32. Willow
WILLOW
What am I doing?
Why the hell did I message him?
Nothing good can come of this.
I told Jenna last night that nothing could happen between Noah and me, but when I was at that house, all I wanted was to feel his arms wrapped around me again like at the arcade.
For the first time in years, I finally felt safe.
How can someone I barely know make me feel that way? I still don’t understand.
My phone vibrates in the cup holder. I tap the screen, and Jenna’s voice comes blaring through the speakers. I forgot I was blasting music on the way up here just to drown out my thoughts and keep myself going.
“Are you almost here?”
“About ten minutes away. Why?”
“No reason. So, do you think I should wear my black combat boots or knee-high boots?”
“What are you wearing?”
“That cute black skater dress with my pentagram harness.”
“Are you wearing those leg thingies?”
“Leg thingies?”
“The thing that goes around your thigh. The leather one.”
“Oh, the leg harness? I wasn’t planning on it. But if I wear the combat boots with the dress, I can. Good idea. See, you’re not as blind to fashion as you think, babe.”
“Only mildly blind. Hey, would you mind picking something out for me to wear tonight?”
Her excitement peaks the mic as she screams.
“I get to dress you up two nights in a row. You spoil me,” she laughs.
I stop at a red light and grab my phone out of the cup holder. I glance around the busy street, double-checking for any cops before opening my phone. Noah hasn’t texted anything back.
“Did you by chance clear your head enough and invite a certain someone?”
“Yes. He’ll be there.”
“Holy shit. I get to dress you up, and you texted Mr. Hottie? What kind of drive did you go on?”
“I just want to thank him for the flowers. It’s just dinner. That’s all. He’s bringing a friend, though.”
“Single?”
“Yes, I made sure to emphasize the fact that the friend needed to be a single guy.”
“Hell yes. Thank you. Okay, I’ll go get your outfit together. See you soon.”
“Thank you. Love ya.”
“Love ya too, babe.”
The snow has thankfully stopped by the time I pull into our driveway. The fresh layer is slick on the walkway up to the front door, and I need to remember to grab salt tomorrow. I just hope it doesn’t do what it usually does and thaw then freeze again.
The sounds of Falling in Reverse can be heard before I even open the door. When I do, Jenna is bounding down the steps toward me.
“We can match!” she shouts over the music as she thrusts a bundle of clothes at me.
“Let me wash up first. I feel like I’m covered in dust.”
Oops.
I can see the confused expression on her face as I move past her and start heading up to my bathroom.
“Why do you feel like you’re covered in dust?”
“I just feel dirty, that’s all.”
She follows me into my bedroom and tosses the clothes onto the bed.
“Willow, where were you?”
“I told you I went for a drive along the water and went up toward Lexington.”
“Okay, but how does driving in your car make you dirty? What aren’t you telling me?”
She grabs my wrist and spins me toward her. She knows I can’t lie when it comes to her.
“I went to see a house that used to belong to someone in my family. It’s abandoned now, but I went inside to see if I could find anything of theirs.”
“Family? I thought your family was in Texas.”
“Some of them are, but there were some that lived up here, too. Sorry. I just didn’t want you worrying about me.”
She stares at me for a few seconds as if she’s trying to find the truth hidden between my words. But unlike what Noah said, I don’t have a shitty poker face as long as I’m telling some variation of the truth.
“Fine. Get showered and dressed. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since lunch because I thought we would’ve already gone by now.”
“Sorry. I’ll be quick. I told Noah eight thirty.”
That gives me almost an hour to get ready and get our asses there.
I hate lying to Jenna, but it isn’t safe for anyone to know about my past. Not when the monster is still lurking out there somewhere.
I’ve searched for him. Every obituary, every prison.
Nothing. He isn’t dead or detained as far as I know, and that’s what terrifies me the most. But it’s also the reason I moved back to Michigan.
I knew he wouldn’t be in this state because who the fuck is stupid enough to come back to the state that still has people looking for you?