12. Millie
CHAPTER 12
Millie
W ill squeezes my shoulder once before sliding out of the booth to take the phone call. We were done with lunch anyway, so whatever is going on, it doesn’t interrupt that. If anything, it’s saved us from making out like horny high schoolers in the corner of the diner.
It may have started as a show for Kira and the other single women of Willow Pines, a way for Will to once again ward them off. I’d be lying to myself if I thought that to be true. Once my lips met his, I knew I was in trouble. Kissing Will has always felt right.
When he comes back, he lets me know he needs to get to the shop. His hand finds mine as we walk toward the front door of the diner and a small smile blooms as he interlaces our fingers together like he’s done a million times before.
I let him guide me outside and walk me back to the store, the both of us staying silent. Which honestly, I’m fine with, because I’m blushing. I’m reminded of high school Millie who had a small crush on Will for the first time, when I started to look at him as more than my brother’s best friend. I can’t pinpoint when it happened. It could've been the first time he let me cry on his shoulder or something as silly as paying for my ice cream. It turns out, there was never anyone else who could compete, who could light a fire in my heart like Will.
Until a couple days ago, I was content knowing I’d be single while waiting to see what happens. I’ve never felt behind schedule when it comes to love. After too many dates with people both from Willow Pines and the surrounding cities, I was tired of pursuing other men and finding out too late it wasn’t going to last.
And now that Will’s back in town, now that I’ve remembered what it’s like to kiss him again, it occurs to me that I’ve held myself back from falling in love with anyone else. It’s only ever been him.
When we reach the front door of Rose & Ivy a few minutes later, he squeezes my hand once before letting go and says, “I’ll text you, okay?”
“Okay.”
He gives me a small smile, but it’s not enough to invoke his dimples. He turns and walks across the street, heading toward Carter Records. He left without kissing me goodbye, leaving in my mind a state of disarray.
“Everything okay, babe?” Florence asks from behind the counter once I get inside.
“Yeah, all good,” I say, walking around to check the status of orders. And when I see the whiteboard and my mom in the back, I’m shocked at the sight in front of me. All the bouquets are done and ready for a final check-off.
“What? How? I was expecting to work until late tonight. How did you get this all done?”
“Riley finally figured out how to tie flowers, and I stopped by to see how it was going and lended a hand while you were gone.” Mom chuckles. She loves it here almost as much as I do.
“You are all the best.” I walk over to my mom to embrace her in a hug. Florence, Riley, and Ava join us a moment later.
“You’re going to have to fill me in on Will later,” Mom whispers.
Oh, Will. There’s so much I need to figure out. I’m fighting the feeling of asking him if he’s thought about staying again. He wasn’t confident about how long he’d be here, and I hate that I wish it means he’s thinking about moving back. Could I show him he can make a home here?
“Okay, enough hugging. You all can leave.” I joke and swat them away. “Thank you all, seriously.”
We say our goodbyes and our “I love you’s,” then I’m alone in the flower shop. With an extra few hours, I plan to figure out some event details before going to the record store later to run them by Will. That’s not me being desperate to see him again, right?