When I get back to Willa’s van, I find Izzy perched on Willa’s bed while she watches her put neatly folded piles of clothes into a duffel bag. Maya lays on a dog bed underneath the mattress. I can’t help looking around the van curiously.
There’s a small sink and butcher block counter along one wall. Behind the driver’s seat is what could either be a very small bathroom or closet. A table with two single bench seats is behind it and then a small refrigerator and freezer with more counter space over it. Fairy lights and faux greenery are pinned to the ceiling, giving an enchanted forest vibe to the space.
“Daddy, can we get one of these?” Izzy asks, finally noticing me. “You said we might camp next summer.”
“I don’t think I’d fit in here, Bug. Maybe we can try out a bigger camper.”
Willa smirks over at me. “I made sure I had enough clearance to stand up before I bought it, but you’ve got at least six or seven inches on me.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t fit somewhere.” It hits me about two seconds too late how dirty that sounds. My eyes flit to hers, and I see her suppressed laugh. Good to know she has a similar sense of humor to mine.
Orange flashing lights shine through the window as the tow truck pulls up. I grab Izzy and tell Willa we’ll wait for her at my Jeep. The parking lot has cleared out for the most part, so the tow truck driver doesn’t have an issue maneuvering around to line the bed of his truck up with the front of her van.
She brings over her bags with Maya walking along beside her. I jump out of the driver’s seat and take the bags to put them in the back while she lets Maya into the back seat. Izzy is over the moon excited to have the dog sitting within petting distance.
“Thanks again for taking us in,” Willa says as she buckles her seat belt. “Hopefully it’s just for a day or two, and then we can get out of your hair.”
“You’re welcome to stay as long as it takes. I’m completely serious about it not being a big deal for us.” I glance back at Izzy in the rearview mirror. “Plus, I haven’t seen her this excited in a long time. It’s nice.”
Willa looks back and smiles. “She’s a great kid. I’ve loved teaching her how to ski.”
“Just her? Not me?” I tease.
“You’re okay.”
I run my palm along my jaw and bite back a smile. The urge to flirt with her is riding me hard. This could get interesting.
“Would you mind stopping at the grocery store?” she asks. “I need a few things to get me through. I’m so sorry to ask for yet another favor.”
“Don’t worry about it. We need to pick up a few things, too.”
“What do you want for dinner, Bug?” I ask Izzy as she sits at the kitchen counter coloring.
“Nuggets.”
I sigh knowing I should make something else for her. She tends to get fixated on a certain meal, and it’s all she wants for weeks at a time. But I just don’t have the energy tonight. Ava asked if I could write up a short paragraph about myself for the MC to read before auctioning me off, and I need to get it to her by tonight.
“How about nuggets with some carrots and cucumber?”
She gives me a thumbs up without looking up from her coloring sheet. Once I get the air fryer plugged in and heated up, I start cutting up her veggies, stealing a few carrots as I go. I’m not in the mood to make myself something different, so I double everything.
A knock at the front door draws my attention, and before I can say anything, Izzy is running to answer it. She’s just pulling open the front door when I catch up.
“Izzy,” I warn her sternly. She knows she’s not supposed to answer the door unless I’m right there with her.
“It’s probably Willa. Maybe she needs our help.” She bounces impatiently.
“That doesn’t change the rules, Bug.”
“Fine.” She huffs and pops her hip out with more attitude than any preschooler has the right to have.
Willa smiles nervously as I pull open the door and step back, inviting her in out of the cold.
“I don’t want to interrupt your night any more than I already have, but I was wondering if you had linens and a towel? I went looking in all the closets but couldn’t find anything.”
“Fuck.” I run a hand through my hair. I showed her everything in the kitchen but completely forgot she’d need towels and linens for the bed.
“That’s twenty dollars for the swear jar, Daddy.”
