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Finn
She’s a fucking vision.In her skintight leather pants and high heels, accentuating her strong legs. Legs I want nothing more than to be wrapped around my waist as I thrust into her, making her scream my name. Over and over again. All night long.
It’s been too damn long since I last laid eyes on Willow. My little tree. Small in stature but larger than life. The woman who stars in my dreams every night. In my bed. Beneath me. Smiling up at me like I’m her entire world.
And the reason I wake up every morning with a hard-on, take a cold shower to relieve the ache in my groin and my heart. Because she walked away from me. From us. Without a word. Then stayed away for the last nine months. I’ve caught glimpses of her on campus but always from a distance, and I’ve never had the balls to approach her and ask her the one question I want the answer to most.
Why?
Why did she leave that morning? Why did she cut off all contact with me? Why has she avoided me at every turn?
My calls go straight to voicemail. Texts are read but unanswered.
However, right now I need to ignore the longing I’ve felt for her. Not that my dick is going to cooperate. I felt the strain against my zipper the second she walked in the room. All it took was one whiff of her intoxicating vanilla scent and he was on board, attempting to lead the charge.
The uncertainty I see in her eyes breaks my heart. I can’t tell if she’s happy to see me or upset that I’m standing in front of her. When her knees buckle, I close the distance between us quickly, scooping her up into my arms.
It feels so right. Holding her. But I shake the thought away, knowing that in only a few seconds, her world is going to come crashing down around her.
As soon as the guys leave, Willow pushes out of my arms, sliding down my body, but I don’t let her get far. I rest my hands on her hips, the thin sliver of skin between her pants and shirt burning against my fingers. I’m not ready to let her go yet. I’d rather hold her while Max delivers the news. I want her to feel my love, to grab hold of it, and hang on tight. Let it ground her. For her to know she’s not alone in this.
Max might be my best friend, he may question my motives, but at the end of the day, none of that matters because all I want is to help her through this. To be her rock. I can’t save her from what’s about to happen, but I can stand by her side and let her know she doesn’t have to wander alone in the darkness.
“Max,” she says, her voice pleading with him.
He doesn’t move from where he’s seated on the edge of his bed. The same place I found him twenty minutes ago after he disappeared. His eyes find mine, and I nod my head, letting him know I’ve got her. That I’m not going anywhere. Still, he moves to stand in front of Willow.
“Lo, there’s something I need to tell you.” As the words slip passed his lips, I feel Willow’s body begin to tremble. Not in anticipation but in fear. “Dad was in an accident. There was a drunk driver and he … he didn’t make it.”
Willow doesn’t say anything right away, only stares at Max like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. When he finally pushes himself off his bed and opens his arms for her, she takes a tentative step toward him. I’m about to release her hips when I realize she’s going down.
Max cradles her head in his lap as he sits on the floor, looking down at his sister. “This is going to destroy her.”
A statement to the universe, not meant for anyone in particular, his voice is barely above a whisper.
“We’ll get through this,” I say, taking a seat next to my best friend as he gently caresses the cheek of the girl I love. His sister. The one woman who could drive a wedge between us. “You guys are not alone.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I feel so numb. Like this isn’t really happening, ya know? The last time I talked to him …” His voice trails off, getting lost in his own head.
I don’t need to know when the last time they talked was, or what they discussed. James Palmer was a loving father. His children knew how he felt about them. Everything he did was for them. From working his ass off for their college funds, to the cars he bought them when they turned sixteen, and the bank accounts he set up, so they didn’t have to work while in college. More than anything, he made sure he was always there for them. Every sporting event or special occasion. Holidays. Birthdays.
James didn’t miss anything. His family was his life. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t have done for them.
“Your dad loved you, Max. He loved Willow and Evie. Hell, he loved me, and I’m not sure I ever did anything to earn his love. Always remember that. This is going to be the hardest thing you’ll ever have to deal with … losing your dad, your hero, but do not doubt how much he loved you. All he ever wanted was for you guys to be happy.”
Max nods, staring down at Willow one last time before carefully slipping out from beneath her head. Once he’s standing, he leans down, lifts her into his arms, and moves her to his bed.
“I’ll send everyone home,” I state, pushing off the floor and moving toward the door. I don’t feel like partying anymore and I can’t imagine Max does either. It’s been a hell of an hour and the worst is still to come.
“Nah. No reason to kick everyone out. I need a drink, and they need to see that they elected the right person for the job. The frat will only be as strong as its leader, and with me as president we are going to dominate this fall. Kappa will be the premier fraternity. I’m going to resurrect it if it’s the last thing I do. For my father. For his legacy and mine.”
With one last glance at Willow, Max opens the door, voices, and music filtering in. When I turn around to question his decision he’s already gone, leaving me alone with Sleeping Beauty. Tempting me to pull her into my arms, to kiss her until she’s awake again. However, the last thing I want right now is for her to wake up in her brother’s bed, my lips against hers, and remember that her world just collapsed.
