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“Jump in with Jimmy,” Benji orders Willow and me. “We’ll get this loaded up and meet you back at the shop.”
I nod. Willow and I climb inside, and Jimmy drives us back to my 4Runner. We wait for about fifteen minutes for the guys to get there, then make plans to meet up at my house for dinner.
Willow and I stop at the grocery store to grab some steaks and food for a meal, and then run by her place so she can pack some more clothes and her swimsuit. I plan on getting her into my hot tub later tonight.
Half an hour later, I’m firing up the grill on my deck. The air is cool, and the sky is overcast as I clean the metal surface and ignite the flame. The breeze picks up. I pull the beanie down lower on my head and then transfer all four seasoned steaks onto the grill. They sizzle as the cold meat meets the preheated surface.
I glance inside the house and see Willow walking around my kitchen, preparing sides. She looks good in my space with her wild curls and her hourglass body. Almost too good. I could picture her here with me, in my space, warming it. I can imagine looking forward to coming home to her night after night. That thought creates another lump in my throat. I’m not sure if it stems from unease or want. I swallow it down and glance away as the aroma of cooking meat fills the air. I wonder how many wild animals I’m driving crazy right now with the scent.
My knee is sore, and I start stretching it when I hear my front door open and close, the sounds of new voices filtering through the open windows. Benji slides up behind Willow and glances over her shoulder at the food on the counter. When he walks tothe refrigerator to put some drinks away, Wyatt slides into his space. His hands land on Willow’s hips and stay in place for way too long. I see her spine stiffen. Her hands are dirty, so she can’t push him away. He rests his chin on her shoulder.
He’s touching her like she’s fair game. Like he wants her. Like she could be his.
My fists are clenched, and jealousy burns through my veins when the door to the deck slides along the base as it opens and closes. Benji pauses on the deck and watches me for a moment before glancing back through the glass and into the kitchen. Wyatt finally releases his hold on Willow, but the tension doesn’t leave my body.
“Relax,” Benji murmurs. He walks closer.
I close the lid on the grill and lean against the railing with my arms crossed over my chest while facing the house.
Benji looks through the windows again. “He’s just doing it to get under your skin.”
“Well, it’s working,” I growl.
Benji chuckles. “Obviously.” He shifts his body weight onto his hands, where they rest on the railing. He’s facing the forest and the expansive view that I take for granted most days. The view was the reason I bought this house in the first place. That and the proximity to the slopes.
Benji leans over, resting his elbows on the top of the railing. “I have to say … I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Like what?” I ask, sighing and turning until I’m facing the other direction.
The valley spans below me as the slope of the mountain dips drastically. I can see the tops of pine trees and the lush green grass spanning the countryside. The sun is dropping belowthe outline of the mountains in the distance, but it’s mostly obstructed by clouds anyway. A few rays escape and create a golden glow across the sky. The color is gone a moment later, swallowed by the grayness again.
“Territorial over a girl.” Benji swivels his head, and I can feel his eyes on the side of my face. “I don’t think I remember a time when you ever cared enough to be pissed.”
“That’s not true,” I say, recalling a few times I wanted to pummel our friend in the past.
“Who?” he scoffs. “Jess?” He looks back over the treetops. “You might have fought Wyatt over girls in the past, but that was pure competition. This feels … unique.”
When Willow asked how long my longest relationship lasted, what I didn’t tell her was that it was with Jessica in high school and that we broke up because she’d cheated on me. With Wyatt.
“Unique how?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Benji answers. “I guess it’s the way you look at Willow. Something about it is different.”
Itfeelsdifferent. But I don’t say it out loud. Everything with Willow is easy and good. Exciting yet comfortable. Thrilling but cozy. I’m having a good time, getting to know her better each day. Discovering pieces of her a little at a time. Exploring her body. Getting inside her head.
I’ve never had difficulty with women. So many of them have fallen at my feet. Whether it was with my last name or my success on the slopes, it was never hard to lure them into my bed. And I exploited that power in the past. But something about it was so shallow. The appeal died for me at some point. I guess I started to want more or nothing at all.
Willow doesn’t realize that the best thing she could’ve done when we met was ignore me. She challenges me in a way I’ve been missing for some time.
“We aren’t kids anymore,” I admit.
“Are you sure?” He laughs. “Because I still feel like I’m that cocky eighteen-year-old kid up on the half-pipe.”
“You still act like that eighteen-year-old,” I quip.
He smirks proudly. “God willing … I always will.”
The door opens behind us. Willow and Wyatt step across the threshold with bottles of beer in their hands. Willow hands me one, and Wyatt passes over another to Benji.
