AllFreeNovel
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Lilli: That is not what friends are for.
Me: I love you.
Lilli: I love you too. Take care of yourself.
Chapter 20
I’m not usually the type of girl that would be okay with another woman flirting with my man, but Will looks so uncomfortable as this Susan, who I’ve dubbed Cougar Susan, places a hand on his knee and smiles seductively at him that part of me wants to laugh. The other part is tempted to slap her hand away, but Will handles her just fine when he pushes her hand away and once again scoots away from her on the loveseat they share. Any more scoots and he will fall off the edge of the couch to the floor.
“As I was saying, can you tell us a little about your life, Susan?” Will asks for the second time. The first time Will had asked, Susan ignored it and instead launched a full flirting attack upon Will. My dad and I had just watched a bit horror struck as she had commented on his build and said she wasn’t aware writers looked like him. Neither was I, Susan.
“Oh, my life isn’t so interesting. I grew up doing beauty pageants. I was even Miss Texas. That is how I caught the attention of Mr. Winters. I’ve been a trophy wife ever since, looking pretty and making babies. I’ve been craving a little excitement.” She says, her innuendo and invitation clear as she licks her lips. I find it odd that she calls her husband Mr. Winters, but as I look around the perfectly arranged sitting room, I’m not surprised to see all the pictures of her and her husband look just as formal and impersonal as what she calls him.
The rest of Will’s attempted interview goes similarly, with little information about her life and lots of veiled, and some plain, innuendos. After thirty minutes, Dad looks as uncomfortable as Will and I’m barely containing my anger.
“Look at the time, we better go if we want to check in to our hotel.” Dad announces, clearly trying to rescue Will from Cougar Susan’s advances. Will nods so vigorously at Dad’s words, in total agreement with the escape plan.
“Oh, why don’t you just stay here? We have plenty of guest rooms. My husband won’t mind, he lets me do what I want.” Cougar Susan offers, and it is clear that she is offering more than a room to Will.
“No, thank you.” Will says curtly, standing up and packing his materials faster than I’ve ever seen him before.
We all head towards the front door, but as Dad and I step out the front door, Cougar Susan grabs Will’s arm and rests her hand on his chest, slipping a piece of paper into the pocket of his shirt. “Text me your hotel room. I will come meet you and then we can have a little fun, without the cameras and people watching. Well, unless that is what you like.” She whispers, but I can still hear it from where I stand watching in the doorway, wondering if I need to teach this woman a lesson about consent, preferably with my fists. In my head, I rename her Predatory Susan.
“Susan, I don’t know how I can make this much plainer to you. I’m not interested.” Will says, extricating himself from her grasp, and walking away. When he reaches me, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, and we walk to the car together. I quietly ask him if he is okay, and he nods.
“She is not what you need, Will. She is just a girl. When you realize that, give me a call.” Predatory Susan calls, but all Will does in response is pluck the number from his pocket and toss it over his shoulder, letting it flutter to the ground.
I wish I could say I brushed the words away as easily as Will, but I can’t, because even though I know Will isn’t going to run off to be with Predatory Susan, I also know better than anyone the difference between Will and me.
I know Will doesn’t see me as a long-term option. It hurts to know that it is clear to everyone else that our relationship won’t last because it doesn’t feel that way to me. To me, this feels deeper than any relationship I’ve ever had. It feels like falling in love and love always works out, right?
Chapter 21
The next Susan’s house is outside a town even smaller than Willow Springs. Rolling hills of gold grass surround the modest rambler. The beat-up old ford truck in the driveway makes me feel right at home as we step out into the dust cloud we’d blown up when as we drove down the dirt drive. An Australian shepherd greets us with a bark and circles our legs as we head up to the front door.
Dad knocks, and heavy footsteps echo on the other side of the door until the door opens to a pair of scuffed boots, faded Levi’s, and worn button-down shirt. This man is the cowboy on the cover of a romance novel, from his tanned skin to his sky-blue eyes.
“Can I help you, sir?” the man asks, looking at Dad, but his eyes briefly skirt over Will. I don’t miss the way his blue eyes spark with interest as they settle on me and I fight the blush which is surely settling in my cheeks. He can’t be much older than me, but something about the way this cowboy carries himself spoke to a maturity I am not sure I possess as evident by my blushing.
“I’m looking for Susan Smith. I would like to talk to her.” Dad explains.
“She passed a couple months back.” The guy explains, and I can tell by the way he steels himself with a deep breath after he speaks that he had just been hit by the same pang of emptiness I feel whenever I remember Mama is gone.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” I say automatically, though I always hate when people say it to me.
“Thanks, well I’m Susan’s son, Flynn. I’m not sure I can help you, but I can try. What did you want to talk to Susan about?” He forces a smile that I might have believed if I wasn’t so familiar with wearing it myself.
“Thirty years ago, I left a Susan Smith at the altar. I’m trying to track her down to apologize.” Dad explains.
“Wow, that is not what I expected. If that was my mom, then I sure didn’t know about it, but Mom was private, so who knows? What’s with the camera?” The man gestures to the camera Will holds.
“We’re making a vlog about finding David’s Susan.”
“Interesting. Why don’t y’all come inside? My sister might know better. She was closer to Mom.” Flynn offers as he opens the front door wider and ushers us inside.
“What are your names?” Flynn asks as he guides us down the tiled hallway.
“I’m David George and this is my daughter, Hannah. Will is accompanying us to write about the journey.” Dad introduces gesturing to me and then Will.
