Chapter twenty-two Willow #2
“Looking forward to it.” I log off the call and then lean back in my chair, watching the muscles in Dallas’s back clench and ripple as he moves, finishing our breakfast. “Well, that went well.”
“And now you’re done for the day?” He slides two eggs onto a plate and then butters two slices of toast.
“Yes, I am.”
“Good, because we have a busy one ahead of us.”
When I left D.C., I made an arrangement with the board of my company that allowed me to feel more comfortable with moving here permanently.
The thought of leaving entirely wasn’t what I wanted.
I built the company myself, and still wanted ownership, but I was ready for far less responsibility.
So, I stepped down as acting CEO, and let Natalie, my VP of marketing, step up.
She was ecstatic about the opportunity, and I’ve been mentoring her as needed, as well as communicating with clients who have been with me since the beginning, like Thomas Fletcher.
I still have a say in certain campaigns.
I still log on to calls and check my emails every day.
But I have a much better work-life balance than I did before, one that is more conducive to living in a small town and dedicating time to the new man in my life—the only man I know I’ll ever need.
There are days where old habits try to sneak their way back in, but Dallas comforts me and encourages me to look out at the ocean to remember that change is good.
Like the waves lapping at the shore, change is unpredictable and sometimes scary, but it can wash away old scars and shape us into something new.
“Are you ready for today?” I reach for my cup of coffee, sipping on the now lukewarm liquid.
Dallas nods as he finishes plating our food. “It’s gonna be a good game.”
Bentley’s soccer team made it to the championship match, and the final game is at eleven. After we eat, we have a few errands to run before heading over to the field.
My, how different my life looks after just a few months.
“You’d better eat up, Coach.” I point to Dallas’s plate as he brings both of our meals over to the table, taking a seat right next to me.
“Don’t worry about me, Goose. The person you should be worrying about is Astrid.”
I stab my eggs and bring a hefty bite to my mouth. “Oh, I know. She’s been crazy lately with the bakery renovations and then during the games, she practically bites her fingernails off.”
“She just gets invested like most parents. It’s fun to see the boys win.”
“I agree. And I enjoy watching you coach more than anything.” I bounce my eyebrows at him this time.
“It’s the backward hat and aviators, huh, Goose?”
“God, yes,” I admit on a sigh. “It does it for me every time.”
***
“Astrid, if you don’t stop, you’re not going to have a single fingernail left.” I pull her hand from her mouth, holding it with my own instead.
“God, I hate this. Bentley wants this so much.” She’s practically vibrating with nerves as she stands next to me, so I stroke her arm, trying to offer her an ounce of comfort.
We stare out at the field, watching the teams fight tooth and nail, each pass and missed goal amping up the anxiety on the sidelines.
“I know, hun. But losing is part of life too. He’ll be fine either way.”
I’m really just speculating right now.
I never played sports. The only time I ever competed in anything was during the Carrington Cove Games and we won, so I honestly don’t know what it’s like to lose.
And to be an eleven-year-old and lose?
God, I hope he just wins so I don’t have to experience that aftermath.
Astrid shakes her hands out at her sides, releasing mine from her grasp. “I’m just so on edge.”
I watch her dance around, her eyes wild and her limbs jittery. “You are, more so than usual. Are you okay, girl?”
Her eyes dart over to mine quickly before returning right back to the field. “I’m—I’m fine.”
“Uh, I don’t believe you.” I step in front of her, snapping my fingers in her face, which forces her eyes to meet mine. “Astrid Marie, what are you not telling me?”
“That’s not my middle name.”
“I don’t care. There’s something else going on here, and you’d better spill. We don’t keep secrets from each other, remember?”
After the whole thing with Dallas, I confessed the story of what led me here to Astrid.
We cried together, and I told her how sorry I was for keeping the whole tale from her.
She was very understanding, but we promised not to keep secrets from each other anymore, which eventually led to her telling me how she really feels about Penn.
As if anyone with two eyes in this town didn’t already know.
Astrid chews on her bottom lip. “Willow…”
“Do you need an attorney? Did you do something illegal?” My pulse starts to climb as I wait for her answer.
“What? No!”
“Then what is it?”
She looks around before leaning over and whispering, “I had sex with Penn.”
“What?” I shout, drawing attention to us as Astrid’s eyes widen. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I whisper now, even though the damage has been done.
“Jesus, Willow. Now everyone is going to know.” She buries her head in her hands.
I pull her hands away and force her to look at me, lowering my voice and leaning in closer to her. “No, they won’t. All they heard me say was ‘what.’” We both blow out a breath at the same time. “Now, tell me how this happened. And more importantly,” I say, arching a brow at her, “was it good?”
Astrid groans, closing her eyes and sighing. “It was incredible. So hot. There was frosting involved.” She opens her eyes and chews on her bottom lip.
“Frosting?” Damn. I didn’t think Penn or Astrid had it in them.
“Yes. It happened at the bakery. But it can’t happen again.” She shakes her head furiously as our team scores a goal. “Never again.”
We pause our conversation to celebrate.
As soon as the game starts back up, I turn my head toward her once more. “Why not? I thought that’s what you wanted?”
“I can’t, Willow. It’s Penn…he’s my friend. Was my friend?” Her brow furrows. “How do you stay friends with a man after you sleep with him?”
“Brandon has been gone for four years, Astrid. And it is Penn. He wouldn’t let this come between you two.”
“I know, but…” She takes a deep breath and says, “There’s something that Penn doesn’t know. And when he finds out, it’s going to ruin our friendship.”
My mouth falls open as a whistle rings out on the field. But I don’t turn to see what happened, because it turns out Astrid has been keeping secrets, and I feel like this is a big one.
THE END
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