“What?” She lifts her head up to look at me.
“Technically, I found the guy, but I didn’t really know what it meant, you know. I told my parents that it was the guy from the news, and they immediately called the authorities. It was a huge whirlwind after that, but I was hooked. These badass guys came into town, looking scary, but they were the good guys. They were pulling a guy who was this really bad guy from the streets. From that moment on, I never wanted to do anything else with my life. So, I made it happen and never looked back.”
“That’s fucking amazing.” She smiles.
“It changed the course of my whole life, and I never really stopped to think if there was more to life, you know?”
“I do know, except I think I took things to the other extreme. My parents died when I was in high school, and Ledger had to step up for Lennox and me. Rina too. I dated some when l was in college, but I decided early on that I would rather stay alone than have to deal with the pain of losing another loved one.”
I hold her wordlessly, both of us realizing that these ideals we previously held about our lives are no longer possible as long as we’re together.
“I want to figure out this shit with Tennison. It feels like I’m stuck, like I’m not able to fully move forward until things are settled with him. With Woodcroft coming here, it feels like this past year was just running away from the larger problem.”
“How can I help?”
This. Fucking. Woman. She has no idea that her simply asking seals my fate completely. It’s odd… Every version of a relationship I’ve seen or dealt with has always been uneven. Either one person is putting in moreeffort, or one isn’t really into it as much as the other person, but with us? Willow and I feel like the definition of equal partners. She’s been busy for the last couple of weeks, so I stepped up. I know that if I get busy or need help, she will jump in without question.
“I don’t know that there is much to do at the moment. It’s basically a giant waiting game, like it has been.”
“Are you needing to go back to New York? I have time now that the book is off to edits, and I can come with you,” she offers ,and I realize she doesn’t know that Tennison is traveling and probably closer to Bluebell Falls than anyone wants.
“No, I need to stay here.”
“Okay, that’s cryptic.”
“There’s a lot that’s classified, Will. Things I can’t tell you. Shit, things that I shouldn’t even know right now.”
“I get it. Just know I’m here if you need help or a sounding board, or I don’t know, if you need an orgasm.” She smirks.
“Oh, I’ll definitely take you up on that one.” I smile, and I poke her side.
She sighs. “So, what about your parents?”
“They are currently living the high life in Arizona in a retirement community. We don’t talk a lot, which is mostly my fault, but we’ve also just never been that close. I let them know when I moved, and we’ve maybe only talked a couple of times past that. They’d like you, though.” I pull her tighter to me as I close my eyes.
“My parents would have loved you,” she whispers, and my heart clenches at what she had to endure at such a young age. “We have family dinners every Sunday. I’d like for you to come whenever you feel ready.”
“I’d love that.” I know immediately I need to figure out this Tennison situation as soon as possible. If I have any chance of keeping Willow and making her happy, I need to resolve this gaping hole in my past.
“What’s on your agenda the rest of the day? Night? I don’t even know what time it is.” She giggles.
“It’s about ten at night.”
I chuckle at her muttered, “Oh, jeez.”
“So, I have sleep on the agenda. But if you’re hungry or want to do something else, we can do that instead.”
“I think sleep sounds perfect.”
Sleep takes us both quickly, and I fall into the best sleep I’ve had since I was a kid.
A ringing phone startles me and jolts me out of bed. I climb out of bed as quietly as I can, snagging my phone as I head out to the living room. I shut the door behind me, trying to let Willow sleep.
“Oakley,” I answer without looking because if someone is calling me this late, it’s for a good reason.
“Hey, man.” Woodcroft’s voice sounds tired. Worn down.
“What’s going on?” No need to beat around the bush when we both know he’s calling for a reason.
