28. Millie
CHAPTER 28
Millie
O n the way to my parents’ house, Kristie asks some questions about Willow Pines. We told her about the spring festival and how much still needs to be done to make it happen. I would feel more comfortable if we had more items checked off on our list, but with everything going on, we are doing as well as we can.
I’m used to last-minute events and needing to get things done in a short amount of time, but this is different. I’ve never planned an event this large. I tell Kristie about the weddings that I help with, but those are different because the checklist for them all are the same. They might have different themes and different needs, but the core of the event is the same. The timeline is similar, even if things are ordered differently.
So to throw something like this for the town with limited time…yeah, I’m trying not to fret over it.
But it’s been nice to talk about it with someone that sounds excited. And the more we talk, the less nervous Kristie seems.
She still isn’t talking about her home and where she grew up, but it’s safe to say she isn’t a threat. She was dealt some shitty cards and parents that weren’t as present as they should be. When I ask her about contacting her mom, she tells me that she will call her mom at some point, but she tried to call her before she left and had to leave a voicemail.
We arrive at my parents’ after what feels like an hour and drive on the gravel road to the ranch. Mom is waiting outside on the porch, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She walks to the truck once we park and is all smiles waiting to meet Kristie. You’d guess we were bringing her a puppy or something, not an eighteen-year-old child.
“Hi, Mom,” I greet as I get out of the truck and give her a hug. “This is Kristie.”
“Ah, Kristie, hi, sweetie. I’m Monica.” Mom grins and reaches to give Kristie a hug. She should’ve asked if she’s comfortable with that first, but luckily Kristie hugs back and gives her a shy smile.
“I hope this is okay,” Kristie mumbles.
“Oh, of course. My husband is sleeping, he’s got a big meeting at the office in the morning, so you’ll meet him tomorrow. Come inside, and I’ll show you where you’re sleeping.”
We all follow Mom inside, and I tell Kristie my dad is the mayor while Mom leads her to my old bedroom. An air mattress and blankets sit in the middle of the room. Whatever Kristie needs, we can help with. Since she is eighteen, she doesn’t have to live with her mom anymore if she doesn’t want to. She can be on her own.
After she’s settled in for the night, Will and I get ready to head back to town.
“Okay, Kristie, you sure you’re okay? I gave you my number, so don’t hesitate to call me or text if you need anything, okay?” I ask for the hundredth time.
Will’s hand is on my hip, guiding me to the door. “I think she’s okay, love. Your mom has it covered.”
“Mom, want to bring her to the shop tomorrow?” I ask.
“That’s a great idea,” Mom says.
“Shop?” Kristie looks around. “The record shop? ”
“No.” I shake my head. “I own the flower shop in town.”
“Oh, okay, great. That sounds fun.” She smiles.
If she were to stay, I could offer her a part-time job. I know I met her only a few hours ago, but if she’s the same blood as Will, I can trust her. Don’t question my logic on that.
That’s when a question I’ve been avoiding hits me: what will happen if Will doesn’t stay here? We didn’t get to end our conversation in a good spot earlier besides talking about the extra benefits that can resume while we figure it all out.
I mean, we are adults. My feelings may be involved, but when weren’t they? It’s always been him for me, regardless of timing, so if it means I get to keep a little part of him for now, so be it. My heart will still get broken into a million pieces, so it doesn’t matter if we end things now or later.
When Will and I get back to the truck, we sit there for a moment in silence. I sneak a glance at him. Even in the low light of the night, his exhaustion is apparent: there are bags under his eyes from how little sleep he’s gotten this week, his knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel too tight.
I reach over to grab his hand. At first, I don’t think he’s going to let me interlace my fingers with his, but he does, dropping our hands to the center of the truck. He uses his other hand to press the button to turn it on, then backs onto the main road to drive back home.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I break the silence.
“It’s another thing to add to my mental plate. I don’t know if talking about it will make it better or worse,” Will says.
At least he’s being honest.
“Well, we could talk about the positives?” I ask.
He laughs. “Right, positives. Not only am I in terrible debt with the store, which will likely be closing within the next month, but now I have a surprise sister that has no other family.”
“She has a mom, Will,” I correct.
“That’s barely there.” Will raises his tone and takes his hand away, re-gripping the wheel. “Sorry, I don’t know what to fucking do.”
“You don’t have to figure it out tonight, you know. You could make a to-do list.”
That gets him to laugh. “You and your to-do lists, Millie Mae.”
I slap his leg. “Don’t make fun of me. They work. How else do I manage to run two businesses?”
“No sleep and too much coffee. That’s how.” I glare at him, and he chuckles again. “And your determination to do it all. And your beautiful mind.” He reaches over to grab my hand and brings it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to my palm. “I need to do nothing for an entire weekend and only ruminate over what to do next. Even though I know that’s not possible with the spring festival coming up, and helping you at the store, and helping Grandpa.”
“Let’s take it one day at a time, okay? I’m not going anywhere, Will.”
We are stopped at a red light, halfway to his place, and he looks at me.
“You know, I’d be lost without you.”
“I know,” I sing-song back.
“No.” He squeezes my hand as the light turns green, and he turns his gaze back to the road. “I’m serious. Jeremy and Grant are great, you know. They are my best friends. But you, Millie, please give me time to figure this out. Okay? I know we need to continue talking about earlier, but I also know we?—”
“Won’t have time.” I finish his sentence for him. “We can put a pin in it and revisit it in a few days?”
“I can see you cringing as you say that.”
“You’re not even looking at me, how can you know? I’m happy as a peach.”
“Yeah, okay. Not believing that for one second. You are not one to go with the flow, Mills, remember?”
Damn, he’s right.
And it fucking sucks.
But I need to trust that everything will work out, because it will, right?
I mean, it has to.
“I’m going to try, Will.”
He smiles at me briefly and asks, “Are you wanting me to drop you off at your place? I’d respect it if you want a little space after all this.” He waves his hands in front of him.
“Let’s stop by so I can grab some clothes, then we can go to your place. If I do that, I can walk to the flower shop straight from your house without having to worry about going back to mine.”
“You got it.”
So, that’s what we do. We stop by my house for a few minutes, and I step inside to grab a change of clothes for tomorrow and any extra items I need for an overnight stay. I already plan on wearing one of his old t-shirts to bed, so I don’t need that much. I figured when we had our date that I would end up in his bed, but I always planned to come home in the morning before I went into the shop.
When I get back into the truck with my things, we head over to Will’s place. It doesn’t take long to get there, but it’s late, and I’m tired.
After my third yawn in a row, I admit to myself that we likely won’t be having any extra fun tonight. I’m not sure if either of us are in the mood anyway, not with the news we received and the looming decisions that need to be made.
In his apartment, we get ready for bed side by side. Will only has one sink, but we take turns while we brush our teeth, and it’s as if I’m getting a glimpse of our future. Granted, he would live in my house, and we’d have a lot more space, but being here with him is enough to have me smiling from ear to ear.
“What?” Will finally asks after I steal glances at him in the bathroom mirror for a few minutes. “Do I have something on my face?”
I giggle and shake my head, leaning over the sink to spit out the toothpaste. “No, this is nice.” I put the toothbrush back in the holder and turn to lean on the side of the counter without the sink.
“We have brushed our teeth together a million times, Mills.” He shakes his head.
“When we were younger doesn’t count.”
“Oh, it counts. How can I forget when you made your mom braid your hair every night because you had to have the perfect waves in the morning?”
I chuckle. “I don’t remember that.”
He gives me a sly smile. “Mhm, sure. I specifically recall you kicking me out of the bathroom more times than not so you could get ready.”
“You two took forever some mornings,” I explain. “And that was the bathroom with the shower.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve pictured you many times in that shower.”
Will steps in front of me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. I mimic him, wrapping my arms around his back. He pulls me toward him until my head is nestled in his chest.
“Really want to say those three words right now,” Will whispers.
I hug him tighter.