Page 84 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

Hazel frowned, dismissing me and turning to my girlfriend. “Willa, will you please call me immediately if that woman shows up again? I have some things I’d like to say to her.”

Willa just bit her lip, trying not to smile.

“I see how it is. You’re on his side now.” Hazel gave me a pointed look as she slung her purse over her shoulder. “Don’t forget I have spies everywhere, and I’m going to have my five minutes with that woman.”

“It would just be a waste of your time.”

Mom’s face hadn’t held an ounce of remorse. She could have earned five minutes with me, but she hadn’t said the magic word. Sorry.

“I’ve got nothing but time these days, Jackson. And I don’t want to talk to her because I think she’ll hear a word I say. Telling her off is for me.” Hazel gave me a sad smile. “And you.”

“Fine.” I sighed and gave her a nod. “I’ll call.”

Hazel had earned the right to a confrontation with Mom years ago when she’d stepped in to take Mom’s place.

“Stop by and see me tomorrow.” Hazel gave Willa a hug. “You too.”

“We will,” Willa said. “Have a good night.”

“Do you want another beer, babe?” I asked as Hazel walked out the door.

Willa shook her head. “Just water.”

“I’ll take another beer.” The tourist who’d been sitting on Hazel’s side held up his empty glass. Then he moved into the seat Hazel had just left to sit next to Willa. The guy had already had four beers, but he didn’t seem too drunk, so I poured him a fresh glass.

“Be back,” I told Willa, winking at her before leaving to check on the other customers.

The Friday-night crowd had mostly cleared out, but there were still a few people lingering over by the pool table and jukebox.

The pool table was a newer addition to the bar. Hazel and her parents had kept one for years before I’d moved to Lark Cove, but it had been so beaten up that she’d decided to put it in storage. Thea and I had dug it out about a year ago and gotten it refurbished.

Our customers loved it, but the only downside was that it kept people in the bar later at night. The group playing tonight still had a whole stack of quarters lined up and it didn’t look like they’d be leaving anytime soon.

All I really wanted was to go back to Willa’s place and spend the rest of the night forgetting all about this day while I was buried deep inside of her.

Because she had the power to make it all better.

I stuttered my step as I walked, crushing a peanut shell. Willa had power over me. Even in a positive light, it was still power. The realization scared the hell out of me.

I’d been relying on myself for so long I wasn’t good at leaning on anyone else. I didn’t want to be at anyone else’s mercy, even if it was just to give me comfort.

I glanced over my shoulder and took a long look at Willa’s back.

Maybe I was getting too close. I’d started this whole thing with Willa because I’d just wanted to get to know her. I’d wanted to date her for a while until we got bored with one another.

But I wasn’t bored, not in the slightest. The more I was around her, the more I wanted her.

Maybe I’d gone too far already. I didn’t want to get married. I didn’t want kids. I was good with Charlie because I had fun uncle written all over me, but being a husband and father was a whole other story.

I didn’t have that kind of love in me to give.

When Willa and I got to that point in our relationship, when we talked about the future, she’d see pretty damn quick we didn’t have one.

Maybe I should let her go now, before that point?

Not yet.

We were still having fun. I’d delay a serious conversation for just a little while longer. Then I’d let her go.