“Oh…fuck,” I grunt, the comedown washing through me.
“I miss you,” she purrs.
“I’m sorry for waking you.”
“Don’t be. Night, Gabe.”
“Night, Willa.”
Twenty-Two
Willa
One month later…
Blue eyes peer at me from across the room. Ben, a regular here, keeps hinting that he’s interested in me. My mother tells me every day what a catch a man like him would be, but it doesn’t matter how pretty or rich he is, he’s not Gabe.
I’m soul-deep in love with Gabe, and I’m sick of living apart from him. I don’t want to know a life without him, a world where he isn’t orbiting my space.
I’ve learned who I am without him, and I don’t like her. She’s sad and lonely. It’s crazy how I can be in a room full of people wanting to get to know me, to be a part of my life, and feel empty inside.
Pouring Ben’s drink, I place it on a tray with a napkin and take it over to him, smiling politely up at him when he grins at me.
“Thank you.” He licks his bottom lip, wringing his hands together.
“Everything okay?”
“That depends.” He winces.
“On?” I chuckle, confused.
“On your answer.”
Looking back to the bar, I see my mother and Jessie huddled together, watching the scene unfold. My stomach drops to my feet. Oh no, please don’t.
“I want to take you out on a date.” His brows lift, his teeth clashing together. A huge smile curls up against my face as fate blinks a neon sign in my head. My eyes blur as I pull my apron off and dump it on the table. Marching over to my mother, I place my hands on the bar and bite my lip. “I’m going home.”
“What?”
“Tell Ben I’m flattered, but my heart is already spoken for.”
“Willa?” My mother’s eyes narrow, her brow pinching. “I don’t understand.”
“Thank you for trying so hard with me. I know I didn’t make it easy for you. I’m ready to go home now.” With swelling of determination, I do what I should have done months ago: I leave to go home.
Twenty-Three
Gabe
It’s been months since I’ve been home, but I couldn’t avoid it any longer. Jameson threatened to move his waste of space mother in if I didn’t. My headlights illuminate the driveway where two suitcases sit next to a pink moped. “What the fuck?” I’m going to kill that motherfucker if he moved his mother in just to fuck with me. I dismount my bike, and my lungs seize.
“Willa?” I choke out, overcome with fucking shock and emotion so thick, it lodges in my throat. Damn, I knew I missed this girl, but I feel overwhelmed seeing her back here. What is she doing here? And why the fuck didn’t she tell me she was coming? My dick strains against my jeans at the sight of her propped against the wood railing. My heart is about to burst.
“Surprise.” She bites her lip and jerks her shoulders.
“I fucking missed you,” I tell her, as she leaps forward, running toward me. She’s wearing some cute punk dress, leather jacket, and leather-riding boots. Her body collides with mine, arms around my neck, body dangling like a fucking human necklace before I shake myself out of my daze.
“I missed you too,” she breathes. Fuck, she feels so fucking good. I squeeze her, unsure if this shit is my overactive imagination. She came home. Inhaling her mop of curls, I sigh. “You smell good.”
Her answering giggle is like music to my ears. She slips down my body, fresh tears in her eyes. “You colored your hair,” I observe, drinking her in. She looks vibrant, happy, mine.
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “I needed a change.” It’s subtle, some red streaks amongst the brown.
“You want to come in?”
“I really do. I knocked, but no one was home.” She looks nervous, flustered maybe. “I called Jameson. He said you’ve been out of town, avoiding staying here. He told me he would send you home.”
“I was at the club,” I tell her, watching as her eyes drop to my cut.
“So, you still live alone?” Her voice is cautious, a small quiver in her tone.
“Are you asking if I have a woman?” I move around her, unlocking the front door. “That’s something I would have told you.”
“Is it?”
“Fuck yeah it is. Is that not something you’d tell me?” I growl, a red hue misting my eyes. I grab her arm and tug her inside, pinning her against the wall and resting my head against hers, both our breathing uneven, hearts pounding, atmosphere thick. “Willa, is that something you’d tell me?”
“Yes,” she pants.
“Are you fucking sure?”
“Yes.”
“I fucking missed you,” I growl.
“Show me.” She wets her lip with a swipe of her tongue, and I bite down the groan it invokes.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” I grind out. My dick is so painfully hard, the need unbearable.