“What do you mean?” She cocks her head to the side.
“How do I explain it?” I take a moment to think. “Okay, so say someone who lives here has a friend, or a family member who lives with someone else, right? If they see an omega who looks like they need to start over, who needs a safe place, they mention Widows Peak. No address, just the mention of the area. If that person really wanted to find us, they would go through the trouble to look.”
“Ahhh,” she nods her head. “I get what you mean.”
“As for people in surrounding towns, the right ones know where we are, and they make sure not to speak too openly to anyone they don’t trust.”
“I kind of wish we knew about this place when we started over.” Willow looks out the window. “It’s perfect for Jude.”
“Who knows,” I test the waters. “If everything goes well, I have lots of room at my place.”
Her attention turns my way again, an easy smile lifting on her lips. “Who knows,” she says as she lifts her coffee to her lips, her eyes holding my gaze.
I let myself get lost in her ocean eyes for just a moment before she shifts again.
“How about we get out of here?”
“Sure. What did you have in mind?”
“How do you feel about painting?” I ask as we stand.
“I love it.” Her eyes light up and I know right away my idea will be perfect.
With our coffees in hand, we walk side by side and talk.
“So, how did you and your friends find this place? Did you just get together and decide to build it?”
“No.” I chew on my lip. “It’s a pretty dark story.”
“I don’t mind dark.” Willow’s fingers bush against mine sending a zap of electricity through me. I glance up at her, finding her watching me with a patient look.
I’m not sure how much to tell her. Gideon is gone and dead, but it’s still a sensitive subject.
“This town was built by me, and my five friends. We didn’t meet in a conventional way. Some bad people did bad things and we did what we had to do to survive,” I shrug. “We got out and vowed to never let anyone else control us. We built a place for omegas like us, a place we wish we had the chance to find when we were at the lowest points in our lives.”
“I admire you, Briar,” she says, surprising me. “All of you. It takes a strong person to go through something traumatic and come out with such a positive outlook on life. To have the determination to do something positive rather than let your demons drag you under. I’d love to hear about your story someday, when you’re ready to tell it.”
“Okay,” I whisper, turning my attention away from her, not sure how to process this wave of emotion that hits me.
I’m not sure why I want to lean into her touch, to let her hold me while I spill every dirty little secret. There’s this pull I have towards her, this connection right off the bat.
It should freak me out, put me on guard but it doesn’t. I feel safe. Like it’s okay to trust her.
Still, until I know her and Jude a bit better, I’m going to keep my past to myself. I haven't even told Atlas yet. All he knows is I have a dark past and that's why I’m on blockers.
“We’re here.” I stop in front of a little shop.
Willow looks it over and then I watch her eyes light up. “Is this a paint your own pottery shop?”
“Yup. But it also has other things you can do, like painting, and you can even craft your own things out of clay.”
“Okay this is amazing.” A warm feeling starts to spread in my chest at the bright beaming smile on Willow’s face, pride at picking the right thing to do filling me.
“Thanks,” I tell Willow as she opens the door for me. She presses her hand to my lower back lightly, guiding me inside. Her touch sends a shiver down my spine and right to my clit.
“I love it already,” Willow says as she steps in after me, her eyes roaming around the place, trying to take it all in. “What should we do first?” she asks me, the excitement in her eyes infectious.
“I’m good with whatever you want to do,” I laugh softly.
