“He’s at an adoption event.”
“So, he’s not yours?”
We slid into our seats, and I shook my head. “No, he was Cash’s foster. But it feels like Moose adoptedmeover the past few weeks. I didn’t like him at first, but now I don’t like my life without him.”
“It sounds like you know where he belongs.” Grandmother turned the key in the ignition and pulled out onto the main road.
That goofy furball had worked his way into my heart. Grandmother was right. Ididknow where he belonged, and it wasn’t with a pack of strangers, that was for sure. No one could love him like Cash and I could. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes, I want him.”
She pulled such a sudden U-turn our tires chirped. “And what about Cash? You want him, too?” She checked her rearview mirror, acting like she hadn’t just asked a loaded question while driving like a nineteen-year-old street racer. My entire body flushed when I thought about how badly I wanted him in my life. I wanted him more than anything—even a record deal.
Recording with Bobby Midas was my dream, but it wouldn’t mean half as much if I couldn’t make music with Cash, too.
“He’s a great guy.”
“Let’s not mince any words,” Grandmother said, navigating the streets of Austin like she’d lived there all her life. “You either want that boy or you don’t. It’s my suspicion that you do.”
“I… I…”
“It’s okay to say it, Willow. If you love him, you love him.”
Sparks came to life in my stomach and sizzled throughout every vein in my body. “I do.” Suddenly the wedding march began playing in my head. I did love Cash, and I’d just said two of the most romantic words in the English language besidesthis chocolate’s for you.People only said “I do” when they were ready to commit.
And I was ready.
A sharp pang of regret stabbed my heart as flashes of last night’s debacle replayed in my head for the millionth time that day. Those delicious sparks that ignited in my stomach only a few short moments before were reduced to knotted balls of anxiety, clanking around in my gut.
“I ruined so much for him last night, Grandmother. It’s like I took a torch to his dreams and set them ablaze right in front of him.”
“I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say that. I’m sure he hasn’t given up on his plans. He doesn’t strike me as a quitter.”
“Well, I’ve made his road a lot harder than it needed to be. He’s been saving for so long to buy a truck. Winning that one last night was like winning the lottery. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I ruined it.”
“Nothing careless has been done that cannot be undone with care.That’s what my mother used to say when I was a child. Don’t worry yourself about that truck business. Right now, there’s one question you need to answer for yourself.” I looked at the side of her face as we turned onto a familiar street. “What doyouwant?”
I wrapped my arms around myself and focused my gaze on the floorboard. “I don’t want things to change.”
“You’ve already said that you want Cash and Moose. But what do you want foryourself? What brought me to Texas?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I put my elbow on the door, rested my cheek in the cup of my hand, and sighed. “I just need to focus on making things right with Cash.”
She whipped into a small parking lot and skidded into a parking spot on the dusty, gravel surface. “Willow Lennox, I won’t allow it. Something—something big—motivated you to enlist my help, whether honestly or not isn’t the point right now. You cannot drop something like that and walk away without regrets.”
Her eyes bored a hole into the side of my head, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. “I think regrets are inevitable at this point no matter what I do.”
“This doesn’t sound like the young woman who was ready to move heaven and earth to accomplish her goals only a few days ago.”
“Grandmother, I overcommitted to a studio. I thought I could raise the money to record with an awesome producer, but I couldn’t. I thought trying to convince you that I was a good investment was my only option.”
“Are you saying it wasn’t?”
“I could have just fessed up to Phil at the studio and told him I couldn’t come up with the money. I would’ve lost my life savings, but that would’ve been better than losing my morals like I did.”
“I gave you a sizable check last night. Isn’t that enough money to make a musical recording?”
“Technically, yes. But I can’t spend all the money on myself.” I buried my face in my hands, unable to look at her as I admitted my foolhardy bargain with Cash. “I owe Cash a lot of money, and he needs it now more than ever to help come up with a down payment for his food truck. Once I pay him, there won’t be enough money left over for me to work with Bobby Midas.” I sighed. “But the studio is practically across the street from my apartment. Maybe I’ll pass Bobby on the street and some of his music mojo will rub off on me.” I shrugged off the disappointment crowding in on me.
Grandmother nodded. “And you’re willing to walk away from what you’ve wanted so badly for so long to make sure you do right by this young man?”
