Chapter 31
thirty-one
LYDIA
Will: Looking good over there behind that desk, beautiful.
Lydia: Aren’t you supposed to be working?
Will: I am working. It’s a full time job trying to keep my eyes off you.
Lydia: Good god. We’ve got a long several months ahead of us.
Will: Not the only thing that’s long.
Lydia: Gross.
Will: Not what you said last night.
Will: Okay. Sorry. I’ll be good. Wanna go get coffee?
“You better watch where you’re going with that this time.”
Will nudges me playfully in the ribs as he juts his chin at my to-go cup. I roll my eyes at him and tear open a packet of sugar. “Trust me. It’s not in my best interest to burn your junk, Will.”
He whistles. When he gives my ass a squeeze, my head whips fiercely around to make sure no one saw it.
“Do not,” I hiss, flicking a hand at him, barely smothering my laughter. I may be a prude, but he knows I’m enjoying his attention. In fact, I’ve been basking in it the whole freaking week.
We’ve been at the library since early this morning, getting everything ready for the ground breaking.
Since the construction of the new computer lab is first on the agenda, the main part of the library will remain open, but over the past week we’ve had to shift things around to keep visitors away from the work zone.
I’m not looking forward to having the noise of construction constantly in the background while I’m working, but at least I’m making peace with the project.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t draw a deep, shaky breath when we got here and I saw the tarps the construction team put up.
It really hit me… The building I loved so much, that provided so many sacred hours for me when I needed it most, will never be the same.
It’s the end of an era, and endings are always hard.
But now I know. I don’t need a building to stay connected to Mom.
This morning I hopped down from Will’s pickup and strode toward the library, clutching my Nancy Drew book under my arm and knowing my mom’s still with me, building or no building.
I’ve got our book, I’ve got her letter, and I’ve got the happiness that comes from knowing she’s been looking out for me all this time. And still is.
My encounter with Mom even gave me the courage to call my dad.
We’ve still got years’ worth of stuff to work through together, and that’s going to take time and effort.
But I told him I want to meet Shelley, and he told me he’s been sober for one hundred days now.
It’s not a happy ending for Dad and me yet, but it’s a start. A baby step in the right direction.
I know Mom will be happy, and that makes me happy.
As Will followed me up the library sidewalk this morning, I could tell he was nervous.
Like he was holding his breath or something, waiting to see if this past week we spent together would still hold this morning.
Or if I’d break down, or turn around and pound his chest with my fists.
I could tell when he came to stand by me on the front stairs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, that he still blames himself.
And even though it may take time, I’ll do whatever I can to help dispel that guilt.
Because Will gave me more than a building. He gave me Mom—for one last time.
I don’t think I would’ve believed him if he’d told me before I saw her.
That he has this… gift. There hasn’t been time for him to tell me all the details, but he told me the gist of it.
How the gift comes from his dad’s side and all his siblings have it.
How he put up some kind of energetic wall over a decade ago to keep the spirits out of his life, trying to distance himself from anything that might make him turn out like his dad.
And then how, through what he described as the perfect storm of moon phase, alcohol, and despair, my mom managed to reach through that wall and snag his attention.
I know there was a seance, and I know his brothers were there. I’m still murky on how it all works, but honestly, it sounds like Will kind of is, too. I guess it’s something we’ll figure out together, now that his wall thing came down, and he’s already hearing spirits whispering right and left.
Across the table, Will clears his throat and I snap out of my thoughts. He’s sipping his coffee, grimacing, and I shoot him a questioning glance.
“This is some weak ass coffee,” he says with a sniff.
That gets him another eye roll, along with a chuckle. “Nothing’s ever good enough for you, is it?”
Will shoots me a coy smile over his coffee cup. “I wouldn’t say that. You certainly are.”
“Jesus. How many times am I going to have to roll my eyes before this coffee’s gone?” I’m acting annoyed, but I can feel myself blushing, and I know Will sees it, too.
“Who knows?” He smirks, reaching across the table to stroke my cheek with the back of a knuckle. “I like pissing you off. You’re sexy as hell when you’re mad.”
“Huh. Noted.”
I take a sip of my coffee, which is, in fact, not weak and makes me a little concerned about what kind of coffee Will’s making at home.
We’ve been spending most of our time together at my place, since Will’s brother, Zeke, is still crashing at his place for the time being.
Will said he wasn’t ready yet to inflict his brother on me—which I found intriguing, although I didn’t argue.
After all, we have plenty of time ahead of us, and I want to savor every minute of it. Everything will come in time.
“Um…” Will runs a hand through his wavy mop of honey-colored hair. Meaning there’s something he wants to bring up.
“Hey,” I say gently, squeezing his knee under the table. “I’m listening.”
He brings a nervous gaze to mine, but he clears his throat and continues. “So, you know Ethan Wilde, right? On the library board? Super successful developer here in Hawthorne Bay—and all over the greater Boston area, really…”
I nod. I’m more than aware of who Ethan Wilde is, of just what role he’s had to play in this whole renovation business. And I know Will knows I know. But it’s water under the bridge now. I won’t hold it against the guy. I don’t even know him.
“Right, so… he called me this morning. He’s got that old colonial he wants to restore outside of town and up the coast a bit. Absolutely gorgeous property—original eighteenth century paneling, widow’s walk, cupola, the works. And he wants me to design it.”
Will stops, gazing at me. It seems like he’s holding his breath to see what I’m going to say. It’s like he thinks the very mention of Ethan Wilde is going to set me off. Like I won’t be happy for him.
But nothing could be further from the truth. I’m fucking proud. Because I’ve also heard about this project—I don’t think there’s anyone in Hawthorne Bay who hasn’t—and being chosen as the architect for something like this is huge. A career changer. And Ethan picked Will.
I meet Will’s gaze, smiling. “You said yes—right?”
Will’s taut face relaxes into a grin. “Fuck yeah, I did.”
“Good. You better have.” I take a sip of my coffee, give his foot a playful kick beneath the table. “But seriously, Will. That’s… amazing. I’m proud of you, and I hope you know that.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Really?”
“Duh.”
Satisfied, he settles back against the chair, arms crossed over his chiseled chest. I know I’m pretty much gawking at the way his biceps strain at his t-shirt, but god—would you blame a girl? I still can’t get over how gorgeous Will Holloway is.
And I’m caught.
“Are you… checking me out?” Will’s blue eyes sparkle as he feigns shock.
“No,” I lie.
His lips curl into a devilish grin. “Uh-huh. Well, you know, there’s still twenty minutes before I have to be back on site. We could—”
He’s interrupted by the buzz of his phone, and I’m thanking my lucky stars. I cannot believe the shit he says in public sometimes.
Will answers his phone, and I sit sipping my coffee, watching him as he cocks his head to the side and listens to whoever’s on the other end of the line. I’m trying not to listen in, but his expression when he answered looked so surprised I can’t completely help it.
When he hangs up and shoves his phone into his front pocket, I resist the urge to ask who it was. But he can tell I’m curious. He wipes some imaginary crumbs off the table with a huge hand, then settles back against the chair again.
“My sister,” he says. “I guess she was scrolling TikTok and lo and behold—there was our little brother, Zeke. Apparently, he’s gone viral over the last few hours for some video… or reel… or whatever the fuck those kids put on there.”
“TikToks. Reels are for Instagram.”
“Okay,” Will says, waving a hand. “Whatever.”
“Well, what’s the video?” I drain the rest of my coffee. “It’s not… my mom’s seance, right?”
“Hell, no!” Will looks absolutely aghast. “Are you kidding me? That shit is private. I’d wring his fucking neck.”
I snort. “Okay. Then what?”
Will sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “He made out with a ghost. It’s so stupid.”
I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, but it was not that. I burst out laughing, and Will just looks at me a moment before letting the corner of his mouth hitch up into a half smile.
“Please don’t tell me he made out with my—” I can barely get the words out I’m laughing so hard.
“You’re absolutely disgusting,” Will groans.
But now he’s laughing too. “And again, no. According to Phoebe, it was some ghost at the harbor—which checks out because he’s mentioned it before.
She said she’ll send me the link, but I’m sure as shit not gonna watch it. I’d just as soon gouge my eyes out.”
“But like… what does it look like? Can we see the ghost, too? Or just him? With his mouth all hanging open?” I’m half ribbing Will to get a reaction and half curious. Until last week, I didn’t even believe ghosts were a real thing, so right now I’m in actual awe.
Will feigns a gagging noise. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out.”
“You mean you haven’t—”
Will cuts me off with a guffaw. “Jesus, woman! Save some mystery for later.”
Pushing up from the table, he scoops up our coffee cups, and we head outside into the crisp, fall sunshine. Our coffee break is over, and we’ve got to head to the ground breaking.
As we crunch through the fallen leaves that pile on the sidewalk, I grab hold of his arm and nestle into his side. The early afternoon breeze is cool, but Will’s body is warm and solid, and I swear to god there’s never been anything sweeter than this feeling.
And then, because I just can’t resist, I ruin the moment.
I look up at Will, a devious grin on my face. “Okay, but… will you please link me to Zeke’s video?”
Will lets out a roaring groan, but throws his head back in laughter. We’ve reached the library corner, and he stops, grips my chin, and tilts my face up toward him. Then, right out in the open, he hits me with the most deliciously dizzying kiss.
“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—he’s nowhere near as good looking as me.” He pulls back, his fingers still clutching my jaw, and fucking winks. “And anyway, Lydia. You’re mine now. Get used to it.”