked Scottie’s fingers as if silently apologizing. “You knowing is one thing. But telling anyone else…” A visible shiver went through her. “I can’t cope with that. Not right now.”
“Okay,” Scottie said. “Then I’ll cover for you.”
Willow firmly shook her head. “I don’t want you to have to do that. You should just enjoy Christmas and the time with your family.”
“And I will. I’ll enjoy it even more if my wonderful girlfriend is with me.” She gave Willow her best puppy dog look. “Please. Come with me.”
Willow drew her shoulders up, then let them drop with a big exhale. “Okay. I’ll come.”
“Yes!”
The word slipped out so loudly that people at the surrounding tables stared at them.
Scottie didn’t care. She drew Willow’s fingers to her mouth and kissed them. “Thank you. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Willow gave her a doubtful look.
“Just think of all the perks of spending Christmas with my folks. My dad makes the best eggnog you have ever tasted—and you’ll get to wake up with me on Christmas morning.”
When Willow’s eyes widened, Scottie realized she had failed to explain a few things.
“Um, that is, if you are okay sharing a bed with me,” she added quickly.
“My cousin Noah and his kids are already taking the guest room, so my parents will probably assume you’ll sleep with me.
I mean, sleep in my old room. But if you’re not comfortable with that, you get the bed, and I can bring an air mattress for me. No pressure whatso—”
Willow tugged her forward by their joined hands and stopped her with a quick kiss. “No air mattress. I’d love to wake up with you on Christmas morning.”
“Oh. Great.” Scottie gave her a grin that probably looked a little dopey. “See? It’s already shaping up to become the best Christmas ever.”