Page 29 of Crossed Lines

It’s been a few days since my confession, and I only have to work a half day in the stables. I figured Willow would be happy about the fact that she only had to work a few hours, but she actually seems a little sad when I walk through the door. I had planned on having a chill day with Jade at the house, but when I see both of them pouting because Willow has to leave, I quickly pivot.

“How about we all go to lunch and then maybe a movie?” I ask out of the blue.

Jade immediately cheers. She loves any excuse to head into town. Willow looks at me a little more skeptically before agreeing.

“You’re sure?” she asks when Jade runs to brush her hair and grab her favorite sandals.

“Yeah. It’s the least I could do for making you get up so early for only a few hours of work.”

“A meal and a movie, though… sounds almost like a date.” She raises her eyebrow as if challenging me.

“Jade will be there,” I say in my defense.

Willow chuckles. “Is she going to be our chaperone?”

“Do we need one?” I ask.

She shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe.”

Yeah, maybe we do. And yeah, maybe I am using my daughter as a barrier between us, but I want to spend more time with Willow and can’t take her into town just the two of us. Rumors would spread faster than wildfire.

Jade runs back into the living room. “Ok, I’m ready.”

“Let me change really quick, princess, and then we’ll go,” I tell her.

I turn to walk to my bedroom when Willow asks quietly, “Need any help?”

I swear, this woman. She’s trying to push me. “I think I got it.”

“I’m here if you need me.”

I shake my head and continue to my room, where I throw on a clean T-shirt and a nicer pair of jeans. I didn’t do much with the horses today, just mainly worked on the schedules for the next month and orders that Brooks needed submitted today. So, I forego my shower for now and add a little more deodorant before putting on a clean hat.

It’s not a date. Definitely not a date. But I will be out in public with Willow, and I want to impress her, so I try to look decent.

“Alright, ladies. You ready?” I ask, walking back into the living room. Both of them are standing by the door. Jade even has a little purse to match Willow’s. It’s fun seeing my daughter around a woman like this. It’s obvious to me that she looks up to Willow. She watches her every move and wants Willow around all the time. I’m sure Jade is also like that with her mom, but we’ve been separated for so long that I don’t get to see that.

Jade talks for most of the short trip. It’s only when we park in front of Blue’s Diner that she takes a breather. We find an empty booth, and I take one side while Willow takes the other. Jade takes no time to decide that she’s going to sit by Willow instead of me. Willow gets a kick out of that.

We order our food and have a nice lunch together. I was worried it would be awkward with Willow here, but it’s the exact opposite. Willow kept the conversation going while making sure Jade felt included. She makes it so easy to talk to her, and I love that she makes my daughter feel special.

I’d thought that people might judge me for being out with Willow and Jade, the three of us looking very much like a unit, but no one spared us a second glance. I keep forgetting that Willow is not new to town. These people know her. They know Sawyer, and they certainly know my involvement with the two of them. Their parents’ death was a tragedy here in Blue Haven. After Sawyer got custody of Willow, it was the three of us against the world for years, so everyone is used to seeing us together. I’m too in my head, worried that people could look at me and know my feelings for Willow have grown beyond amicable.

Willow finishes her food first and sits back in the booth. I feel her watching me, but I try my best not to look up at her. I focus on my plate, eating each French fry one by one. But then I feel something on my leg. I don’t even have to look to know Willow is rubbing her leg against mine under the table. Thank god I’m in jeans because feeling her bare skin against mine would be too much. The last thing I need is a hard-on in the middle of Blue’s.

I risk a glance at her to see her smirking in my direction. She’s teasing me on purpose. I was hoping she’d take our previous conversation and have some pity on me. But apparently, she’s chosen to make this summer absolutely miserable for me.

During the movie, I make Jade sit between Willow and me. I’m not proud of it, but at least Jade was happy she got to sit next to both of us. I couldn’t tell you what the movie was about, though. If I wasn’t focused on Jade, I was glancing toward Willow. She was smiling most of the movie and laughing when Jade laughed. She has such a great laugh. She caught me staring at her once, and I started to look away but thought, what’s the point? She already knows I’m attracted to her. When she catches me, she leans her head against the back of the seat and smiles in my direction. It’s what I’d imagine it would be like lying next to her without a whole chair between us.

My fingers twitch, wanting to hold her hand. For a second, I regret putting Jade between us, but I quickly remind myself it’s for the best. Holding her hand would only make everything worse.

After the movie, the three of us walk out in a daze. Jade, because she loves movies and is processing what she saw. Willow and I, because we were making googly eyes at each other for the last half of the movie. It feels like I’m in high school all of a sudden, with a crush on a girl for the first time.

It doesn’t help when Jade holds one of my hands, and Willow decides to stand on my other side, linking our arms and leaning her head on my shoulder as we walk. It feels too intimate, but I don’t make her stop. I can’t. I like her being this close.

We climb back into my truck, and I take us back to my place.

“Let me just grab my bag, and I’ll be out of your way,” Willow says, rubbing Jade’s head as we walk inside.