11. Willa
Chapter eleven
Willa
T he following morning, I awaken slowly. Stretching in bed, I lift my eye mask onto my forehead, pop out my ear plugs, and turn off my white noise app on my phone.
When I thumb through my phone notifications, I see that my mum and Aiden have texted me.
Mumsy: Let's get together for a little chat, Willa. Tomorrow afternoon work for you?
Ugh, I don't really want to meet with my mum. I know that she'll push for details on my life—specifically details about Nick and my return to Hollywood. Neither of which are topics I want to discuss with my mother. But I know that the more I blow her off, the more persistent she'll become.
Scrolling to my text thread with Aiden, I see that he's invited me to a late lunch today, probably because he wants to check on me after witnessing my panic attack last night .
And after word spread that Joyce and Mike caught Nick and me making out.
Yep, Aiden will definitely want to discuss that, too.
Fun times.
If it were any of my other brothers inviting me to lunch, I would decline, but I owe it to Aiden to assuage his fears and fill him in.
Even though he lives halfway across the country, he was there for me in the aftermath of my miscarriage and my breakup with Baron, so I’m sure he’s worried about what’s happening between Nick and me.
Because from the outside looking in—bringing Nick as my date to my parents' anniversary party, witnessing Nick ease me through a panic attack, and hearing that we were making out at the party—it appears like Nick and I might be more serious than we are.
But I know the truth. We're newly acquainted friends who've kissed a few times.
There’s definitely a mutual attraction, and I have a crush on him; however, it’s probably better if nothing else develops.
We don't have a future, and I don’t want to get hurt.
Eventually, Nick will return to Belgrovinia, and I need to figure out my next steps.
Continue my acting career or try something new.
So, it’s safer to keep Nick at arm’s length and pursue nothing more than friendship with him.
Then, something optimistic flows through me, challenging that idea. While it was painful to navigate the memories of my miscarriage, I feel lighter for having shared them with Nick. He heard me and showed me a level of respect and care that reassured me of his trustworthiness.
Maybe Nick won’t hurt me.
After last night, I see Nick in a new light.
He's not just the flirtatious charmer I first pegged him as.
He has hidden depths to his personality, and the more I get to know him, the more I want to delve deeper.
I find my resolve softening. Brick by brick, Nick is dismantling those walls I have carefully erected to protect myself.
Maybe I should be open to allowing more to happen between us?
Perhaps what I need is a fling? A short-term physical relationship without a future. Something fun. Something casual. A way to ease myself back into the idea of sex and dating. Something focused on the physical expressions of pleasure, not the emotional aspects.
God, I’m so wishy-washy. A total flip-flopper. I make a decision one second and then change my mind the next.
Do I press the gas or pump the brakes?
Why does the thought of having sex with Nick make me want to put the pedal to the metal?
Just kidding. I know why. The man is hot with a capital H.
My phone dings again. Lifting my phone from the hotel's bedside table, I read my brother’s text.
Aiden: Am I making this reservation for lunch or not?
With a chuckle, I type my answer.
Me: Good morning to you, too, Grumpypants. Lunch sounds good. If you beat me to the restaurant, order me a mimosa!
When my phone chimes with another notification, I check it, suspecting it's Aiden responding, but it's not .
Mumsy: Love, I can see that you read my message. I'm going to assume that you'll be at the house tomorrow for afternoon tea. Can't wait to catch up properly!
Good God, this infuriating woman must have turned on my read receipts.
Blowing out an irritated breath, I give myself a pep talk about taking the bull by the horns. I should get this mother-daughter chat over with, so I don't have it hanging over my head. I don't know what's going on between Nick and me, but it's none of my mum's business, which is what I'll tell her.
As for the rest of it, I'll keep it vague. I'm reading scripts, unsure about my next role, yada yada yada. Hopefully, that will suffice.
But…my finger hovers over our text thread.
Yeah, I'm not ready to face her yet.
Me: Sorry, Mum. Can't make it tomorrow. I already have plans. Maybe later in the week? Kisses!
As I walk into the small private room in Saltside’s upscale bistro an hour later, I spy Aiden sitting at a table, but he isn’t alone. Hayes and Jane are with him. After hugging everyone hello, I take my seat at the square table.
Over the years, I’ve spent lots of time with Hayes and the other members of Outlaw, but not much time with Jane yet. As I set my napkin on my lap, I notice a blood orange mimosa next to my place setting, waiting for me.
Smiling my thanks at Aiden, I lift the flute to my lips.
Before I can even swallow my first sip, Hayes shoots me one of his infamous lopsided grins, where one side of his mouth lifts higher than the other.
Aiden calls it Hayes’ panty-dropping smile.
It’s become Hayes’ trademark, and it makes most girls swoon.
I, however, am not most girls. I am immune to his charms. Unlike Nick's smile, Hayes' does nothing for me.
I squint my eyes. “Does that really work, Hayes? That smile of yours?”
The other corner of his mouth lifts up when I call him out.
“You’d be surprised.”
Rolling my eyes, I groan, knowing what's coming. “Fine. Start the interrogation.”
“Hot damn. Let’s get to it then,” Hayes replies, rubbing his hands together with glee.
I tilt my head. “I never knew you were such a gossip, Hayes.”
“Well, you’ve never brought a man home before, have you?” Looking at Aiden, Hayes continues, “And we have some questions.”
Ah, crap. They’re going to tag-team.
Glancing at Aiden with annoyance, I huff, “I should’ve known you’d have him do your dirty work.”
Ignoring my complaint, Hayes begins, “So, you and Nick. Let’s talk about him. Looked like y’all were an item last night.”
“An item?” I scoff lightly. “We aren’t. Nick and I are…” I stop, unsure of how to classify what we are. Eventually, I settle on, “Friends who share an attraction. ”
“How long has this attraction been unfolding?” Aiden asks me warily.
“OMG, Aiden.” I throw up my hands. “I’m almost thirty years old! It’s well past time to retire the protective older brother act you have going on.”
“How long?” He repeats, undeterred.
“I met Nick on the first day I got back into town.”
Jane raises her beautifully arched brows in surprise. “Really? Wow, you two seemed so in tune with one another. I assumed you had a history together. For whatever my opinion is worth, you and Nick seem like a good pairing.”
"Thank you," I smile at Jane.
The same, however, cannot be said for Jane and Hayes .
Those two are an odd mismatch. Hayes, the stereotypical country music artist, sporting his perpetual outfit of tight jeans, a t-shirt, expensive boots, and an unshaven jaw, could not look less like he belongs with Jane.
Prim and proper, Jane could easily be mistaken for a news anchor with her perfect smile, starched dresses, and reserved, professional manner.
I've never seen Jane relax, while all Hayes does is let loose and party.
But they've been together for several months, so they must have discovered something they have in common.
The waitress arrives to take our orders, and as she answers a few questions Jane has pertaining to the menu, Aiden leans in, quietly inquiring, “After last night, are you okay?”
“I am,” I reply slowly. “I actually told Nick about, well, everything, and it helped to talk about it.”
“You did?” Aiden's expression twists in surprise.
Since the miscarriage, I’ve held a tight grip on the information.
My parents and the rest of my family still don’t know.
At first, it was too painful to talk about and then I didn’t want their pity.
Now, it would be poor timing to tell anyone, like I’d be trying to take away the happiness of Henry and Lily’s news or steal the spotlight from them.
“I did.”
“Are you sure you can trust him, Willa? You haven't known him long.”
“That’s true, but he gets me, Aid. I can’t explain it. It isn’t rational to feel so close to someone after such a short period of time, but I do.”
Aiden pulls on his lower lip. “Okay. I’m glad you’re opening up with people.” He pauses. “But if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”
“I’ll help bury the body,” Hayes chimes in as the waitress retreats from our table.
“Hayes!” I admonish him for eavesdropping.
“Anything for you, sweet cheeks,” he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively at me.
Aiden rubs his forehead. “Hayes, need I remind you that you’re speaking to my little sister and that your girlfriend is sitting right next to you? Jesus Christ, man.”
Hayes is a shameless flirt and seems unable to hold a conversation with a member of the opposite sex without resorting to flirtation at some point.
Unfazed, Jane sits there and takes it.
Reaching for a roll from the breadbasket, I tear off a small piece and butter it. “So, what’s new with Outlaw? Any new music on the horizon?”
Hayes grimaces. I’ve unknowingly hit a nerve. “Working on it, but I’m currently experiencing a bit of writer’s block.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hayes shrugs it off. “It happens. What about you? Got your next movie lined up? ”
He’s also unknowingly hit a nerve. “Nothing concrete yet,” I hedge. Though I’m becoming more comfortable with the idea of extending my acting hiatus indefinitely, I'm not ready to discuss it with the table. “Besides, I still have a few more months of travel time left.”