12. Flame #3
Smoke gets in the driver’s seat, throwing me one more look in the rearview mirror before glancing over at Willow with a small smile and using a softer voice than I have ever heard come from my best friend.
“So, how do I get there?” he asks while putting the car in drive and turning down the classic rock that’s blasting through the speakers.
Willow smiles at him and gives him directions.
The drive isn’t far, maybe thirty minutes from her own home, but we take two-lane, winding roads all the way to the middle of nowhere.
We approach a gate, and Willow leans over the center console, pops her head out of Smoke’s open window, and waves at the camera on the front gate.
I try my hardest not to check out her ass as she leans forward in front of Smoke.
“Hey, Will! I didn’t know you were stopping by today. I thought you would already be on the plane.” A man’s baritone voice comes from the camera.
“Hi, John! I’m on my way there now. I have to pick up something from Gig that I forgot yesterday.
This is my brother, Jackson. He’s giving me a ride to the airport,” she replies.
Who the fuck is John? Why are they so friendly?
I take a breath and rein in the possessive side that I had no idea I had.
“Ah! Lilly’s boy! Come on in so I can finally meet you! She talked about you all the time!” the voice responds. I look over at Smoke, and he’s at a loss for words. I think he knew that his mom’s family would know about him, but he probably didn’t expect everyone to.
“That’s sweet, John, but we are in a little bit of a rush.
I’ll be sure to bring him by when I get back, though, and he can meet everyone.
” Willow steps in when she realizes that Smoke has no idea what to say, with her adorable smile and sweet voice saving Smoke from having to speak before he can collect his thoughts.
“Sounds good. Just let us know so we can have the whole family here to meet him. Now, drive on through and stay safe, honey,” he says as the gate starts to open.
“I will! Love you, John, and I will keep you updated on the shop while I’m gone,” Willow says before the gate is open, and we start to drive though.
“He’s sweet, but has a tendency to not stop talking when he gets started, since he’s retired, and I really need to leave for the job today.
But you will have to come back to meet everyone.
They are pretty much all my aunts, uncles, and grandparents at this point.
But it can get overwhelming if you aren’t used to it. ”
“He seemed nice,” I add, feeling a lot better now that I know that he isn’t trying to steal my girl before she even knows that she’s my girl.
She turns her head and gives me a small smile as she directs Smoke on where to go.
This place looks like it could be a small town. How did we miss this moving in?
It takes me a second, but I eventually recognize this place as the abandoned insane asylum. We used to come here as teenagers to see if we could find ghosts. I didn’t notice at first because of all of the new buildings and homes.
We park in front of a beautiful three-story house that looks brand new.
A few acres away, you can see the other buildings, totally separated from the home itself.
“If I’m here, I have to say bye to them again real quick.
Do you guys want to come?” she asks as she opens the door looking at us in question.
“Sure,” we both say in unison.
“Okay, let’s go. I promise it’ll be fast.” She hops out of the truck before I can even open my door to help her again, and Smoke looks relieved by that. Smug bastard.
We follow her away from the house towards one of the first huge buildings. We pass a woman on the way, and Willow asks if she has seen her dad or “her idiots.”
The woman smiles at her and says, “They are in the conference room in a meeting.”
Willow thanks her and gives her a hug, telling her that she will see her when she gets back.
She is greeted by everyone that we pass; Willow gives a genuine smile and greets all of them, even knowing all of their names.
Anyone could tell that she is loved by everyone here, and I don’t miss the way that some of the younger guys that she greets eye-fuck her as she passes by.
I’m getting more irritated by the second.
We finally make it to the large building and walk in.
On the way, Willow explains what is in each room that we pass, promising Jackson to give him a better tour next time he comes to visit.
I let her know I can’t wait, inviting myself.
Jackson elbows me hard in the ribs, but she looks over her shoulder and smiles with another blush.
I’m starting to realize that making this tiny, kind, beautiful woman blush is going to be my new favorite hobby.
We finally reach some double doors that are closed, and I’m assuming it’s the conference room. Willow knocks twice and opens it. All three of us walk inside, and we can see the faces in the room all look over at us.
One sticks out right away, and now everything clicks together as I say, “Dad?”
Not just Dad, but Buck and Griz are sitting on either side of him.