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Even if I never saw her again, I realized she was right. I couldn’t continue on that path; I didn’t want to. I refused to be the one fucking up my own life. It wasmychoice. And I was going to take a stand.
So, from that day on, I took the beatings. I watched Tate sell drugs during the day, while I was beaten at night. If Tate had a good day, sometimes I’d be lucky too, but mostly, I just zoned out and let it happen.
I closed myself off to the pain.
Getting small glimpses of Willow during that time gave me hope that I’d one day find a better life, and because of her, I kept going. Hoping I’d be able to talk to her. Hoping I’d be the type of guy that deserved to talk to her.
But by the time we officially met, that fateful day on the mountain, I was nearing my limit. I’d been pushed as far as I could go, and the events of that day sent me over the edge.
Because of that, I had to stay away. She deserved better.
But now that she’s back in my life, now that she’s under my skin, it’s a struggle to do the right thing anymore.
When it comes to Willow, all rational thought goes out the window. Everything I’ve fought so hard to protect gets obliterated.
She’s my undoing, and I have a feeling she’s going to run before I become hers.
And I don’t blame her.
She should. But God, I hope that she doesn’t.
An hour passes without a word from Pippa, increasing my concern as Willow’s cries flood my mind. But when she finally texts me back, I don’t feel any better. Instead, my heart sinks because I hate being right.
Pippa: She’s on her way home.
Chapter Eighteen
Willow
Ismilebrightlyatmy customer even though it pains me. “Of course, I’ll package that up for you now. Was it just this one or were you after anything else?” I ask, but regret it instantly.
She muses over my question. She's been in the shop for about twenty minutes, so you’d assume she’d have it figured out by now. But here we are.
“You really don’t sell the necklace from that image?” she asks with a shy smile while I try really hard to keep mine in place.
“Not yet,” I tell her. Just like Sara did a few minutes ago. “I’m sorry.”Freaking Jesse.
“That’s okay. Do you know if he recommends any of the other scents?”
Apparently calling every few days to check up on me wasn’t enough for Jesse—he had to go and do a social media post about my store. And heneverposts.
To make matters worse, he didn’t just post about the store in general. He singled out my oils, specifically the Fresh New Love oil that Pippa shared,andmy jewelry.That’s not even for sale yet.
“I saw him buying the Fight for Love essence,” Sara says from behind me. “And he may have even bought the Whatever it Takes one,” she lies, and I almost spin around to cover her mouth.
“She’s kidding; they don’t actually exist. It was just this one.”
The girl grows pink in the cheeks, so I plaster a smile back on my face and offer her some matching bath salts, free of charge. “Thank you for visiting. Hopefully we’ll see you again soon,” I say as she walks out the door, instantly turning to Sara when she’s gone.
“What the hell was that?”
“That was me trying to get a reaction.”
“A reaction to what?”
“Jesse.”
“I have nothing to say about Jesse. I’m—”
