22. Chapter 22
I love her.
That’s the thought that keeps circling in my head as her fingertips run along my chest and stomach. We’re lying in bed after I got us cleaned up, just soaking in the moment.
“I’ve never had something like this.” Her quiet words permeate the air.
“Something like what?” I ask, my voice gravelly from not being used.
“A partner, someone who actually puts in effort. It’s not like I’ve done a ton of dating, just a little in college, so I don’t have a lot of experience,” she rambles.
“I think the last woman I dated was at least a decade ago,” I tell her. “And it was maybe a couple of weeks, nothing more. My life has always been work-focused.”
“Why did you go into the Marshals?” she asks.
“It’s not a tragic story, like some. It’s actually a success story for the entire Fugitive Task Force. My parents and I were on vacation when I was eight, and there was a story on the news about the Marshals looking for a fugitive in the area we were in. Didn’t think much about it at the time, and we continued on our way, checking out the tourist attractions in the area. What’s funny is I can’t even remember where we actually were, but we found the guy.”
“What?” She lifts her head up to look at me.
“Technically, I found the guy, but I didn’t really know what it meant, you know. I told my parents that it was the guy from the news, and they immediately called the authorities. It was a huge whirlwind after that, but I was hooked. These badass guys came into town, looking scary, but they were the good guys. They were pulling a guy who was this really bad guy from the streets. From that moment on, I never wanted to do anything else with my life. So, I made it happen and never looked back.”
“That’s fucking amazing.” She smiles.
“It changed the course of my whole life, and I never really stopped to think if there was more to life, you know?”
“I do know, except I think I took things to the other extreme. My parents died when I was in high school, and Ledger had to step up for Lennox and me. Rina too. I dated some when l was in college, but I decided early on that I would rather stay alone than have to deal with the pain of losing another loved one.”
I hold her wordlessly, both of us realizing that these ideals we previously held about our lives are no longer possible as long as we’re together.
“I want to figure out this shit with Tennison. It feels like I’m stuck, like I’m not able to fully move forward until things are settled with him. With Woodcroft coming here, it feels like this past year was just running away from the larger problem.”
“How can I help?”
This. Fucking. Woman. She has no idea that her simply asking seals my fate completely. It’s odd… Every version of a relationship I’ve seen or dealt with has always been uneven. Either one person is putting in more effort, or one isn’t really into it as much as the other person, but with us? Willow and I feel like the definition of equal partners. She’s been busy for the last couple of weeks, so I stepped up. I know that if I get busy or need help, she will jump in without question.
“I don’t know that there is much to do at the moment. It’s basically a giant waiting game, like it has been.”
“Are you needing to go back to New York? I have time now that the book is off to edits, and I can come with you,” she offers ,and I realize she doesn’t know that Tennison is traveling and probably closer to Bluebell Falls than anyone wants.
“No, I need to stay here.”
“Okay, that’s cryptic.”
“There’s a lot that’s classified, Will. Things I can’t tell you. Shit, things that I shouldn’t even know right now.”
“I get it. Just know I’m here if you need help or a sounding board, or I don’t know, if you need an orgasm.” She smirks.
“Oh, I’ll definitely take you up on that one.” I smile, and I poke her side.
She sighs. “So, what about your parents?”
“They are currently living the high life in Arizona in a retirement community. We don’t talk a lot, which is mostly my fault, but we’ve also just never been that close. I let them know when I moved, and we’ve maybe only talked a couple of times past that. They’d like you, though.” I pull her tighter to me as I close my eyes.
“My parents would have loved you,” she whispers, and my heart clenches at what she had to endure at such a young age. “We have family dinners every Sunday. I’d like for you to come whenever you feel ready.”
“I’d love that.” I know immediately I need to figure out this Tennison situation as soon as possible. If I have any chance of keeping Willow and making her happy, I need to resolve this gaping hole in my past.
“What’s on your agenda the rest of the day? Night? I don’t even know what time it is.” She giggles.
“It’s about ten at night.”
I chuckle at her muttered, “Oh, jeez.”
“So, I have sleep on the agenda. But if you’re hungry or want to do something else, we can do that instead.”
“I think sleep sounds perfect.”
Sleep takes us both quickly, and I fall into the best sleep I’ve had since I was a kid.
A ringing phone startles me and jolts me out of bed. I climb out of bed as quietly as I can, snagging my phone as I head out to the living room. I shut the door behind me, trying to let Willow sleep.
“Oakley,” I answer without looking because if someone is calling me this late, it’s for a good reason.
“Hey, man.” Woodcroft’s voice sounds tired. Worn down.
“What’s going on?” No need to beat around the bush when we both know he’s calling for a reason.
“He’s been seen traveling north on I-35, taking a direct line straight to you.”
I curse under my breath, trying to figure out what the next steps are.
“Fuck, I’ve been out of the game too long. I’ve already informed the park ranger and the sheriff here, so they’ve got their eyes open. What else do I need to do?” I can hear the panic in my voice, and I count to ten to try and calm down. The last thing I need right now is a full-blown panic attack.
“Well, I’ll be there in the morning. I’m at the airport right now, heading your way, and the rest of the team will be joining us in the next day or two, whenever they can get flights.”
“Fuck, the whole team? So we’re really going to try and catch him here?”
“It’s the only chance we’ve got, Oak. We know he’s coming for you, know where he’s heading. It’s the best chance we’ll ever get.”
“I know. Fuck, I know. But I can’t put the people here in danger. I can’t risk it, so we need to figure out a way to draw him out somewhere.”
“That’s all stuff we need to discuss with the team and the sheriff.”
I quickly realize I’m not in charge here. The natural instinct to step in and take control of things isn’t my job anymore, no matter how much I feel the responsibility of it all.
“Well, I live above Grind Time, so if I’m not downstairs when you get in, come find me.”
“Will do. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I hang up without a response, lost in the very real possibility that I’m bringing the devil to the doorstep of people I truly care about.
I have to protect the people of Bluebell Falls. I need to protect Willow, no matter what it takes.
“What the fuck?” Willow’s stunned voice shocks me, and I turn around to see her ashen face greeting me.