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Fuck. I can’t for the life of me work Alex out, but I don’t like it. And from the look on Tate’s face, neither does he. “I don’t know about Tate,” I say, lying. “But Pippa didn’t think you were the right guy for Willow, and I’m just helping her out.”
“Whatever you say. This entire week has been a fucking waste.” He throws his hands in the air and walks inside the bar, but not before giving Tate some kind of knowing look.
“Tate,” I begin when Alex is out of sight. “We—”
“We’re leaving,” he says, cutting me off, glancing toward the bar before his eyes settle back on mine. “Be satisfied with that. It’s the best you’re going to get. You’ll just have to trust me.”
All I can do is nod. I’ve trusted him for twelve goddamn years. Longer if you count the years before Jade’s accident. But for the first time, I’m not so sure. And I definitely don’t trust Alex. But they’re leaving, so at least I’ve got that.
When I get back in the car, I’m a little on edge but I try to hide it, until Seth busts out one of his usual nervous jokes and I snap.
“How’s that blood pressure going?”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? I’ve just left Willow. I’m not in the mood.”
“I know. But I can’t ask you what I really want to ask.”
My eyes flash to his, but all he does is shrug. I want to know what he’s referring to, but I also don’t, because I know I’m not going to be able to answer his question.
“I’m going to sleep,” I snap instead. “Wake me when we get close.”
I don’t sleep. At all. I’m awake for each excruciating second but keep my eyes closed to avoid conversation. When enough time passes that I feel like we must be close, I open my eyes and fake a yawn, pretending to wake up. But Seth calls me out.
“God, you’re an asshole. I could hear your mind ticking that entire time. We’ve got twenty minutes to go.”
I shoot him a thanks and pull out my phone, seeing a text from the same unknown number as earlier today.
Unknown: Decided to leave tonight. We're on our way home.
My chest hollows as I huff out in relief, hopeful that’s the end of it, and after bringing up my recent calls, I hover over Willow’s number. I want to call her, but I can’t. She won’t answer. So, instead, I text. If there’s a chance I can put her mind at ease about one thing, I’m going to do it.
Jesse: In case it’s on your mind, you don’t have to worry about Tate or Alex. They left.
While I may not fully trust either of them, for now, they’re out of the picture and that’s gotta mean something. I hope. And when Willow sends me athank youtext a little while later, I feel like I can relax.
I stare at my phone after that, only looking up as we’re pulling into the rental returns at the airport. We’ve just found our parking bay when Seth’s assistant texts to say the band needed their private jet back and we'll have to wait until the next morning to get a flight, forcing us to spend the night in a motel close by. While it’s a shame the jet's no longer an option, God, am I grateful for the band in the first place. I don't know what I would have done without them, and Dylan.
By the time we get home Monday afternoon, I’m mentally and physically drained, and yet, when night falls, I can’t sleep. Again. I hate being here knowing that Willow’s hurting and she won’t let me see her.
But there’s nothing I can do to change that. I just have to wait it out, and wait it out, I will.
I’m staring at the ceiling when my alarm goes off Tuesday morning. Before my visit to Hepburn Falls, I had a great relationship with sleep. I considered it part of my hockey performance routine. Now I’m fucked. And there’s only a month before preseason begins and I’m back to high-intensity training. My body needs rest. And I need Willow.
My day drags as I mope around my apartment, not really sure what to do with myself. It may have only been a week but now my life feels all wrong without her.
I need a distraction.
My door buzzes ten minutes after I’ve ordered takeout, and I stare at the intercom with suspicion. There’s no way that’s them. So…
It buzzes again and I snap into action, rushing over to answer. “Yup.”
“Jesse, it’s me.”
“Pippa?”She’s back?
“Yeah, do you mind if I come in and get my keys?”
Keys…right. “Yeah, I’ll open up.”
