Chapter 8
Brody
“What the heck are you doing here?” I can practically hear Willow’s feet come to a screeching halt at the edge of the kitchen.
“I’m here for you.”
Red, puffy eyes from crying last night scoff at me, and I just wish she would ogle me the way she did last night instead. I’m naked except my black boxer briefs. Here to show her I’ll do anything for her.
“I know I messed up—”
Ignoring me, she walks past me toward the fridge to grab some orange juice.
“Willow, listen—”
For no reason except to drown me out, she flicks on the kitchen sink to let the water run. I reach over and turn it off.
“Willow, please—”
Without even a glare, she exits the space to return to her room.
“Wait.” I step in front of her only to be greeted by watery eyes.
“Please, Brody. Just leave.” Her voice is weak. Defeated.
My heart shatters at her pain. I’ve caused this. Again. But this time I’m not going to be a coward and run from all her emotions. I’ve learned my lesson and I know I can’t live without her. So it’s this, or die trying.
“Willow. Please wait.” My voice is low. Calming. “Last night sounded bad. I didn’t realize how bad it sounded until after I talked to Lacy and tried to come back here. Zane wouldn’t let me back in.”
She’s trying to hide her sniffling now. “It’s fine. I get it. Let’s just move on.”
“I can’t move on.” At least she’s letting my hands rest on her waist.
“You tried to hide us last night in front of your sister. And I get it now. It’s fine. You need your sister in your life. You don’t need me—”
“I swear to God, Willow. I do need you. I want you more than anything. That’s what I explained to Lacy last night. That’s what wasn’t what she thought.”
I can tell my words aren’t fully making sense yet so I continue. “I told her it wasn’t what she thought because she thought it was a one night stand. And that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Her body stills under my fingers, and for the first time this morning, I think there might be a thread of hope inside of her that I can grab onto.
“I want more with you.” I wait until her eyes meet mine. “I want it all with you, Willow.”
Still, I don’t know if my words are sinking in or if I’m even explaining it properly. “Willow, I want you. Now. Forever. I know last night sounded bad, but at the risk of sounding super cheesy, it’s not what you think it was.”
A small tug lifts the corner of her mouth. “Are you trying to say that you’re always the smartest one in the room? You always know exactly what it is?”
“Pretty much.” I nip at the corner of her mouth. “Except when I don’t. And then I’ll ask you.”
She hums her mental processing. “So what did Lacy say?”
“To be honest?” I pop my shoulders. “It took a long time to convince her of my feelings for you. But I’m not worried about having to put the time in to prove myself to you. Or her. I know you won’t make a decision until you’re ready, so I’m willing to wait.”
When she nods, my heart inflates like a balloon with helium. I’d let her make any kind of balloon animal out of me, no matter how ridiculous.
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that because I have something for you.”
Hand in hand, we walk back to the kitchen where I lead her to a chair. “This is for you.”
“Okay,” she draws out the word as she reaches for the credit card in her bowl. “What is this?”
“My credit card.”
“This is a super lazy way to buy me a present, Brody.”
His laughter chips away at the few bricks I’d been building around my heart since last night.
“I think you’ll like my plan. Since I’ve been a little…obtuse…about your outfits of late—”
“Obtuse? You’ve been downright caveman about them.”
“Sure. Let’s go with that. I thought I’d let you buy me a few things to wear. You know…I was possessive, so you can be possessive too.”
“I can buy you anything and you’ll have to wear it?”
I know I’m in for it now. But this was the whole plan. Let her take control. I’m supposed to sit back for this part. “Yes. Anything.”