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“You and I both know, Willow isn’t like that or a liar. Stella swears Willow hasn’t slept with anyone but you in months.” He chuckles. “Trust me, from the look on her face, she wishes it were someoneelse’s.”
I scrub my hand over my face, hoping it’ll help clear my head. “That’s what I’m afraidof.”
He laughs. “Get prepared, brother. This is happening whether you like it ornot.”
“We’re talking today, figuring shitout.”
“The first shit should be, figuring out the living situation. That was my biggest struggle with Stella. Blue Beech was out of her comfort zone, and LA was out ofmine.”
LA was once my home. I didn’t mind leaving Blue Beech years ago when Lucy asked, but that’s no longer an option. Maven needs to be here with my family.Ineed the support from them. Willow, on the other hand, is stubborn. I can’t picture her packing up her life and moving away from the chaos of the citylife.
“Stella changed,” I argue, trying to convince myself that it couldwork.
“She did, but that doesn’t stop Willow from begging her to move back every time theytalk.”
“Fuck,” I hiss. I’m going to have my work cut out forme.
Hudson slaps my shoulder and gets up. “Good luck. Let me know if you need anything, but try to wait a few hours, okay? I have a beautiful fiancée waiting at home for me, hopefully wearing nothing but her engagementring.”
* * *
“What do you mean,she’s not here?” I ask, standing in Lauren’s doorway and feeling a sense of déjà vu from last night. It seems like I’ve done nothing but chase Willow around since Hudson broke thenews.
“I mean, she’s not here,” Lauren repeats, shuffling backward to let mein.
“Goddamn it,” I mutter, rushing into her apartment like amadman.
My first pit stop is her bathroom to pull back the shower curtain. All clear. Next is Lauren’s closet. Then, underneath her bed. No sign ofWillow.
“She promised,” I repeat over and over again while checking the linen closet. “She fuckingpromised.”
Lauren meets me in the living room with an apologetic face. “I’m guessing she called a cab and bailed while I was in theshower.”
I collapse on her couch and drop my head back. Lucy never fought me like this. Our relationship was always easy. She was mine. I was hers. No power strugglesexisted.
“Maybe she went for a walk?” Iask.
The couch dents when Lauren sits down next to me. “Her bags are gone, and I doubt she’s taking a walk withthem.”
I slowly lift my head, and she bends forward to snag her phone from the coffeetable.
She sucks in a breath a few seconds later and ends the call. “Straight to voicemail.”
“Same with me. That’s why I cameover.”
Willowpromised.
Promised we’dtalk.
Promised she’dstay.
She’s nothing but a goddamnliar.
I’m not letting herrun.
I won’t let her shut meout.
Chapter Eight
