48. Willa
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
WILLA
“ G uess what, guess what, guess what!” I rattle off quickly. My hands flap excitedly when I ambush Trevor at the door. He just got home from his overnight work trip to Santa Barbara and barely has time to drop his bags before I drag him to the kitchen. “ Look !”
He follows my finger and squints out the window. “Huh. They moved that bulldozer. Guess they really are done with those house?—”
“Not that !” I jab my finger at the teensiest bud shooting out from the previously barren plant on the windowsill.
“I didn’t kill her! Apparently, orchids thrive on neglect because I haven’t touched her in months and she’s blooming !
” My cheeks ache from the wide smile on my face until I see him wrinkle his nose.
“About that…” He grins nervously, then presses a kiss to my temple. “I’ve been taking care of her.”
“Wha—when?”
“When you go to bed, usually. I started after Thanksgiving… You didn’t notice the new pot?”
I whip my head back to the pot on the sill that’s definitely purple and filled with holes instead of brown.
Damn it ! I was so fucking proud of myself for not killing that stupid plant too.
But nooo… Super Dimples saved the day because, of course, he did.
Huffing, I trudge past him and flop onto the sofa dejectedly.
He follows, sliding me onto his lap once he settles on a cushion.
I pout, despite the warmth spreading through me at his casual intimacy.
“So you, what? Whispered sweet nothings to her every day and fed her artesian cloud water?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “She’s not that high maintenance.”
“She’s a bitch!” I purse my lips to stifle my giggle, relaxing into him.
“No. She just knows what she likes. Water once a week, a high-quality substrate mixture, indirect sunlight”—he brushes a thumb across my cheek—“room for her roots to do their own thing, space to breathe. Peace and quiet.” He smiles, and by the fluttering in my chest, it’s clear we’re no longer talking about a finicky plant.
“That’s not high maintenance to you?”
“She’s perfect…” His eyes twinkle as he pulls me closer. “Just needed to be understood.”
Our lips barely touch when my damn phone shrills with my assistant’s ringtone. She closed the studio today, so the only reason I answer is to make sure everything’s okay. As soon as I do, her words fly a mile a minute.
“Whoa. Breathe, Emily. It’s fine. I’ll do it.
Have fun at the show.” I roll my eyes as I end the call and turn to Trevor.
“Emily forgot to set the studio alarm again, so I have to drive over there.” He shifts me onto the cushion next to us and digs in his pocket for his keys.
“Tre, no. You just got home and look exhausted. It’ll take me forty-five minutes, tops. ”
“You know, for someone so smart, you sure have a hard time understanding that I want to spend all my free time with you, whether I’m tired or not.
” He flashes those dimples. My insides turn to goo as he pulls me up from the couch and nestles his lips against mine.
“Now that I’m holding you, I have all the energy in the world. ”
The hormones are making me lightheaded or something. I definitely didn’t swoon just now. But it takes a minute for my head to stop spinning before I can stumble to the door for my purse.
The parking lot is packed when we pull into the strip mall, leaving exactly one spot open in front of the studio.
The nickel arcade at the end of the mall is a bustling spot for date nights on Thursdays, but I’ve never seen it this busy before.
Trevor comes around to open my door, and I play with my keys while we walk hand in hand to the studio.
At least Emily remembered to shut the lights off this time .
He shifts behind me, ever my protector in the darkness while I fiddle with the lock.
I don’t miss the gentle hand he’s pressed to the small of my back as I reach for the lights.
And then my mouth drops. I’m met with the smiles of everyone who’s important to me as I blink against the sudden brightness.
Silent smiles . No yelling . Trevor presses a kiss to my neck and whispers, “Surprise, Gem.”
I turn wide eyes to him, and he smirks, steering me into the pink streamer-covered studio.
Our small pod of friends and family mill around the room, moving out of crouched spaces toward the tables set up in the middle.
Chase ushers Kayla and her large belly to a seat.
Hunter hovers over a wireless speaker, while Ashlie chats with Trevor’s mom and sisters excitedly.
Even Sam is here, entertaining my three employees at the front desk. “When did you plan all of this?”
“After we went shopping for baby clothes. I asked our sisters for help. Emily too.” He squeezes my hand as I look around the room again. “You were just so down on yourself. I wanted to remind you how much support you have now.” He drops a peck on the top of my head .
“Okay, T, you can’t hog her all night,” Maya says. She and Lainey loop their arms around each of mine.
“Yeah, she’s got presents to open and people to hug.” Lainey sticks her tongue out at her brother, eliciting a chuckle from him as she pulls me toward the food table. “Please tell me he’s lightened up…”
“Not in the slightest.” I laugh at the faces the two sisters make at each other. They’re tired of his antics for me.
“He was so worried we wouldn’t be able to pull this off without you finding out,” Maya says.
“I think pregnancy brain helped with that. I feel like the dumbest person lately.”
Maya smiles, nodding knowingly. “How are you feeling otherwise? Twenty-five weeks, right?”
“Yeah. All good. Everything’s going smoothly now.” I glance back at Trevor, who’s laughing about something with Sam. He catches my eye with a smile, winks at me, and returns to his conversation so smoothly, I doubt Sam even realized.
With a plate full of food, I make my way to the table where Kayla and Chase are sitting. Chase presses a kiss to her temple before he stands and heads toward Hunter.
“Twins! You’ve got to be more exhausted than I am,” I say, slipping into the chair on the other side of Kayla. “But you’re glowing!”
“Girl, I’m sweating .” She laughs, her deep bronze skin glistening as she fans herself.
“This whole pregnancy thing is kicking my ass. I just hope they stay in there as long as possible…” Turning in her seat, she searches my face.
“How are you feeling? I heard about everything. That must have been so scary!”
“It was, but the bed rest was the worst part.”
“ Ugh . I can’t even imagine.” A grimace scrunches her face as she sweeps her dark locs over one shoulder.
Kayla’s about as much of a workaholic as I am, so I know she understands how hard it was.
She grew up with us in Fort Bender, and even though she’s my sister’s best friend, we’ve always gotten along pretty well.
“The studio looks great, Willa. I haven’t been since you repainted. It’s completely you.”
“Thanks, girl.” My eyes sweep the lavender walls as I nod at my pride and joy, landing on the neon logo right above my employees at the front desk.
Having everyone I care about in the space I’ve worked so hard to build brings tears to my eyes.
How did I get this lucky ? I may not have the best relationship with my parents, or a squeaky-clean past with relationships, but I have this, and I have every single one of them.
“ Heyyy , ” Ashlie sings. Hunter and Chase follow behind her. “I just wanted to thank you both for making me an auntie. You need more food? Water? Whatever it is, Hunter will grab it for you.”
Hunter sucks his teeth. “I will, but only to show Ashlie how good I’ll be when it’s our turn…”
“ Hunt , ” Ashlie growls, bumping him with her hip. “You said you’d drop it.”
“Naw. I said I wouldn’t ask you anymore. And I didn’t.” He throws an arm over her shoulder and kisses her temple. “You guys think I’ll be a good uncle, right?”
“Sure, man,” Chase squeaks out, avoiding his gaze.
“Won’t be watching my kids,” Kayla mumbles before taking a sip of her water.
Hunter’s face falls into a scowl, and Ashlie laughs, patting his chest. “You’ll be great, love.”
“Don’t worry, Hunter. I’ll let you babysit,” I say.
“See! Willa’s got some faith in me.” Hunter claps me on the shoulder. Everyone is so tough on him, but he’s one of the most observant people I’ve ever known. He plays it cool, acts like nothing fazes him, but I think he’ll do great as an uncle and a dad.
“Will!” Sam whispers loudly from across the room, beckoning me with a head tilt.
I excuse myself to see what’s been so funny.
He waits for my nod before pulling me into a hug, his familiar woodsy scent wrapping me in nostalgia, back to the days when he was the only one I had.
“I was just warning Trevor that you might be hearing from your parents soon.”
“Sam’s gutsier than I am.” Trevor laughs. “Called them out in the middle of the grocery store.”
I chuff. “They knocked you down a peg, huh?”
“Of course they did.” Sam laughs. “You know your mom’s teacher look? I felt like I was back in junior high. Gave them the best lecture I could though. Told them how stupid they’ve been.”
Amusement pops my eyes wide. “You called my mom stupid?”
“Well, no. Not exactly.” He wrinkles his nose. “But I thought it real hard. I don’t know if it did anything, seeing as they’re not here, but I tried.”
“I’m just surprised you didn’t get your tongue snatched out of your mouth after back talking Jackeline Willis.” I nudge his side with my elbow.
Trevor shudders. “You’re a brave man, Sam. I thought I was pushing it by setting them straight in their own home, but in public? Props.” He holds up a fist and taps Sam’s knuckles.
“Where’s Maci?” I ask, looking around the room for that cute, chubby scowl.
“She’s home with Claire. Ear infection and pink eye. But Claire sent me with her ‘new mom’ survival kit and detailed instructions for everything.” He grips my shoulder. “Speaking of detailed instructions , how’s the Phalaenopsis?”
“You’ll be happy to know Trevor nursed CC back to health.”
“My man!” Sam pounds Trevor’s fist again, and they chat about business at the flower shop.
Watching them interact so casually puts a smile on my face.
Trevor slipped into my life so effortlessly, it’s as if he was always meant to be a part of it.
This man is one of the best things to ever happen to me, and that’s saying something.
But the longer I watch my favorite person joke around with my other favorite person, the more I’m hit with an unexpected wave of inadequacy.
Trevor’s built for connection and intimacy.
He’s always wanted a wife, kids, and the white-picket fence.
I’ve known this since the day I met him.
He’ll be a great father and a fantastic husband someday, but he deserves someone who can give that back to him tenfold.
I’m independent, stubborn, and I’d never considered sharing my life with someone else permanently before all of this.
What if I can’t measure up? Or worse, what if I end up being too much for him?