Page 113 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

Once Ryder graduated, maybe I’d leave Montana. I’d always come back to see Hazel, but for the first time, the idea of escaping Lark Cove didn’t seem all that bad.

Do you love me?

I wished she hadn’t asked. I wished I could have said yes. But I’d never told another person that I loved them before. Not Hazel or Thea or Charlie.

No one.

I didn’t know shit about love and Willa deserved someone who did. She deserved to have her dreams come true.

I was no dream maker.

“How are you?” Nate asked, coming to stand at my side.

Fucking miserable. “Good. You?”

“Oh, just fine. How are things at the bar?”

“Good. Slow this time of year.”

“I bet.”

We stood there, surveying his yard. It had snowed an inch last night so the grass was mostly covered in white. It looked peaceful, the exact opposite of the torment plaguing my heart.

Nate had to know things between Willa and me were ending. Yet he hadn’t turned us away. He’d welcomed me and my brother into his home to share a meal his wife was cooking.

Nate Doon was a good man, the best really. He’d be there for Willa after I broke her heart, helping her put it back together.

He clapped a hand on my shoulder, then gave it a squeeze. I looked at him, but neither of us spoke. Nate just gave me a nod, dropped his hand and went back inside. A few moments after he disappeared inside, the sliding door opened again.

“Hey.” Ryder appeared at my side. “What are you doing out here?”

“Nothing,” I told him. “Just getting some air.”

“Are you, uh . . .” He kicked some snow off the porch. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” I lied. “What about you? You doing okay?”

“You ask me that a lot.”

I chuckled. “Yep.” At least once a day.

I had no clue how to act like a parent to this kid, so I’d told him early on that he had to tell me if something was wrong. Still, I checked on him constantly, just so he’d know I cared. I could count on two fingers the number of people who’d had asked me if I was doing okay when I was a kid.

“I’m good,” he promised.

“You sure?”

He shrugged. “Do you think Willa can help me get caught up at school?”

“She’ll try.”

Ryder wanted so badly not to fall behind it was all he talked about. That, and if Willa could be his tutor. I hated to burst his bubble, but I didn’t want his hopes to get too high. Willa would tutor Ryder, even after we broke up, but I wouldn’t put her in that position.

“Listen, kid.” I turned away from the yard to face him. “If Willa can’t tutor you, then I will. So will Hazel and Thea. We’ll do whatever we can to help.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t Willa be able to help? Doesn’t she want to?”

“No, she does. But she’s got other stuff going on. It just . . . it just might not work out.”