Nope
I can’t help but chuckle at her outrage. Ashlie said she’d check in on her tonight, but turning it into a sister sleepover makes me feel a little more at ease. If something happens, Willa won’t be alone.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
My spine snaps rigidly at her voice. I’m about ready to stalk off to my hotel room, dinner order be damned. The last strand of patience I have is stretched so tightly, it’s threatening to snap. When I look at Marla, she has an easy smile on her face, and itcatches me off guard. “Completely,” I say before clearing my throat, eyes dropping back to my phone.
“Good. I’m happy you’re happy, Trevor. I—” Marla stops mid-sentence, and I look at her again as her well wishes filter through my annoyance. “I’m sorry. About everything. I know that’s not even close to making things right, and I’ve been trying to give you space like you asked. But I just really feel like I owe you this apology. I treated you horribly. You didn’t deserve anything I put you through. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, and I’m not looking to give any excuses. I just want you to know that I’m sorry, and I’m genuinely so happy you’re happy.”
Nodding slowly, I accept her words for what they are, but I’m unwilling to give her an inch. I could say thank you back, but what’s the point? It would only get her hopes up that we can be friendly. I appreciate the apology, but it doesn’t change anything. It might feel a little better on the inside, hearing her take the responsibility she refused to take before. Other than that, I have no interest in revisiting it or establishing an amicable environment with her. It’s in the past, and she needs to leave it there.
The waiter’s upturned palm carrying sizzling plates arranged on a tray prompts me to sit up straighter and flash him a friendly smile. He doesn’t know how welcome his interruption is. Just as he sets the last plate on the table, Miles slides back into his chair, and I’m spared from having to address Marla for the rest of the night.
Willa’s videochat is connecting before I even lock my hotel room door. She answers with a sleepy yawn, her phone positioned so I can see her body stretched out on the bed, on my pillow, in my T-shirt. My empty arms ache.I should be next to her.Not here,and definitely not now. “Were you asleep?”
“No.” She yawns again. “Close though. I was waiting up for your call. How was dinner with your ex?” Willa’s eyebrows wiggle playfully, and the ache in my arms shoots to my chest.
“The best.” I roll my eyes, and she laughs at my sarcastic tone. “It was fine. She apologized for everything.”
“And now you’re getting back together so you can have all her Trevy babies.”
“The fuck I am.” I chuckle, a grimace scrolling down my face. “I’m taken.”
“Damn right.” Her yawn eats up the last word.
“I love you, Gem. I’m gonna let you get to sleep.”
“Love you too…” Her mouth sets in a scowl as her hand rubs the side of her belly.
“You okay?” I try to keep the panic out of my voice, but she clocks it just the same.
“I’m fine, Tre.” She scrunches her nose and rubs her stomach again. “She’s just really active tonight. I’m okay.”
“I hate this.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“Love you.”
“Tre?”
“Yeah, I’ll stay on while you fall asleep.”
Willa snuggles up to my pillow and gives me one last sleepy smile as she closes her eyes. She’s out within minutes, but I plug in my phone and stay on the video chat, just watching her. I take it all in—the way her lips part while the heavy breath of deep sleep pushes through them, the curled shadow of her eyelashes on her cheekbones, the peaceful expression on her face. All of it tears my heart to guilty shreds from not being home. I fall asleep to the soft sounds of her breathing, and when my alarm goes off in the morning, she’s still sleeping peacefully on the screen.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
WILLA
“Oh, so you’re ignoring me now?” Hunter quips, strolling into Framed Orchid. I roll my eyes at the stupid-ass smirk on his face. It’s a little past three, and between Hunter, Ashlie, and Trevor, my phone’s been pinging nonstop. I’m grumpy, sore, and woke up with indigestion. It’s still waging war this afternoon.
“Don’t start with me.” I take a deep breath through the lingering burn that slides across my stomach. “My back hurts, and I’ve been dealing with your fiancée all night.”
Hunter’s face drops as he whips toward Emily at the front desk. “How long has she been breathing like that?”
“Eh, since she came in.” Emily shrugs. All the humor drains from his body. I’d cuss her out for being a snitch, except another pull across my stomach makes me press my hand into my bump with a groan.
“Willa, you need to go home…” he says.
