13. Trevor
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TREVOR
W illa hands me the ultrasound pictures while we walk through the parking garage.
I’m awestruck, studying the black-and-white images.
I had a part in creating that little life kicking around inside of her.
The most amazing woman is sacrificing herself to bring a part of me into the world.
She deserves uncomplicated calm. Softness.
Everything . And I’ll give her everything, but I doubt she even considers me a friend at this point.
I’m still her sister’s friend who knocked her up and ruined her life. I need to change that.
“So…I was gonna hit up a bookstore after getting you some food. Do you want to come with me?”
“For what?”
“Books, Willa…” Smirking playfully, I ignore her glare and help her into the car. “I thought it could be a good bonding experience.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t you think it’s a little too early to start bonding with the baby over books?”
“I’m talking about us. There’s science behind reducing stress during pregnancy.” She likes facts and statistics. Maybe appealing to her logic like this will help me wiggle my way into her good graces. “If we got to know each other better, it would be good for the baby.”
“For the baby?” she asks slowly, eyeing me. “This sounds like a date.”
“It can be a date, if that’s what you wanna call it.” I wink and close her door before she protests.
I’d love to date Willa. Even before our night in San Diego, I would have taken her out in a heartbeat if I thought she was interested.
I love how her brain works. She observes people.
Tries to understand them. She’s snappy, sarcastic, and smart as hell, with a deep well of empathy she pretends doesn’t exist. Behind that wall, I’m convinced she has a big heart, surrounded by overgrown wildflowers, waiting to be tended to.
I’m stubborn enough to forge a direct path with an arsenal of kindness and dedication—starting with dinner and books.
After satisfying Willa’s Taco Chime craving—and making a quick stop for gummy bears—we walk into Board ’n’ Books.
My hand brushes against hers as I reach forward to open the door, sending goosebumps down my arms. Those same warm tingles that coursed through me as she held my hand at the doctor’s office threaten to light up my insides.
I don’t even think she did it on purpose, but when she grabbed my hand and squeezed, I had the first spark of hope that she might not completely hate me for all of this.
Her eyes perk up as soon as we hit the first bookshelf, and I grab a hand basket in preparation.
After seeing her book collection last night, I had a feeling she’d love this.
Another point for Trevor . She heads right to the lifestyle section and pulls her phone out, taking pictures of several of the titles before sliding them back on the shelf.
I watch her flip through and return a couple more before I say, “Get whatever you want, Gem. I’m buying. ”
She turns to me and shakes her head. “Um, no. You’re not buying me books.”
“Why not? ”
“Because books are expensive. I can find all this information online.”
“So you’re not taking those pictures to come back later and buy them on your own?” My eyes narrow, and she sighs as I grab the book she’s trying to slip back on the shelf.
“So what if I am?”
“Willa, you want the books.” I drop it in the basket. “Get the books.”
“No. It’s too much. I have no self-control in this place.”
“Get what you want, or so help me, I’ll buy one of every single book in this section.”
“Yeah , okay .” Her sarcasm puts a smile on my face as I take a step backward and reach for the shelf. “Trevor, you can’t threaten me with paperbacks…”
“Hardcover, then. I don’t care.” Another step back, and I grab a few books off the shelf, throwing in everything from pregnancy nutrition to weekly milestones.
Her eyes widen with each thump as I pile them into the basket.
A panicked squeak accents her voice each time I ignore her heightened protests.
“Are you—you’re serious?”
I look her dead in the eye as I pull out another book and drop it in. Her scowl morphs into amusement, and she rushes forward, grabbing my hand. “Okay. Fine. I’ll get some. Just…chill.” Without looking, she snags a book and shoves it at me. “Here. Happy? I got a book.”
“You realize we’re only having one, right?”
Willa’s eyes drop to the bright pink cover titled How to Survive Multiples as she chews the inside of her lip.
A giggle slips out of her, and she hides her face behind the book.
A tiny snort is followed by more laughter as she turns away from me.
The whole interaction is so ridiculous, I can’t do anything other than grin at how tickled she is.
She tucks the book back onto the shelf and, in that time, a somber look falls over her face.
“Are you nervous?” The vulnerable tremble in her voice prompts me to step toward her .
“Hell yeah, I’m nervous. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Me too.” She lets out a shaky breath, her gaze dropping to the floor between us. “And I think I’ve been using it as an excuse to shut you out.” She takes a step toward me and puts her hand on my arm. “I think you were right, though. Becoming friends is going to be the only way to survive this.”
I clutch my chest, sighing dramatically. “Thank God , Willa.” She pushes on my shoulder, but a smile slides on her face. “Now get your books.”
“Okay, but I’m only getting two.”
“I saw you snap pictures of at least ten. Get them all.”
“Fine, three.”
“Five.”
“Seriously, Trevor? You’re going to fight me on this?”
“Notice how I haven’t emptied the basket yet? I’ll walk to the register right now…”
Willa rolls her eyes and plucks a few books out of the basket, swapping them for others on the shelf. “What are you getting?” she asks.
“Oh. Nothing. I have my sister on speed dial for all things baby related. This trip was just for you, Gem.” I chuckle as her jaw hinges to the floor.
Turning on my heel, I walk to the register before she can take back anything—a book or our budding friendship.
If that’s the kind of relationship she wants, I’ll take it.
“So how is this supposed to work?” Willa asks as we settle on her couch. The books from the store lay scattered across her coffee table. “You’re in San Francisco.”
“For now, I plan on flying down for all your monthly appointments. And I’ll check in with you every day, get you anything you need, but you have to tell me what’s going on.
I’m so serious, Willa.” I place a hand on her arm.
“Anything. Even if the wind blows dust in your eye or you’re craving chocolate at midnight. I want to know everything.”
Willa nods, staring at her lap.
“And the closer we get to the due date, I’ll look into working remotely from the LA office.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out…” she murmurs, wringing her hands. Her eyebrows dip as she scans the floor.
“Hey.” Grabbing her hand, I encase it in both of mine. I expect her to pull away, but she doesn’t, instead, shifting her gaze to my face. “Talk to me. Let me in.”
She sniffs and shakes her head. “What if something happens?”
“Something like what?”
“I don’t know. Like, what if the baby kicks for the first time while I’m driving and I freak out and crash the car?”
“Then I’ll be on the first flight out to make sure you’re okay.”
“What if something goes wrong with the baby?
“I’ll drop everything to get here, and we’ll handle it together.” I squeeze her hand for reassurance, but she scoffs.
“That can’t be your solution for everything, Trevor.”
“Try me,” I say with a smile.
“Okay. What if the baby has seventeen toes and they want to operate before birth?”
I laugh at that one until I see the tears brimming in her eyes and choke it back. “Hey. Come here.” Pulling her toward me, I wrap my arms around her right as the first tears fall.
“I’m sorry. This is stupid. I don’t cry. I shouldn’t even be crying.”
“It’s not stupid. Your world is on its head right now. Worry is warranted.”
Willa buries her face into my chest, imprinting the light coconut notes on her skin into my senses.
Stroking her back, I pull her closer to tuck her head under my chin.
She fits so perfectly there, and I bite my cheeks to rid myself of the impulse to kiss the top of her head. “What if I come down on the weekends?”
Her stuttered sniffles shake her body against mine. “I can’t let you do that. It’ll cost so much.”
“Let me worry about the cost. I’ll fly out on Fridays after work and head back on Sunday nights. And I’ll enlist Ashlie and Hunter to check in on you during the week. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like I’m about to be everyone’s problem…”
“You’re the furthest thing from a burden, Willa. You’re worth every single effort.”